What we help with
Sewer line replacement
Full or partial replacement of a failed house lateral.
Trenchless sewer repair
Pipe lining (CIPP) and pipe bursting with less digging.
Sewer camera inspection
See what is actually wrong before you pay for a fix.
Sewer backup & emergencies
Sewage in the basement, floor drains backing up.
Lateral, curb trap & main line issues
Which pipe is yours, which is the City's, and what to do.
Got a Notice of Defect?
What PWD’s notice means, your deadline, and how the zero-interest HELP loan works.
Sewer problems in Philadelphia are usually the owner’s to fix
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that the pipe from their house to the sewer main in the street, called the lateral, belongs to them. So do the curb trap, the house main drain, and the connection to the main. If PWD finds a defect, it can serve a Notice of Defect requiring repairs within the period stated on the notice. Read our plain-English guide to PWD’s rules.
What a sewer repair costs in Philadelphia
Published 2026 estimates for Philadelphia vary widely, because a short spot repair and a full lateral replacement under a sidewalk and street are very different jobs:
| Job | Published Philadelphia range |
|---|---|
| Camera inspection | $125–$500 (PlumbingPriceGuide); $100–$500 (Costadia) |
| Spot repair | $1,150–$4,600 (PlumbingPriceGuide) |
| Trenchless lining (CIPP) | $3,450–$11,500 (PlumbingPriceGuide); $4,600–$13,350 (Costadia) |
| Full replacement, all methods | $3,550–$13,400, most about $8,500 (Costadia) |
Your quote depends on depth, length, access, and whether the sidewalk or street must be opened. See the full cost guide with sources.
How it works
- Tell us about the problem by phone or with the short form. It takes about a minute.
- We connect you with a licensed local plumber who handles sewer laterals in your part of the city.
- The plumber calls you, inspects, and gives you a quote. You decide. There is no cost or obligation to use our service.
We are a free referral service, not a plumber. We connect you with an independent, licensed Philadelphia plumber who quotes and does the work. The plumber, not us, sets prices and is responsible for the work. We may receive a fee from plumbers we refer. Full disclosure.
Signs your sewer line needs attention
- Several drains are slow at once, or the basement floor drain gurgles when the toilet flushes
- Sewage or dirty water comes up through the lowest drain in the house
- Clogs that come back after the line is rodded (roots and broken pipe often cause this)
- Sewer smell in the basement or near the front of the house
- A soggy spot, sinkhole or sunken sidewalk over the line
- Backups during heavy rain (see sewer backups, and PWD’s free backwater valve program)
Not sure whether it’s a plumber or PWD? When to call a sewer repair company · Common problems in older Philly homes · All guides
Neighborhoods we cover
All of Philadelphia. Housing age, pipe materials and street layout differ a lot across the city, so we wrote a page for each of these neighborhoods:
South Philadelphia · Queen Village · Fishtown · Port Richmond · Manayunk · Roxborough · Germantown · Mount Airy · West Philadelphia · Northeast Philadelphia