Sewer Leak Detection Services in Houston

A leaking sewer line does not always start with a backup. Sometimes the first clue is a soggy spot in the yard, a sewage smell outside, or a foundation that starts to move. Finding the leak before digging keeps the repair smaller.

Nick's Plumbing & Air Conditioning has provided sewer leak detection in Houston since 1979. Our licensed plumbers inspect the line with a camera, mark the problem, and then recommend the repair that fits what we find.

Signs of a Sewer Leak

• Wet or sunken yard - A soft spot, or a patch of grass that is much greener than the rest
• Sewage odor - Outside near the foundation, or inside with no obvious clog
• Backups and gurgling - Several drains are slow because the pipe is cracked or offset
• Foundation movement - Doors stick, or new cracks show up in drywall, after the soil under the slab gets wet
• Pests - Flies or rodents around a wet area of the yard

Why Sewer Lines Leak in Houston

• Clay and cast iron pipe - Older lines crack at the joints and rust from the inside
• Expansive clay soil - The ground swells when it rains and shrinks when it dries, which pulls joints apart
• Tree roots - Roots widen a small crack until the pipe leaks and clogs
• A belly - The pipe sags, holds water, and stresses the joints until they open

How We Find the Leak

We start at the cleanout with a sewer camera. The camera shows cracks, separated joints, roots, and low spots, and the footage tells us how far the damage is from the house. We locate that spot in the yard before recommending a repair, so the digging stays limited to the damaged section whenever a spot repair will hold.

What Happens After We Find It

• Spot repair - One bad section is dug up and replaced. See sewer line repair.
• Trenchless lining or pipe bursting - Used when the damage runs along a longer stretch and the yard should stay intact. See trenchless sewer repair.
• Full replacement - The right choice when the pipe is collapsed, badly offset, or failing in several places. See sewer line replacement.

Who Is Responsible for the Sewer Line?

On most Houston homes, the city maintains the main sewer in the street. The lateral, the pipe from your house to the city connection, is the homeowner's responsibility, including the portion under the yard. If sewage is backing up inside, call a plumber. The city is the right call only when the problem is in the public main.

Sewer Leak Detection Cost in Houston

Sewer leak detection at Nick's Plumbing starts at $675. The final price depends on the length of the line and how much of it we need to inspect. Repairs are quoted separately, and we confirm the price before any work begins.

Already know the line is clogged? Start with clogged sewer line repair. Want a scheduled look at the line before it fails? Ask about a plumbing inspection.

Why Houston Homeowners Trust Nick's Plumbing

• Family owned since 1979 - More than 45 years serving Houston homes
• Licensed and insured - Texas Master Plumber License MPL# 38548
• Background-checked technicians - We email you the names and photos of the technicians coming to your home
• Upfront pricing - You approve the price before we start
• VIP members save - Priority scheduling and 10% off with our VIP maintenance plan

Serving The Heights, Montrose, Memorial, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, and surrounding Houston neighborhoods.

Frequently Asked Questions