Sewer Line Repair, Replacement & Cleaning in Toronto & the GTA

A sewer backup is every homeowner's worst basement nightmare. We find the cause fast roots, a crack, a collapse and fix the line at the source. Trenchless where we can, dug only where we must. Free inspection.

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DrainCom is the

No. 1 Rated

choice for licensed and insured basement waterproofing services in Mississauga, Canada.

When the sewer line goes, everything downstream stops and you can’t see the problem because it’s buried in your yard. So we don’t guess. A camera shows us exactly what’s wrong and where, and we fix it with the least digging possible.

20+ years on GTA sewer lines, including older Toronto homes with clay and cast-iron laterals. Licensed, insured, same-day. Every repair backed by our 25-year transferable warranty.

Call us at 905-238-6800

for a free sewer inspection and quote, or use the form at the top of the page.

What Homeowners Say About DrainCom

Sewer Services We Provide

We handle the buried line , the lateral from your house to the street, and the main it connects to. Every job starts with a camera. We don’t quote what we haven’t seen.

Sewer Line Repair

Cracked pipe, offset joint, root-broken section. We camera the line, pinpoint the damage, and repair the bad part sectional or trenchless without touching the sound pipe.

Sewer Line Replacement

When the line’s collapsed, corroded, or root-bound end to end common with old clay tile a patch won’t hold. We replaced it with a new pipe, laid to proper fall and built to last.

Sewer Cleaning

A blocked main backs up the whole house. We clear it with a heavy-duty machine or hydro jetting, then camera the line to confirm it’s clear and the pipe underneath is sound.

Trenchless Sewer Repair

A new line without the week-long dig. We split the old pipe and pull a new one through two small access holes about half the cost of full excavation, and your yard stays intact. (More: Trenchless Pipe Repair.)

Sewer Backup Response

Sewage in the basement can’t wait. We run same-day, find the blockage, and clear it fast then show you on camera why it happened so it doesn’t repeat.

Sewer Camera Inspection

The starting point for every sewer job. A waterproof camera shows the real condition of the line and marks the exact spot and depth so any repair is precise. (More: Drain & Sewer Camera Inspection.)

Sewer Line Cost

Cost swings widely with the problem a cleaning is a short job, a full replacement is major excavation. Depth, length, access, and soil all factor in. You get the price in writing after a camera inspection.

Service	Price Range (CAD)	Notes
Sewer cleaning	$300 to $600	Accessible cleanout
Sewer camera inspection	$250 to $400	Often credited toward the repair
Sectional sewer repair	$1,000 to $3,500	Repair the damaged length only
Trenchless sewer replacement	$4,000 to $12,000	~Half the cost of full excavation
Full excavation replacement	$5,000 to $25,000+	Depth, length, and access dependent

All prices are approximate and based on standard residential conditions. Written quotes follow a camera inspection; we don’t quote a sewer line over the phone, because the pipe’s condition is only confirmed on camera or by digging.

Pricing note: The big swing is repair vs. replacement. A single cracked section is sectional or trenchless work; a line that’s collapsed or root-bound end to end needs replacement. The camera tells us which and we’ll show you on screen, not just on the invoice.

What Is the Sewer Line and Is It Your Responsibility?

Your sewer line carries waste from the house to the city sewer. The part from your home to the property line, the six-inch pipe called the lateral, is the homeowner’s responsibility. The city maintains the main street.

So if the blockage or break is on your side, the repair is yours, not the city’s. That surprises a lot of homeowners facing their first sewer bill and it’s why a camera inspection matters, because it shows exactly where the problem sits and whose side of the line it’s on.

Sewer Line vs. Drain; When Is It a Sewer Problem?

One slow sink is a drain clog. The sewer line is the buried main everything empties into — so when several fixtures back up at once, or sewage comes up the lowest drain in the house, the problem is the sewer, not the fixture.

That’s the difference: a single clogged fixture is a drain cleaning job; a whole-house backup or a damaged buried line is sewer work. Not sure which you’ve got? The camera settles it.

What Causes Sewer Line Problems in the GTA?

Most of it comes down to age, roots, and our ground.

Tree-root intrusion — roots grow into the joints of older pipe and block it solid. The top cause in mature GTA neighbourhoods
Aging clay tile and cast iron — the pipe older Toronto homes were built on cracks, shifts, and corrodes over the decades
Ground movement and freeze-thaw — shifting soil pulls joints out of line and cracks the pipe
Grease and debris — what hardens in the line and traps everything behind it
Combined sewers — many older Toronto homes share one storm-and-sanitary line, so a heavy rain can push sewage back into the basement

If your home’s older and backs up every big storm, the sewer line and the combined sewer are the likely cause. Clearing it once won’t fix a broken pipe.

What Causes Drains to Fail in the GTA?

Common in the region’s older housing stock, where original clay-tile and cast-iron drains are at the end of their life. The cause decides the fix.

Tree-root intrusion — roots find pipe joints and grow in until the line blocks solid. The number-one cause of drain failure in mature GTA neighbourhoods
Aging clay tile — older Toronto and GTA homes ran on clay tile that cracks, shifts, and lets roots in
Corroded cast iron — old cast-iron drains rust from the inside out until they crack or collapse
Calcification — calcium builds a hard crust inside the pipe over years, especially with hard water, narrowing the line
Pipe collapse — old or thin pipe crushes under soil pressure and ground movement
Offset or misaligned joints — freeze-thaw and settling shift sections out of line, catching debris
Grease buildup — cooking grease solidifies in the line and traps everything behind it
Combined storm/sanitary sewers — many older Toronto homes share one line, so heavy rain can back sewage into the basement

If your basement backs up during every big storm and the home is older, the drain or sewer line is the likely cause. Snaking the surface won’t fix a pipe that’s broken underground.

Sewer Backups & Your Basement

Your sewer line is the lowest open path into the house, so a backup shows up in the basement first. When a storm overloads the city sewer or the main blocks, water can push back up the drain and flood the space.

The fix is a backwater valve , it lets water out but slams shut when the flow reverses, so sewage can’t come back up. Best part: it may qualify for a city rebate of up to $3,400. (More: Backwater Valve Installation.)

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How Long Does Sewer Line Work Take?

Cleaning or a camera inspection is a couple of hours. Trenchless or a sectional repair is often a single day. A full excavation replacement runs one to two days — dig, new pipe to proper fall, backfill, and restore. We protect the work area and leave it clean.

Top Rated Waterproofers just a call away!

Business Hour:
Monday to Friday: 8a.m -9p.m
Saturday and Sunday: 9a.m – 2p.m

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the sewer line my responsibility or the city's?

You own the lateral — the six-inch line from your house to the property line. The city maintains the main in the street. If the break or blockage is on your lateral, the repair is yours, and that’s what we handle.

How do I know if it's a sewer problem or just a clog?

One slow drain is usually a clog. If several fixtures back up at once, or sewage comes up the lowest drain in the basement, the buried sewer line is the problem. A camera inspection confirms it.

Can you fix a sewer line without digging up my yard?

Often, yes. Trenchless repair splits the old pipe and pulls a new one through two small access holes — no full trench, and your landscaping stays intact. We only excavate when the line is collapsed or trenchless isn’t an option.

Why does my basement back up when it rains?

Many older Toronto homes share a combined storm and sanitary sewer, so heavy rain overloads the line and pushes water back up the lowest drain. A backwater valve stops it, and the work may qualify for a city rebate.

Does insurance cover sewer line repair?

It depends on your policy — many don’t cover damage from gradual wear or lack of maintenance. Check with your insurer. A camera inspection and a written report help document the cause either way.

How much does sewer line replacement cost?

It ranges widely — from about $4,000 for trenchless up to $25,000+ for a deep full-excavation replacement — depending on depth, length, and access. A sectional repair is far less. You get an exact quote after the camera inspection.

Do you offer free sewer inspections?

Yes — a free, no-obligation inspection and written estimate across Toronto and the GTA. We don’t quote sewer work over the phone, because the pipe’s condition can only be confirmed on camera or by digging.

How do I find sewer services near me?

Check the service area list on this page for your city. We cover communities across the GTA. Call 905-238-6800 or 416-989-5757, or use the form at draincom.ca. We confirm same-day availability for most service areas.

How do I find drain repair near me?

Check the service area list on this page for your city. We cover communities across the GTA. Call 905-238-6800 or 416-989-5757, or submit the contact form at draincom.ca. We confirm same-week availability for most service areas.

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