Reliable Sewer Line Inspection, Repairs & Replacement in Glencoe
Your sewer line is the backbone of your home's wastewater system—often out of sight and out of mind until a problem escalates. I’ve seen it many times in Glencoe: homeowners overlook slow draining sinks or toilets, and before they know it, raw sewage is backing up into the basement. That cleanup and repair is never cheap. The silver lining is many sewer failures send clear warnings beforehand. The tricky part is recognizing those signs when they first appear.
At your first call to us at 224-269-8107, we’ll start with a sewer camera inspection. No guessing games here — we insert a waterproof camera to videotape the inside of your pipe so we can pinpoint the exact issue. Whether it’s a root ball clogging a joint, a cracked clay pipe that’s collapsed, or just some buildup that needs flushing, you’ll see everything alongside us. We won’t quote repairs until we know exactly what’s going on.
Our services cover everything from thorough drain cleaning and camera inspections to spot repairs, trenchless pipe lining, pipe bursting replacements, and full-scale excavation and pipe replacement. Got sewage backing up right now? Call us anytime for emergency service 24/7. Every job starts with a clear, upfront estimate.
Our Sewer Line Services
Sewer Camera Inspection
We deploy a waterproof, high-res camera into your sewer line via a cleanout or toilet flange to get a live view inside your pipes. This lets us spot root damage, cracks, joint separation, blockages, grease buildup, and pipe collapses. The video is recorded so you can see the condition yourself — no guesswork.
If you’re buying a home in Glencoe, this inspection is crucial since most home inspections skip the sewer lateral. We also use camera inspections as part of our drain cleaning service if you’re facing frequent clogs.
Trenchless Sewer Repair (CIPP Pipe Lining)
Trenchless pipe lining repairs your sewer pipe from the inside without digging up your yard. We insert a flexible liner coated with resin into your existing pipe, inflate it to fit snugly, and cure it using heat or UV light. This creates a new, pipe within the old one that resists corrosion and root intrusion, lasting decades.
This method is ideal if your pipe is structurally sound but has cracks or root damage. It’s less disruptive and often more affordable than traditional digging — a good fit for many Glencoe homes with clay or cast iron laterals.
Pipe Bursting (Trenchless Replacement)
If the pipe’s too damaged for lining but you want to avoid a full trench, pipe bursting is the solution. We pull a bursting head through the old pipe to break it apart while simultaneously pulling a new HDPE pipe into place. This replaces your sewer line with minimal excavation—just small digs at entry and exit points.
Pipe bursting works well in Illinois soils and typical residential pipe lengths. However, if your line has deep sags or sharp grade changes, traditional excavation might be better. We’ll assess which method fits your situation.
Conventional Sewer Line Excavation & Replacement
When trenchless isn’t an option—like with a collapsed pipe or severe offsets—we dig to access the damaged section. We remove the failing pipe and install new schedule 40 PVC with the proper slope and bedding. We take care to restore your yard and coordinate any required permits.
We always discuss if trenchless repair is possible before recommending excavation. This is also a good time to check your water line since those pipes often run nearby underground.
Root Removal & Prevention
Tree roots are a major headache in sewer lines around Illinois. They invade cracked pipes or joints, growing and causing blockages. We cut out root intrusions with mechanical cutters, then flush the pipes clean with high-pressure hydro jetting. But cutting roots is just a temporary fix unless the pipe is repaired or replaced to stop future invasions. If roots have damaged your internal drain pipes, we can handle those repairs too.
Sewer Lines in Glencoe—What We See on Camera
Glencoe's homes have a range of sewer pipe types that reflect their build era. Many houses built from the 1950s through early 1970s feature clay tile laterals with bell-and-spigot joints that are prone to root intrusion. Illinois’ freeze-thaw cycles make soil movement common, causing joint separation over time. If your house dates before 1975, root invasion or pipe joint issues could already be developing underground.
From the 1970s to 80s, a lot of homes combined cast iron drain pipes inside with clay or early PVC sewer laterals outside. Cast iron corrodes from the inside as it ages, often narrowing the flow path. If your Glencoe ranch or split-level from the 80s has sluggish drains throughout, corrosion could be the culprit.
The common trees around here—willows, oaks, silver maples, cottonwoods—are aggressive root seekers. If any are within about 30 feet of your sewer lateral, especially if the pipe runs near a large, mature tree, it’s smart to get a camera inspection before you see backups or flooding.
Signs Your Sewer Line Might Be Failing
- Several drains clogging or draining slowly at once
- Toilets making gurgling noises when other water runs
- Persistent sewage smells in basement or yard
- Bright green, unusually lush grass patches over sewer line
- Wet or sunken spots along the sewer pipe path in your lawn
- Water backing up from basement floor drains
- Rodents entering the home via damaged sewer piping
- Recurring sewer backups despite regular drain cleaning
Common Sewer Pipe Types by Construction Era
Pre-1970 Glencoe homes: Clay tile (terracotta), prone to root intrusion at the joints and may be 60–70+ years old
1950s–1970s: Orangeburg pipe (tar paper-based), which compresses and deteriorates quickly—replacement is urgent if present
1970s–1980s: Cast iron inside with clay or early PVC laterals outside—cast iron often corrodes internally
After 1985: Schedule 40 PVC pipe—durable, smooth interior, corrosion-resistant, and long-lasting
Common Questions About Sewer Lines
If multiple drains slow down or back up at the same time, toilets gurgle when you run water elsewhere, there’s a sewage smell inside or outside, or the lawn shows green patches or sinking spots, those all suggest a sewer issue. Also, if backups keep happening even after drain cleaning, it’s time to get a camera inspection.
Trenchless sewer repair uses methods like pipe lining or pipe bursting to fix your sewer line through small access points without digging a long trench. This works when the pipe isn’t too damaged and the soil conditions are stable. We’ll tell you whether your sewer qualifies—if so, it usually saves time, money, and yard disruption compared to traditional digging.
Costs vary a lot depending on damage and repair type. Clearing roots can be a few hundred dollars, pipe lining often runs between $3,000 and $8,000, and full replacements in tricky soil can exceed $10,000. We inspect with a camera first and provide a solid estimate so you know what to expect.
Clay tile pipes last around 50 to 60 years but many in Glencoe are beyond that age. Cast iron pipes typically last 50 to 75 years. PVC pipes can last over a century. Orangeburg pipes generally fail sooner—30 to 50 years. Scheduling regular inspections helps catch problems early.
Definitely. Standard home inspections don’t cover sewer laterals, which can hide damage like roots or deterioration that cause costly backups. A camera inspection before purchase is a smart investment to avoid surprises after closing.