Many homeowners in NYC will experience a sewer backup this year. The most common issue causing sewage to back up in the basement sewer trap, is due to roots. It is common for roots from a nearby tree to grow through the joints of a sewer line or even through the pipe itself if made of clay. One temporary solution is the clear the sewer line with a sewer snake, with this method the roots are actually cut out of the pipe with a blade that is on the end of the sewer snake. If the roots have grown too dense you can try to utilize a water jet to clear the roots, which is successful in many scenarios.
Unfortunately this was only partially true in the scenario displayed on our video. The initial root blockage at 20’ was cleared using a water jet but the second section of piping at 27’ could not be cleared, due to the severity of the root intrusion. It is also possible that the pipe itself has a crack or separation, which will not allow the water jet to clear the pipe either. In these types of scenarios the plumber may not ever be able to determine the exact cause of the sewer problem, but will determine the location. Providing the location alone is usually enough information to repair the pipe.
Due to the secondary problem the sidewalk had to be excavated with a backhoe, after digging 9’ deep the onsite crew reached the existing sewer pipe.
 |
The crew now began installing three sections of new cast iron piping
Preparing cast iron for installation |
Installing new cast iron |
The DEP inspector arrived at the job site by 2pm and passed the sewer line repair, the crew now had to back-fill and tamper the sidewalk in preparation for the final restoration of concrete.
