Sewer Line Repair & Replacement in King County
Sewer line problems are the kind you can't ignore: backups, odors, and a house that stops working until the line works again. Lighthouse Plumbing repairs and replaces sewer lines throughout the Snoqualmie Valley and the Eastside — Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, Snoqualmie, Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond — using camera inspection to diagnose accurately and trenchless methods where they fit, so the fix disturbs as little of your property as possible.
If your drains are telling you something is wrong underground, we'll find out exactly what.
Our Sewer Line Services
Sewer Camera Inspection
An HD camera goes down the line and shows us — and you — exactly what's happening inside: the material, the joints, the damage, and where it sits in the yard.
Sewer Line Repair
Cracks, root intrusion, failed joints and obstructions. We repair the damaged section and restore proper flow, and we show you what we fixed.
Sewer Line Replacement
When a line is past repairing, we replace it — by open excavation where that's simplest, or trenchless where it saves your yard.
Trenchless Sewer Repair
Pipe lining and pipe bursting let us renew a failing line through small access points instead of a trench across the lawn.
Root Removal
Tree roots find sewer joints and don't let go on their own. We cut them out, verify the line with the camera, and talk honestly about whether they'll be back.
Sewer Line Cleaning
Hydro jetting scours grease, scale and debris back to the pipe wall — the full-bore cleaning that cabling alone can't do.
Real Sewer Work in Carnation
A Carnation homeowner had sewage backing up into the house, and the camera couldn't get past a hard stop in the main line. PJ and Alexander excavated about three feet down at the blockage point, opened the line, and pulled out the culprit: a rusted metal disc — an old cap that had somehow found its way into the sewer and wedged where the fittings narrowed. With the obstruction out, they reattached the line's snorkel vent assembly, ran water to confirm proper flow, and backfilled the excavation before leaving.
That job is a fair picture of how we approach sewer work: diagnose until the actual cause is in hand, fix that, prove the flow, and leave the site the way we found it. Sometimes the answer is roots, sometimes a collapsed section — and sometimes it's a mystery object with a story nobody will ever know.
Warning Signs of Sewer Line Problems
A failing sewer line usually announces itself before it fails completely. Worth a call if you're seeing:
- Multiple slow drains at once — one slow drain is a fixture problem; several is a main line problem
- Sewage backing up into tubs, showers or floor drains
- Gurgling from toilets and drains when other fixtures run
- Sewer odors in the yard or the house
- Unusually green or soggy patches over the line's path
- Pests finding something underground that they like
How We Diagnose
1. Camera the line
We run the camera before recommending anything, because guessing about buried pipe is expensive. You see the footage with us.
2. Locate the problem
Once we find damage, we mark exactly where it sits and how deep — so any digging is targeted, not exploratory.
3. Recommend honestly
Cleaning, repair, or replacement — you get the option that actually fits the line's condition, with the reasoning laid out.
Trenchless Options
When the line's condition and layout allow it, trenchless methods renew a sewer without excavating its whole path:
Pipe Lining (CIPP)
A resin liner is cured inside the existing pipe, creating a new jointless pipe within the old one — well suited to cracked or root-damaged lines that still hold their shape.
Pipe Bursting
A new pipe is pulled through while the old one is broken outward — the answer for badly damaged or collapsed sections that lining can't save.
Not every line qualifies, and we'll tell you plainly when open excavation is the sounder choice.
Why Choose Lighthouse for Sewer Work
Camera-first diagnosis
No recommendations before evidence. You see what we see.
Valley and Eastside experience
From Carnation farm properties to Issaquah hillsides, we work this county's soils, slopes and pipe vintages every week.
The right method, not the favorite one
We run cable, jetter, camera and excavation — so the recommendation fits your line, not our schedule.
Transparent pricing
Options and numbers before work begins, and we stand behind the price we quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my sewer line is clogged or broken?
From inside the house they feel similar — slow drains, backups, gurgling — which is why the camera matters. A clog clears and the line looks sound behind it; a break shows cracked, offset or collapsed pipe that will keep causing trouble. We show you the footage either way, so the diagnosis isn't a matter of trust.
How much does sewer line repair cost?
It spans a wide range because the problems do: clearing an obstruction costs far less than excavating and repairing a section, and a full replacement is its own project. What moves the number is depth, length, access and method. We give you a firm quote after the camera tells us which problem you actually have.
How long does sewer line replacement take?
Trenchless work usually runs one to two days. Traditional excavation depends on the length and depth of the line — a short, shallow run can still be quick, while a deep line under landscaping takes longer. Either way you'll know the expected timeline, and the water stays on for most of it.
Will you have to dig up my yard?
Not necessarily. Trenchless lining and bursting work through small access points, and even conventional repairs are targeted digs at the damage we've located — not exploratory trenches. On the Carnation job above, the whole fix happened through one three-foot excavation placed exactly where the camera said to dig.
What causes sewer line damage?
Tree roots working into joints, age taking its toll on clay and concrete pipe, ground movement, bellies where the line has settled, grease and debris buildup — and occasionally a genuine surprise, like the metal cap we pulled out of a Carnation main. Most causes develop slowly, which is why early warning signs are worth acting on.
How long do sewer lines last?
It depends on the material under your yard. Clay and concrete lines — common under older homes here — give fifty to seventy-five years, with their joints failing first. Cast iron runs similar. Modern PVC can outlast the mortgage and then some. A camera inspection tells you what you have and how much life is left in it.
When You Suspect the Sewer
Don't wait for it to become certain. We'll put a camera down the line and tell you exactly where you stand.
More: drain cleaning · a horizontal boring sewer job in the valley · plumbing in Carnation · plumbing in Fall City · Snoqualmie Valley plumbing questions