Drain & Sewer — Houston, TX

Drain & Sewer in Houston: what to know

Older homes in Texas's big metros — much of Houston and Dallas among them — were often built with cast-iron or clay sewer lines that corrode, crack, and separate at the joints after decades underground. On top of that, much of Texas sits on expansive clay soil that swells when wet and shrinks in drought, and that seasonal movement can shift and crack buried drain and sewer lines, including the ones running under a slab. Those cracks and open joints let tree roots work in, which is a leading cause of the recurring backups Texas homeowners see. A camera inspection is how a plumber actually confirms what's happening in the line instead of guessing.

What affects the cost

• How the line can be reached — an existing exterior cleanout is far easier to work through than pulling a toilet or going in from a roof vent.
• The clearing method — cabling/snaking a soft clog versus hydro-jetting to cut through heavy root intrusion or grease buildup.
• Whether a camera inspection and line locating are needed to find the blockage or break, and how deep the line runs.
• Pipe material and location — old cast iron or clay, and whether the damaged section is out in the yard or under the foundation slab.
• Scope of the fix — clearing a clog versus a spot repair versus replacing a full run of line.
• Repair approach — open-trench digging versus trenchless methods (pipe bursting or lining) where the line and site allow, plus any city permit and inspection required for a replacement (this varies city by city).

How to choose a Drain & Sewer contractor

• Confirm the work is done by a Texas state-licensed plumber — sewer and drain-line work is plumbing, licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) — and ask for the license number.
• Before approving a large repair, ask for a camera inspection and to see the video yourself, so a replacement is something you can verify rather than take on faith.
• Get an itemized written estimate that separates simply clearing the clog from repairing or replacing the line.
• Ask whether the repair or replacement needs a city permit and inspection (it often does, and rules vary by city) and confirm the contractor pulls it.
• Compare bids on the same scope, and ask whether a trenchless option is possible and what warranty comes with the repair.