What a cracked line does to your house
A crack has two effects. Wastewater leaks out into the soil around the pipe, and soil, roots and groundwater get in. The leak softens the ground. The roots follow the moisture and widen the opening, which makes the next clog worse.
That is why a cracked line behaves differently from an ordinary clog. Cleaning the pipe clears the blockage but does nothing for the break, so the symptoms come back.
| Symptom | What it suggests | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Clog returns within weeks of cleaning | Roots entering a joint or crack | Camera inspection |
| Wet, sunken or unusually green strip of lawn | Wastewater leaking from the pipe | Camera and locate the line |
| Sewer smell in the basement or yard | Broken pipe or dried trap | Camera, then check traps |
| Several drains slow or gurgling at once | Main line restriction or collapse | Clear the line, then camera |
| Foundation cracks or settling near the line | Soil washing out around the pipe | Camera and structural check |
A camera shows the pipe from the inside, so the diagnosis rests on footage instead of symptoms.
How the inspection works
We feed a small waterproof camera down the line from a cleanout or a pulled toilet. It records the pipe wall as it goes, so you see cracks, offset joints, root masses, sags and any section that has collapsed. A locator at the surface marks how deep the damage is and where it sits.
If the line is full of roots or debris, we clear it first so the camera can see. You get a plain explanation of what the footage shows. Our sewer inspection work is built around that conversation, because the repair choice depends on the pipe, not on a sales plan.
Repair paths and when each one fits
Spot repair
A short break in one place is cut out and replaced. It suits a damaged joint or a single crack with sound pipe on both sides.
Trenchless lining
A resin-soaked liner is pulled in and cured against the old wall. It suits a pipe that is still round and in place.
Full replacement
A collapsed, sagging or badly offset run is replaced. It is the more disruptive route and sometimes the only honest one.
Lining does not rescue every pipe. A section that has collapsed or has a large belly cannot be lined, and a liner over an unfixed sag still holds water. Our sewer line repair quotes explain which category your line falls into and why.
Before any dig, we call JULIE 811 so buried utilities are marked. Call at least three days before digging, and note that the service is free. Gas lines run in the same ground as sewer laterals, which is why this step is never skipped.
If sewage is backing up into your house
Stop using water in the house. Keep children and pets away from the affected area, and stay out of standing water near outlets or appliances. Do not run the washer or flush toilets.
The Village of Woodridge asks you to call Public Works right away so the public sanitary line can be inspected. After hours, the Village says to dial 911. That check matters because a blockage in the street main is the Village's job, and a crack on your side is yours. If you smell gas at any point, leave the house and call Nicor Gas at 888-642-6748 or 911.
Sewer repair and the Village of Woodridge
Village Public Works handles sewage collection and transmission, and sewage then goes to an area treatment plant run by DuPage County. The Village prohibits draining sump pump water, pool water, and gutter or downspout drainage into the sanitary sewer. If a downspout or pump was connected to your drain, stop that connection first, because extra water makes every sewer defect worse.
Woodridge reimburses 50 percent of the installation cost, up to a maximum for each project type, for an overhead sewer system, a sump pump or a check valve, after approval and presentation of paid receipts. If a camera finds a line that keeps backing up in heavy rain, ask Public Works for current terms before work starts. Approval after the fact is the usual way these programs go wrong.
Plumbing work needs a permit and the Village says sewer repairs can be same-day permits. Community Development at 630-719-4750 handles them. Plumbers must be licensed under State statutes, and you can check any license on the IDPH Plumbing Licensing page.
Census-based estimates put the median Woodridge home at 1980, with nearly half built from 1970 to 1989. Lines from that era include clay, cast iron and early plastic, and each has its own failure mode. Camera footage tells you which one you have.
Neighbors face different rules. Naperville runs a sanitary sewer backflow device reimbursement program that requires approval before work, and Downers Grove sits in the Downers Grove Sanitary District, which runs its own overhead sewer program. Woodridge homes follow the Village process described above.
Deciding whether to repair now or watch it
A hairline crack in a dry, stable line may be fine for a while, and we will say so. A crack that is actively leaking, letting in roots or sitting under a driveway or tree is not a thing to watch. Written footage lets you compare the line over time and decide with evidence.
Check your policy too. Many policies exclude wear and tear in a buried line, and sewer backup coverage is often an added endorsement. Ask your agent before work, not after.
Need a plumber while you read?
Our line is open around the clock, and dispatch can book a visit for the same day when a technician is free.
Questions we hear
Repeat clogs, gurgling drains, sewer smells and wet or sunken ground are the main signs. A camera inspection is the only way to confirm a crack and see how bad it is.
No. Many cracked lines can be lined or spot repaired with little digging. A collapsed or badly sagging section usually needs replacement.
Call Village Public Works right away so the public sanitary line can be checked. After hours, dial 911. Then call a plumber to clear and inspect your own line.
The Village reimburses 50 percent of installation cost, up to a maximum for each project type, for an overhead sewer system, a sump pump or a check valve. You need approval first and must present paid receipts. Ask Public Works for current terms before work starts.
Roots usually enter through an existing crack or joint and then widen it. Cutting them clears the line but does not fix the opening.
Yes, plumbing work needs a permit, and the Village says sewer repairs can be same-day permits. Call Community Development at 630-719-4750 to confirm.
If your drains keep backing up after cleaning, a camera inspection shows whether the pipe is cracked.