Call 908-873-6686Veteran-owned · NJ Master Plumber Lic. #36BI01345600
Plumbing Doctor van, protecting your health and sanitation4.9 174 reviews
on Google4.9 121 reviews
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Sewer and water line repair in Central New Jersey

Plumbing Doctor inspects, clears and repairs sewer lines and water service lines for homes and businesses across Central New Jersey. We dig indoor lines in the slab, but we don't do outside digging or excavation, so where a repair or replacement needs it, contact us to confirm scope. A camera inspection may be recommended where conditions warrant, so you see the roots, cracks or sags yourself before choosing a repair. Written upfront flat-rate pricing options. You choose.

Call 908-873-6686 Request service

4.9 stars, 174 Google reviews · NJ Master Plumber Lic. #36BI01345600

  1. You call or bookWe respond immediately. Same-day appointments may be available.
  2. We look firstFind the cause, not just the symptom.
  3. You get optionsWritten upfront flat-rate pricing options. You choose.
  4. We fix it rightMost company-supplied materials and repairs come with a 1 year parts and labor warranty. Client-supplied materials are not covered under our warranty.

Signs it's time to call

Any of these? Call us. We'll tell you on the phone whether it needs a visit today.

Sewage backs up into the basement floor drain, tub or toiletCall nowSeveral drains clog at onceCall nowGurgling toilets when the washer or tub drainsCall usSewage smell in the yard or basementCall usSoggy or extra-green patches of lawn over the lineCall us

Sewer line problems we fix

  • Tree roots in the line
  • Grease and debris blockages
  • Corroded cast-iron pipe
  • Bellied (sagging) pipe that holds waste
  • Leaking or offset joints
  • Cracked, broken or collapsed pipe

We don't do outside digging or excavation. We do dig and excavate indoor sewer and water lines in the slab. Where a repair or replacement needs outside digging, contact us to confirm scope.

Sewer cleaning

Sewer cleaning clears the main line that carries everything out of the house. If several drains back up at once, or the lowest drain backs up when the washer runs, the clog is probably in that main line. We clear it through a cleanout, using a snake or a hydro jetter depending on the pipe material, its condition, what's blocking it and how we can reach it. Our sewer cleaning page has the details, and our snaking vs. hydro jetting guide explains the difference. If the line keeps clogging, a camera inspection may be recommended to find out why.

Camera inspections

A camera inspection may be recommended where conditions warrant. We run the camera from a cleanout, record the line, and show you the footage. Roots can be cleared, and the method depends on pipe material, structural condition, obstruction and access. Older or damaged piping may not be suitable for high-pressure jetting. A single cracked section may be repairable on its own. A line that's collapsed in several places may need replacing, and we don't do outside digging or excavation, so contact us to confirm scope where digging is needed. You decide with the footage in front of you. More in our post on sewer camera inspections.

Water service lines

The water line brings city water from the curb stop into your house. Older homes may still have galvanized steel or lead service lines, which corrode and restrict flow. Rusty water or a wet spot in the yard over the line are signs it's failing. We dig indoor lines in the slab, but we don't do outside digging or excavation, so where a repair or replacement needs it, contact us to confirm scope.

Where we work

Most municipalities in Middlesex, Somerset, and Monmouth counties; Select Union, Ocean, Mercer and Hunterdon municipalities only. Contact us to confirm whether your job site is within our current service area. Many older homes here still have clay or cast-iron sewer laterals, and mature street trees send roots into their joints.

Step-by-step guides

Our free guides cover the first checks you can make yourself, and when to stop and call.

What does it cost?You get written upfront flat-rate pricing options before any work starts. How Much Does Sewer Line Repair Cost explains what changes the price.
Lic. #36BI01345600Licensed, bonded & insuredVeteran-ownedBBB A+ accredited
908-873-6686 Request service
A

Clear and jet

Best for: Roots or buildup, pipe sound

Roots and grease are cleared from the line. The method depends on pipe material, structural condition, obstruction and access.

B

Section repair

Best for: One crack or bad joint

Only the damaged part is repaired, where it can be reached without outside digging. We don't do outside digging or excavation, so contact us to confirm scope.

C

Full replacement

Best for: Collapsed or failing line

A line broken in several places may need replacing. We don't do outside digging or excavation, so where replacement needs outside digging, contact us to confirm scope.

Sewer & Water Lines

Your options after the camera

Not sure which you need? We check first and tell you honestly, with written upfront flat-rate pricing options before any work starts.

908-873-6686
  • 4.9
    Stars on Google
  • 174
    Google reviews
  • 25
    Years in the trade
  • #36BI01345600
    NJ Master Plumber · veteran-owned

How we handle it

Every sewer & water lines job follows the same four steps, and you know the price before step three.

Step 01Sewer & Water Lines

Clear the line

If it's backed up, we open it first so the house is usable again.

Step 02Sewer & Water Lines

Camera inspection

Where conditions warrant, a sewer camera shows roots, cracks, sags (bellies), offset joints and collapsed sections.

Step 03Sewer & Water Lines

Choose the repair

Clearing, jetting or a repair we can reach without outside digging. You see the options before we start, and we don't do outside digging or excavation, so contact us to confirm scope if outside digging is needed.

Step 04Sewer & Water Lines

Test it

We run water through the line and check it again after the repair.

Selected Google reviews

What neighbors say

Excellent4.9 from 174 reviews on Google
Richard F.Google review
★★★★★

Had backup and they came out in half hour on a Sunday and got the blockage resolved. They cleaned up after themselves. Very very professional people.

Lisa L.Google review
★★★★★

Honest, reliable and they do a great job. I highly recommend plumbing doctor services.

Felicia T.Google review
★★★★★

Mike is awesome, knowledgeable, thorough and friendly! Overall great and expedient experience!

John G.Google review
★★★★★

Excellent service and very knowledgeable. I definitely recommend them.

JoeGoogle review
★★★★★

Very knowledgeable, attention to detail, extremely neat and organized. We highly recommend Plumbing Doctor.

Naomi H.Google review
★★★★★

Mike works quickly and is transparent with pricing. He's trustworthy, reliable and brings his own shoe covers.

Hazim A.Google review
★★★★★

They tell me what is worth doing or not doing, and won't try to upcharge me. The work is always great. They are my go-to!

Kevin C.Google review
★★★★★

Found my outdoor cleanout that was covered up for years and no other company could find! … They use drop cloths and clean up when they are done.

Read all 174 reviews on Google · Leave us a review

Leaking pipe right now?

Shut off the water first if you can reach the valve safely, then call us, day or night.

908-873-6686

Outside regular hours and on holidays, emergency service requires a $250 upfront emergency fee. When paid, the standard $49 service fee is waived. During regular hours there is no emergency fee. Additional repairs are quoted before work begins. We respond immediately upon contact; dispatch and arrival depend on availability and location.

Do this now

  1. Shut the main valve. Usually where the water line enters, near the meter.
  2. Stay clear of electricity. Don't enter standing water or touch electrical controls near the leak.
  3. Open a low faucet to drain the pipes and take pressure off the leak.

Sewer & Water Lines: common questions

Do you do sewer cleaning?

Yes. We clear main sewer lines through a cleanout with a snake or a hydro jetter, depending on the pipe and the blockage. If sewage is backing up, stop running water and keep away from it, then call us.

What causes a sewer line to back up?

The most common causes are tree roots growing in through old joints, grease that hardens on the pipe walls, wipes and paper towels that don't break down, a sag (belly) in the pipe where waste settles, and cracked or collapsed sections of older clay and cast-iron pipe. Heavy rain can also overload an already partly blocked line.

When is a camera inspection recommended?

Clearing a sewer line tells you it was blocked, not why, so a camera inspection may be recommended where conditions warrant. The camera shows roots, cracks, sags and offset joints, so you don't pay to clear the same roots every few months, and you don't replace a whole line that only needed one section fixed. You watch the footage with us and decide with the facts in front of you.

Who is responsible for the sewer line, me or the town?

In most New Jersey towns the homeowner owns the sewer lateral from the house to the town's main, often including the part under the street. Rules vary by town, so check with your local sewer department for your street. If a neighbor has a backup at the same time, the problem may be in the town's main.

Do you replace water service lines?

Contact us to confirm scope. We don't do outside digging or excavation, so where a service line repair or replacement needs outside digging, we can't do that part. Signs a service line is failing include rusty water and a wet or sunken spot in the yard over the line. We pressure-test any service line work we do.

How do I know if my sewer line is broken?

Warning signs include several drains clogging at once, sewage backing up into the lowest drain or tub, gurgling toilets when other fixtures drain, a sewer smell in the basement, and soggy, extra green patches in the yard over the line. A camera inspection confirms where and how badly the pipe is damaged.

Where we do sewer & water lines

Based in Somerset, working across Central New Jersey.

Service area

908-873-6686 All services

Plumbing guides

Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable? What Happens in Your Pipes

Flushable wipes go down the toilet, but they don't break apart like toilet paper. Why they clog pipes and sewer lines, a simple jar test, and what to do if wipes clogged your toilet.

Read more

Sewer Backup in the Basement? What to Do in 6 Steps

Stop all water use, isolate the area, keep children and pets out, skip the chemical drain cleaners and stay out of floodwater near electrical equipment. What to do when sewage backs up, and who to call.

Read more

Sewer Camera Inspection: What It Is, What It Finds and When You Need One

How Much Does Sewer Line Repair Cost?

Sewer Smell in the House? 6 Places to Check

Sump Pump Not Working? How to Test It and Get Ready for Heavy Rain

All plumbing guides
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Leaking pipe? Call 908-873-6686