Sewer line failure is serious -- and most repairs no longer require tearing up your yard. Our licensed team uses camera inspection and trenchless technology to diagnose and fix sewer line issues with minimal property disruption.
Why Choose Process Plumbing Services
Sewer line work requires experience, proper equipment, and a technician who gives you a complete picture before any repair begins.
Sewer line repair in Washington, DC requires licensed plumbing contractors. Every technician we dispatch holds current state credentials and carries full insurance.
We include a camera inspection with every diagnosis. You see exactly what is happening inside your sewer line before any repair decision is made.
Sewer repairs are quoted as a fixed price after inspection. No hourly billing with an unknown ceiling -- you approve the cost before we dig or line anything.
Our trucks carry pipe lining and pipe bursting equipment for trenchless repairs, preserving your landscaping and hardscape in the majority of cases.
Sewer line repair used to mean one thing: excavating a trench across your yard or driveway, exposing the failed pipe, replacing it, and then restoring the surface above it. In many cases, the restoration cost alone -- landscaping, concrete, pavers -- rivaled the plumbing repair itself. Trenchless technology changed that equation significantly for many properties.
The camera inspection is where every sewer repair begins. We insert a high-resolution camera on a flexible rod through a cleanout access point or existing opening and follow the line from your house to the municipal connection. The camera reveals the exact location and nature of the problem -- a root intrusion through a joint, a crack from ground movement, a collapsed section from age, a bellied section where the pipe has sunk -- and records video for our assessment and for your records. This step eliminates guesswork and ensures the repair method selected actually addresses the correct problem.
Trenchless pipe lining, also called cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining, is appropriate when the pipe is structurally intact but compromised by cracks, root intrusion through joints, or joint separation. We insert a resin-saturated liner into the damaged pipe and inflate it against the pipe walls, then cure it in place with heat or UV light. The result is essentially a new pipe inside the old one -- with a smooth interior that actually improves flow compared to the corroded or root-infiltrated original. Lining requires only minimal access points and leaves your yard undisturbed.
Traditional excavation remains the right answer when a pipe section has fully collapsed, when there is extensive pipe belly that cannot be relined, or when the pipe material has deteriorated beyond what lining can address. In those cases, targeted excavation to replace the specific failed section is the most cost-effective and permanent solution. We use minimally invasive excavation practices and restore the surface after the repair is complete.
Pipe material matters significantly in this analysis. Cast iron and clay tile pipes, common in homes built before the 1970s, are more susceptible to root infiltration and corrosion failure modes that respond well to trenchless lining. PVC pipes in newer construction can suffer joint separation or bellying from soil movement. We assess material, age, failure type, and property layout before recommending an approach -- never defaulting to excavation when lining is viable, and never attempting lining when excavation is the only real solution.
Sewer Services
From first inspection to full replacement, we handle every phase of sewer line diagnosis and repair.
High-definition video inspection of your entire sewer line. Included free with every diagnostic call -- you see the problem, not just our description of it.
Learn MoreCIPP lining installs a new pipe inside your existing line without excavation. Ideal for cracked, root-infiltrated, or joint-separated pipe that retains its structural shape.
Learn MoreWhen a section has fully collapsed or requires full replacement, we excavate precisely, replace the failed section with current-spec materials, and restore the surface.
Learn MoreMechanical root cutting combined with hydro-jetting clears root masses and removes debris. Camera follow-up confirms the line is fully clear before we close out.
Learn MoreProperties without accessible cleanout ports make future maintenance more expensive and invasive. We install properly located cleanouts for convenient future access.
Learn MoreFull sewer line replacement from house to street connection, with modern PVC or HDPE pipe. We handle permits, inspection, backfill, and surface restoration.
Learn MoreOur Process
A methodical process that eliminates guesswork and keeps you informed at every stage.
Describe the symptoms -- backups, slow drains, wet spots in the yard, sewage odor. We schedule your camera inspection appointment.
We run a high-resolution camera through your sewer line, identify the exact problem location and type, and show you the footage directly.
Based on what the camera shows, we recommend trenchless lining or targeted excavation and provide a flat-rate quote before any work begins.
Repair completed, post-repair camera pass confirms the line is clear and intact, and we document the completed work for your records.
Customer Stories
"Had raw sewage backing up into the downstairs bathroom. Process Plumbing Services came out, ran the camera, showed me tree roots filling the pipe. They cleared it and offered trenchless lining to prevent recurrence. No yard excavation, no landscaping damage. Very impressed."
"I had a collapsed section of clay pipe about 40 feet from the house. They showed me exactly where on the camera recording, explained the excavation scope, quoted it fairly, and finished the job in one day. Clean work and they restored the area well."
"The free camera inspection is what sold me. I could see the problem myself -- it was not just the plumber telling me I needed an expensive repair. Everything was transparent, the quote matched what was said, and the work was done professionally."
Common Questions
Coverage Area
We provide sewer camera inspection, trenchless lining, and excavation repair services throughout Washington, DC with experienced licensed teams.
