Whether you are a homeowner or business owner, having a functioning sewage line is essential to releasing any wastewater from your building and into the main sewage line. 

Any issues with the sewage lines can cause sewage water to back up into the clean water supply and even leak through the building’s infrastructure and outside grounds. 

Even though sewage lines are built to last a lifetime, general wear and tear, as well as external forces can result in the lines clogging up, breaking, or leaking. 

Dealing with replacing or repairing sewer lines requires specialized professionals and should never be done on your own; as it is both dangerous and illegal to do without the right permits and insurance.

But how do you decide what sewer repair service to go with? And what should you be looking for when it comes to finding a contractor that gives you the best value for your money?

In this guide, we will answer these questions and more by looking at the top 10 tips for hiring a sewer repair service in Southern California. 

Why Might You Need Sewer Repair & Replacement Services?

Maintaining a home or commercial building is never easy. 

As property owners you always have to be on the lookout for potential infrastructure problems that can result in costly repairs in the future.

Maintaining drainage and sewage lines is therefore just as important as maintaining your building’s roofing and exterior walls. 

However, the problem with sewage lines is that they can’t be seen. The saying “out of sight, out of mind” holds true here and, as such, when a sewage problem does arise it often goes unnoticed until the problem is quite severe.

This doesn’t always have to be the case. For slow-moving drainage and clogging issues, techniques such as snaking and hydro jetting have proven to be quite effective. 

These techniques are inexpensive and quick methods of ensuring your sewage lines remain clean and clog free helping extend their useful life. 

However, breaks and leakages in a sewage line are inevitable as the piping does eventually wear out. It can take a lifetime, but if a sewage line breaks or is leaking, a replacement may be your only option.  

10 Tips for Hiring Outstanding Sewer Repair Contractors

When it comes to hiring a sewer repair service company, opting for the most experienced, reliable, and skilled professionals you can find is often the best way to go. 

However, that is easier said than done. Unless you use these top tips that will help you ultimately decide on a sewer repair service that is best suited to the job at hand and your needs. 

Learning About Your Sewage System & How to Read a Sewer Map

Before even beginning to look for a sewage repair service you should first learn more about your building’s sewage system. What kind of layout does it have? Have the sewage lines been replaced or fixed before? And what could be the problem causing the issue at hand?

You can find most of this information online through forums and homeowner groups. Having basic knowledge about the issue at hand can be a huge help when discussing appropriate strategies to tackle the problem at hand with potential sewer repair service providers.  

Shortlisting Contractors with Master Plumbers Licenses, Permits & Appropriate Insurance

Once you feel you have an understanding of the problem at hand and how your building’s sewage system works you should now look for sewer repair service in your area either online or through print media.

If you find a contractor that meets your requirements in Southern California, the first thing you need to do is make sure they have a valid c36 plumbing contractor license and meet the specified bond, insurance, and other permits required by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board (CSLB).

All service providers that meet these requirements can be shortlisted while others, no matter how good they look, should be avoided at all costs.   

Ask Friends & Family for Recommendations

You should also always ask family members and friends if they have had to call upon the services of a sewer repair contractor and if so, what their experience was like. 

Their first-hand accounts can help you learn a lot about the type of problem you could be potentially dealing with and the issues and pitfalls that could arise when dealing with a sewage repair service provider.

If you get a couple of recommendations that have provided top-notch service in the past this could be a huge plus when it comes to making your decision easier as to who to go with. Especially, if you are undecided between a couple of potential options. 

Read Up on Testimonials, Reviews, & References

It goes without saying that before committing to a sewer repair service provider you should always read up on any testimonials, reviews, and references they have on their website, as well as on other unbiased platforms such as Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, Google, etc.

You can also ask a sewer repair contractor to provide references for jobs they have previously done in your area and whether they have the right codes and permit requirements for your state or township. 

The best contractors have a list of references on hand and will happily share customer contact information with prospective clients. 

If a company or contractor is unable to provide relevant references or has no real testimonials or reviews that can be verified and trusted, under no circumstances should you work with them.

Check Years of Experience & Track Record

The more years a contractor or company has been in the sewer repair business the better. 

When it comes to blue-collar job professions such as plumbing, the more hands-on experience a plumber has the more adept they usually are at handling various types of complex plumbing issues. 

Plumbers that have a decade or more of experience are faster at gauging what the problem is and what the best solution to fixing it would be. They will also know exactly how long the job would take and a rough estimate of how much it would cost.

Track record is another thing you should always look out for. 

How many jobs has a sewer repair contractor or company done in the past and in which areas? Have there been any issues with any of the projects they have handled? What type of reputation do they have in the market and their BBB rating? 

Finding answers to these questions can help narrow the shortlist to just a handful of potentials. 

Transparency, Trust, & Honesty

No one likes working with a person or company that is sheepish or ambiguous in how they operate. 

While it is hard to measure things like honesty, trust, and level of transparency they are indicators that can help you assess whether a plumbing contractor is sincere or a bit dodgy.

Plumbers that aren’t completely transparent or truthful about the scope of work, schedule, and costs can result in a bad experience that can lead to arguments, disputes, and in some cases, even legal action.

This is why it is essential that whatever agreement you make with a plumber you get that agreement in writing. This way if they do go against what was promised you have the contract terms in writing to back up your claims. 

Evaluate The Tools & Gadgets They Have at Their Disposal

Sewer repairs require the use of specialized tools and high-tech specialist equipment. Based on your sewage issue, inquire about the type of diagnostic and repair tools that the service provider has at their disposal. 

The best contractors and sewage repair service providers will have a wide array of cutting-edge tools and technologies to deal with all types of sewage issues such as damaged pipes, blockages, bellied pipes, corrosion, leaking joints, and tree root infiltration.

Ask About the Warranty/Guarantee Period For Installation & Repairs

Does a sewage repair contractor or company stand behind their work? The top plumbing contractors do! 

Top service providers will often offer a warranty or guarantee period for any sewage installation or repair work they do that can span over many years.

A top tip is to get this warranty or guarantee claim in writing. Most contractors will verbally state the warranty terms without offering anything in writing. 

Don’t make the mistake of taking their word for it and always ask that the guarantee or warranty period be clearly stated in the contract agreement.

Analyze Cost Vs. Value

A sewer repair or rehabilitation job can be an expensive undertaking. As such, once you have shortlisted your top candidates you should call them up and get an estimate from each one. 

While the cheapest estimate you get might seem like the best option, you need to take into account all the other factors we have discussed thus far. 

If an estimate is far cheaper than the rest of the estimates you have gotten, chances are that that contractor or company hasn’t understood the scope of the work or is using old-fashioned tools and low-grade materials to fix the issue. 

While the budget is important, what’s more, important is getting the most bang for your buck! That means hiring the best experts for the job at hand at the best rate possible.

Take Your Time & Don’t Make Rash Decisions

This is a very important tip. 

When it comes to sewage issues it is natural to feel pressured to deal with the problem right away and hire the first sewage repair service you come across. However, don’t do this unless it is a dire emergency.

Most sewer repair service jobs can be delayed at least for a few days which should give you enough time to do your due diligence and find the right contractor that has all the things you are looking for and fall within budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) How much does sewer repair service cost?

The answer to this question depends solely on the type of repair job at hand. The price for a sewer line replacement, for example, can cost anywhere from $1,500-$25,000 while a drain cleaning or sewage cleaning job can cost as low as $80-$300.

Q) How to find the best sewer repair service deals?

Recommendations from family and friends, and searching online are the best ways to find the best sewer repair service companies near you with the best deals. All Service Plumbers in Los Alamitos CA, offers coupons, exclusive first-time customer discounts, and promotional offers that can help lower estimated costs and get you the best value for money.  

Q) Why are emergency or after-hour costs always higher?

Think about it, if you need something urgently and the seller you are getting it from knows that, chances are, they are going to try and get the most money out of you. This is why emergency or after-hours sewer repair service costs are always going to be higher than if you get that same job done in regular hours.

Why Partner with All Service Plumbers for Sewer Line Repair & Replacement Services?

Those of you seeking a reliable, trustworthy, licensed, and highly experienced sewer repair service company in Southern California should look no further than All Service Plumbers. 

Based out of Los Alamitos, CA, we are SoCal’s sewer and drain experts and can handle any sewer repair service job including trenchless sewer repair, rehabilitating damaged or corroded pipes, hydro jetting and drain cleaning, and septic to sewer conversion.

We are a LA City bonded sewer contractor that has a flawless track record and many happy clients that have nothing but good things to say about our service, professionalism, and work ethic.

Contact us today for a free consultation and estimate!

Here is a list of the areas we operate in:

  • Orange
  • Newport Beach
  • Cerritos
  • Anaheim
  • Long Beach
  • Bellflower
  • Tustin
  • Santa Fe Springs
  • West Covina
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  • Brea
  • Buena Park
  • Capistrano Beach
  • Corona Del Mar
  • Costa Mesa
  • Cypress
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  • Foothill Ranch
  • Fountain Valley
  • Fullerton
  • Garden Grove
  • Huntington Beach
  • Irvine
  • La Habra
  • La Palma
  • Ladera Ranch
  • Laguna Beach
  • Laguna Hills
  • Laguna Niguel
  • Laguna Woods
  • Lake Forest
  • Los Alamitos
  • Midway City
  • Mission Viejo
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  • San Clemente
  • San Juan Capistrano
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  • Sierra Madre
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  • South El Monte