Start with the camera finding
A sewer camera on a push cable shows the pipe from the inside. It reveals roots in a joint, a sagging section that holds water, a crack, a collapsed stretch or a plain grease buildup that only needs cleaning. The finding often decides whether you need a repair at all.
Ask for the video or screenshots, and a mark showing how far from the cleanout each problem sits. A quote without a camera finding is a guess. Our sewer inspection service produces that record before any digging is priced.
Cleaning comes first when the pipe is sound. A drain machine or jetting hose can clear roots and grease, and a second camera pass confirms what is left. If the pipe walls are intact, that may be all the line needs for now.
What drives the quote
These factors decide how large a sewer quote becomes:
- Deptha shallow pipe can be exposed with a short trench, while a deep pipe needs more digging, shoring and time.
- Lengththe more feet of damaged pipe, the more material and labor, and the more likely a full run replacement beats several repairs.
- Accessa pipe under a driveway, patio, tree roots or the house slab costs more to reach than one under open lawn.
- Materialthe existing pipe and the replacement pipe both matter, since joining old to new takes fittings and care.
- Method and restorationdigging, lining or pipe bursting each have different labor, and landscaping, concrete and paving repair are separate lines.
- Most homeowners policies cover sudden accidental water damage but not the failed pipe or normal wear, and many exclude roots or aging, so check your policy. Call (336) 453-0472 for the real number on your line, with the price explained before work starts.
Two jobs with the same pipe length can still differ widely. A short run under a driveway may cost more effort than a long run across open yard, which is why a quote needs the camera footage behind it.
Spot repair, lining or replacement
Each method fits a different finding. The right one depends on the camera, not on a preference.
| Method | Best fit | Trade-off | Restoration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | One broken joint or a short bad section | Leaves the rest of the old pipe in place | Small trench, local patching. |
| Cleaning only | Grease, roots or buildup in sound pipe | Roots can return if the joint is open | Little to none. |
| Lining | Cracked or root-prone pipe that still holds its shape | Cannot fix a collapsed or badly sagging section | Small access holes. |
| Pipe bursting | Long run with a failed old pipe | Needs entry and exit pits and clear paths | Two pits, less lawn damage. |
| Full replacement | Collapsed, bellied or severely broken pipe | Most digging and cleanup | Largest area to restore. |
A camera inspection comes before any sewer quote makes sense, so call (336) 453-0472 to start there.
How to read a written quote
Put the quotes side by side and check each for these items:
- The camera finding is attached, with the location of the problem marked.
- The method is named, with the pipe length and where the work starts and stops.
- Excavation, backfill and surface restoration are listed as separate lines.
- The material is named, and the connection to the old pipe is described.
- Permit responsibility is stated. Ask the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division at 336-727-2624 whether your job needs one.
- The contractor's license can be checked on the North Carolina licensing board's public search.
- Warranty terms for the repair and for the contractor's workmanship are written down.
Whose pipe is it? Private line versus utility section
In most setups, the line from your house to the point where it joins the sewer main is private, and the main itself belongs to the utility or sewer provider. Where one ends and the other begins is not the same on every street, so do not guess.
Ask your water and sewer provider which part of the line they maintain, and ask the Inspections Division about permit rules. Check your bill to see who supplies your water, because some properties are on a private well or a septic system. If the break is on the utility's side, a private contractor should not be digging it.
Our sewer line repair team can mark the camera finding for the provider to review.
Septic homes follow a different path
A home on septic has no street sewer lead, so the problem is the pipe from the house to the tank, the tank itself, or the drain field. Repairs and costs follow different rules and often involve a septic contractor. Tell any plumber you have a septic system at the first call, before a sewer quote is built.
The Town of Lewisville's septic guidance, covered below, is a good starting point for what upkeep a tank needs.
Serving the area
We handle sewer problems in Clemmons, Lewisville and across our service area, day or night, on the 24/7 line.
Clemmons plumbing note: Lewisville septic guidance
The Town of Lewisville says many homes in town have septic systems. Its guidance advises a professional inspection of an average household septic system at least every three years, tank pumping every three to five years, and keeping wipes, including ones labeled flushable, grease and household chemicals out of the drain. The Town also describes septic failure as costly.
For a repair quote, that means the first question is whether you are on septic or public sewer. The pipe from a septic home goes to a tank, not a street main, and a pumping and inspection history is the first thing a contractor will want to see.
Source: Town of Lewisville septic guidance.
What to do first while you collect sewer quotes
A suspected sewer problem needs a few careful steps before any quote makes sense.
- Limit water use, especially laundry and long showers, if drains are slow or backing up.
- Skip chemical drain cleaners in a main line problem, because they rarely reach the damage and they are hazardous for the next person who opens the pipe.
- Do not dig near buried lines, and call 811 before any digging so utility lines are marked.
- Keep a written record of when backups happen and which fixtures are affected.
- Ask every contractor for a camera inspection result in writing before you compare prices.
Frequently asked questions
Why do two sewer line quotes differ so much?
Usually the scope differs. One may price a spot repair and the other a full run, or one leaves out restoration. Compare the camera finding, method, length and exclusions line by line.
Do I need a camera inspection before a repair quote?
Yes, in most cases. The camera finds the location, extent and type of damage, which decides whether cleaning, lining, spot repair or replacement fits.
Is the sewer line my responsibility or the utility's?
The pipe on your property up to a connection point is often private, but the boundary varies. Ask your water and sewer provider and the Inspections Division before work begins.
Will insurance pay for sewer line repair?
Policies differ. Many cover sudden accidental water damage but not the pipe itself or normal wear, and roots or age are often excluded. Read your policy or ask your agent.
What if my Lewisville home is on septic and not a sewer?
The Town of Lewisville says many homes in town use septic systems. A sewer repair quote does not apply to a septic tank or drain field, so tell any plumber you have septic at the start.
Standards and sources
This guide was written by Clemmons 24/7 Plumbing using general trade practice and the sources named in the local note above. For code questions, the standard to check is the North Carolina State Plumbing Code together with the manufacturer instructions for your product.
Written by Clemmons 24/7 Plumbing. Questions about permits or inspections go to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division at 336-727-2624, and questions about the water on the utility side of your meter go to your water provider.