Main Sewer Line Repair in Roswell, GA

Most of the time, main sewer line repair means fixing the pipe where it lies. Sometimes, though, where it lies is the real problem. A line running under a planned addition, through a big tree's roots, beneath a future pool or under the driveway may be better moved than mended. For a Roswell homeowner weighing that choice, a reroute can cure the current failure and remove a future headache in a single project.

Reasons to move a sewer line

• An addition, garage, pool or patio is planned on top of the current route
• The pipe passes so close to a large tree that roots will keep finding it
• It runs beneath a driveway or structure where every future repair would be disruptive
• The old route has a long sag or too little fall that cannot be corrected in place
• The pipe is failing along most of its length, so new pipe is needed anyway

What limits a new route

Sewage moves by gravity, so the new path needs a steady downhill slope from the house to the connection, with no dips along the way. The starting point is fixed by where the building drain leaves the foundation, and the end point is usually fixed by the existing tap on the public sewer. In between, the route must stay clear of water, gas and electric lines, keep a sensible distance from foundations and remain on the property. Bends call for long-sweep fittings, and a cleanout near any change of direction keeps the new line easy to service.

Planning the new path

Planning begins with a sewer camera inspection and a locator survey of the existing line, showing where it runs, how deep it sits and where it meets the tap. Elevations at the house and at the connection show how much fall is available. Marked utilities, trees, structures and the planned project then go on one sketch, and the route that holds its slope past the fewest obstacles usually wins. With an addition, talk to the builder early, since new construction plumbing for the addition and the reroute can often be scheduled together.

Building the new line

A new route is normally built by open trench through sewer excavation, because lining and pipe bursting follow the old pipe rather than creating a new path. The pipe is bedded, sloped and connected at both ends, then tested and inspected before the trench is closed. The old line is disconnected and either dug out or capped and left in the ground, depending on what sits above it. Our Georgia main sewer line repair overview explains how this compares with repairing a line in place.

Fulton County steps at the sewer tap

Where a reroute reaches the public sewer, Fulton County's process runs alongside the city permit. The county's sewer connection flowchart has the plumber connect the new pipe to the existing tap and leave that connection uncovered until the county has inspected it. Under Fulton County's requirements for lateral connections, the plumber also calls the county inspector at least three days before the lateral goes in, so that notice belongs in the schedule. Ask the county early how both steps apply to your reroute.

Roswell permits for moving a line

Permits for installing, altering, repairing or replacing plumbing in Roswell come from the Building Division, and they go to contractors who hold the proper license or to owners who live in the home being altered. Moving a sewer line means laying new pipe, so plan on a permit.

Questions about rerouting a sewer line in Roswell

Can I build an addition over my existing sewer line?

Building over a sewer line is generally avoided, because a defect under a foundation becomes very hard to reach. Depending on the design, the choices include rerouting around the addition, replacing the covered stretch with new pipe and adding access points, or tying the addition's plumbing into a new route. The building department and your builder will both have a say in which approach works.

What happens to the old pipe after a reroute?

It is disconnected at both ends so it no longer carries anything. Often it is capped and left in place, especially under a driveway, patio or mature tree, where pulling it out would do needless damage. Where it sits in the way of new footings or a pool, that stretch is dug out. Writing down where the abandoned pipe runs helps anyone who digs there later.

Does a new route need a new sewer tap?

Usually not. Most reroutes connect back to the existing tap, since that is where the public sewer already expects the house to join. A brand-new tap involves the sewer provider and its own approvals, so reusing the old connection keeps the project simpler and the schedule shorter.

Map a better route

Whether you are planning an addition or a pool, or are simply tired of a line that keeps failing at your Roswell home, a conversation with Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448 can settle whether to repair in place or move the line.