Nationwide Plumbers repairs and replaces house sewer lines in Brooklyn and across NYC. We camera-inspect the line first to find the exact break, then do a spot repair, replace the house trap, or replace the line to the city sewer, filing the DOB, DEP and DOT permits the job requires. Call 718-748-2727, 24/7.
Signs your sewer line needs repair
A sewer line that only needs cleaning clears and stays clear. A line that needs repair keeps coming back. Call us when you see:
- Sewage backing up into the basement floor drain or lowest toilet, again and again
- Several drains slow at the same time
- Gurgling toilets and drains when a washing machine or tub empties
- Sewer smell in the basement or near the front yard
- Soggy or sunken spots between the house and the street
- Roots or broken pieces of pipe coming out on the cable after a cleaning
Camera first, then the repair
Every sewer repair starts with a sewer camera inspection. We run the camera from the cleanout or house trap to the city main, record the video and mark the location and depth of any problem from the surface. You see exactly what we see, so the decision is based on the pipe, not a guess.
Repair options
Spot repair. When one section is cracked, offset or collapsed and the rest of the line is sound, we excavate at that spot and replace only the bad section.
House trap replacement. Many Brooklyn homes still have the original running trap just inside the front wall. A cracked or packed trap is one of the most common causes of basement backups, and replacing it is often the fix.
Full sewer replacement. Old clay and cast iron lines that are broken in several places, full of roots or bellied are replaced from the house to the city sewer connection, with new pipe, cleanouts and a properly pitched run.
Cleaning and maintenance. If the camera shows the pipe is sound and the problem is grease or roots, we clear it with hydro jetting instead of digging.
Permits and city work
In NYC the owner is responsible for the sewer line all the way to the city main, including the part under the sidewalk and street. Sewer work is filed by a licensed master plumber, and digging in the sidewalk or roadway needs city permits for the street opening and the sewer connection. We file the permits, coordinate the inspections and restore the sidewalk or roadway when the job is done.
Why Brooklyn owners call Nationwide Plumbers
- Since 1984. We have dug up and replaced sewers under brownstones, row houses and apartment buildings for decades.
- Licensed master plumber. NYC Master Plumber License #2023, fully insured.
- Video proof. You see the camera footage before and after the repair.
- Written estimate first. No surprises once the digging starts.
- 24/7 emergency service for active sewer backups.
Sewer Line Repair and Replacement in Brooklyn: FAQ
Who is responsible for the sewer line in NYC?
In New York City the property owner is responsible for the house sewer from the building all the way to the connection at the city sewer main, including the part under the sidewalk and street.
How do you know the line needs repair and not just cleaning?
We run a sewer camera through the line. The video shows breaks, offsets, sags, collapsed sections and root intrusion, and we show you the footage before recommending any repair.
Do you need permits to replace a sewer line?
Yes. Sewer work is filed by a licensed master plumber, and work in the sidewalk or street needs city permits for the excavation and the sewer connection. We file them as part of the job.
Can you repair only the broken section?
Often, yes. When the camera shows one bad section and the rest of the line is sound, a spot repair is usually the right call. If the line is failing in several places, replacement is the longer-lasting fix.
Do you give a written estimate first?
Yes. You get a written estimate based on the camera inspection before any digging starts.
