How you know it has collapsed
A collapse behaves differently from a clog. With a blockage, water goes down slowly and eventually clears. With a collapse, nothing moves at all, and a cable sent down the line stops at the same point every time rather than breaking through.
Other signs that point at structural failure rather than an obstruction:
- Sewage backing up through the lowest drain in the house, usually a basement floor drain
- A patch of lawn that has sunk, or is suddenly much greener than the rest
- Sewage smell in the yard rather than inside
- A drain cable that stops dead at a consistent distance
- Multiple fixtures out at once with no improvement over hours
What causes a lateral to collapse here
Collapses are the end of a process, not a sudden event. In Littleton that process usually runs one of four ways.
| Cause | Typical pipe | Usually seen in |
|---|---|---|
| Joint separation then soil washout | Vitrified clay | Pre-1950 downtown streets |
| Deformation under load | Orangeburg | 1945–1972 housing |
| Corrosion through the invert | Cast iron | 1950s–70s subdivisions |
| Crushing from above | Any | Driveways, heavy vehicles, settlement |
The common thread is that a camera run would have shown the problem years earlier, while it was still a lining or spot-repair job rather than an emergency excavation.
What we do when we get there
- Confirm it. Camera to the point of failure. A collapse is unmistakable on screen.
- Locate it precisely. The sonde gives us distance and depth, so the dig is as small as it can be.
- Assess the rest of the line. If we can get the camera past the collapse from the other end, we will, because it decides between a spot repair and a full replacement.
- Permit and 811. Pulled the same day where the situation is urgent.
- Repair. One failed section replaced, or the full run if the rest is in the same condition.
- Camera again. Footage of the finished line.
Spot repair or full replacement
If the collapse is one section and the camera shows sound pipe either side, replacing that section is enough, and it costs a fraction of a full replacement. If the rest of the line is the same age, the same material and showing the same early signs, replacing one section means digging again in a few years. Full replacement is the better spend in that case, and the footage is what tells you which situation you are in.
Nothing draining at all?
Stop running water, keep everyone clear of standing sewage, and call. We answer 24 hours.
Call (303) 555-0147Questions we get asked
Can a collapsed sewer line be repaired without digging?
Lining is ruled out, because a liner needs a round host pipe to cure against. Pipe bursting sometimes gets through a partial collapse. A full collapse has to be dug, though a precise locate keeps the excavation to the smallest area possible.
How quickly can you get out to a collapse?
We answer the phone 24 hours and treat a total stoppage as urgent, because sewage has nowhere to go but back into the house. We will give you an honest arrival window when you call rather than an optimistic one.
What should I do while I wait?
Stop running water anywhere in the house, including the washing machine and dishwasher. Keep people and pets away from any standing sewage. Do not keep flushing to test it — each flush adds to what has to go somewhere.
Will my insurance cover a collapsed sewer line?
Standard homeowners policies usually exclude the pipe itself, treating the failure as wear. Many do cover the water damage a backup causes inside the house, and some insurers sell a separate service line endorsement. Check your declarations page for service line coverage.
A collapse does not wait
Sewage has nowhere to go but back into the house, so this is not a Monday-morning job. Stop running water and call.
Platte Sewer Co. — sewer line repair in Littleton, CO. Open 24 hours.