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Sewer Line Replacement Under a Slab in Bryan
Sewer Line Replacement Under a Slab in Bryan means pulling out a failed pipe beneath your foundation and putting a code-correct line back in its place. We handle slab sewer line replacement Bryan TX homeowners call about most: cast iron that has rotted through, clay pipe crushed by roots, and Orangeburg that has collapsed. If your drains gurgle, back up, or smell, call (979) 340-0181 and we will camera the line the same day.
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What is included
What Our Under-Slab Replacement Includes
Every slab sewer line replacement we do in Bryan includes the camera inspection, the pipe, the concrete patch, and the paperwork. Here is what is covered on a standard job, and what we price separately when your situation calls for it.
Camera Inspection and Video
We run a NASSCO PACP-graded camera pass from the cleanout to the city tap and record it. You get the video file, and we mark the failed section on your floor before anything gets cut. This is the step that tells us whether you need a full replacement or a spot repair.
Slab Cutting and Concrete Patch
We saw-cut the slab along the pipe route, break out the concrete, and pour a patch back flush with the surrounding floor once the new line is tested. The patch is included in the price, not billed as a separate trade.
New PVC Pipe and Fittings
We install new PVC pipe at the correct fall with pipe couplings at every tie-in. The old cast iron, clay, or Orangeburg pipe leaves the site. We do not reuse failed sections or patch around them.
Pressure Test and Second Camera Pass
Before backfill goes in, we pressure-test the new line and run the camera through it a second time. If a joint is off or a fitting leaks, we fix it while the trench is still open. You see the second pass on screen.
Backfill, Compaction, and Cleanup
We backfill with gravel and compact it in lifts with a plate compactor so the soil under the patch does not settle. Floors get protected before we start, and we haul off the old pipe and concrete. You are left with a level patch and a working line.
Permit and Inspection Coordination
Sewer replacement in Bryan needs a permit and an inspection. We pull the permit, meet the inspector on site, and keep the signed-off record on file with your camera footage so it is there when you sell the house.
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Service overview
Sewer Line Replacement Under a Slab in Bryan
Sewer Line Replacement Under a Slab in Bryan is a plumbing repair that removes a failed sewer pipe running beneath a concrete foundation and installs a new line in its place. The work starts with a sewer camera inspection system pushed through a cleanout, which tells us whether the pipe is cracked, collapsed, or packed with roots. From there we choose the method: open excavation through the slab, or trenchless pull that avoids breaking concrete. Most Bryan homes built before 1985 still have cast iron, clay, or Orangeburg pipe under the floor, and all three fail with age.
Bryan sits on expansive clay soil that shifts with every wet and dry cycle, and that movement is hard on buried pipe. Add live oak and pecan roots hunting for moisture, plus decades of grease and paper inside a 4-inch line, and you get the backups we see in College Hills, Bryan Heights, and the older blocks near Downtown Bryan. If you are pricing sewer line replacement under slab cost in Bryan TX, the honest answer is that a camera inspection comes first. We do not quote a slab job until we have seen the inside of your pipe.
- Stop Repeat Backups — A collapsed sewer pipe will clog again no matter how many times you snake it. Replacing the failed section with new PVC pipe ends the cycle. Most Bryan homeowners we work with had called a drain cleaner two or three times before they gave up and replaced the line. One repair, done right, beats four service calls a year.
- Protect the Foundation — A slab leak from a broken sewer line saturates the soil under your foundation and makes the movement worse. Fixing the pipe removes the water source. We have seen foundations in Woodland Hills and Briarcrest stabilize once the leaking line was replaced and the backfill was properly compacted with a plate compactor.
- Keep Sewage Out of the House — Sewage backup is a health issue, not just a smell. When a line is cracked, waste seeps into the soil under the slab and can wick into flooring. Replacing the pipe and pressure-testing it before we close the trench is how we confirm the problem is gone. We test every joint before concrete goes back.
- Add Value at Resale — A new sewer line under the slab is a documented selling point in Brazos County. Buyers and inspectors ask about it. We photograph the new pipe, log the camera pass, and hand you a record of the work. That file answers the sewer question at inspection before it becomes a negotiation.
- Same-Day Camera, Straight Answers — Call before noon and we can usually camera your line the same day. You watch the screen, we point at the problem, and you get a written price before we cut anything. No mystery diagnostics, no pressure to approve work on the spot. If the line can be repaired instead of replaced, we tell you.
- Trenchless Where It Fits — Not every under-slab line needs concrete broken. When the pipe is the right size and the soil cooperates, we pull new HDPE pipe through the old run with a pipe bursting machine. That keeps your tile, your flooring, and your routine intact. We tell you honestly which method your line can take.
- Concrete Put Back Level — A slab sewer line replacement Bryan TX homeowners regret is one where the patch is uneven or the floor squeaks. We compact the backfill in lifts, pour a proper patch, and finish it flush. In most cases you can lay flooring back over it within a few days, and we tell you exactly when.
- Warranty on Parts and Labor — Our work is warrantied, and the pipe and fittings we install carry manufacturer coverage on top of that. If something we installed fails, you call us and we come back. We keep the camera footage and photos from your job on file, so a warranty visit starts with your actual line, not a fresh guess.
The service timeline
How Our Slab Sewer Replacement Process Works
Camera Inspection
We run a sewer camera inspection system from the cleanout to the city tap and record the whole pass. You watch the screen with us. This is where we find root intrusion, cracked sewer pipe, or a collapsed section, and where we measure the depth and length of the failed run. Expect 45 to 60 minutes, and you get the video file.
Locate and Mark
We mark the pipe route across your floor with a laser level and locate the exact break points. Then we map the cut lines so the concrete patch is as small as the job allows. For trenchless work we also locate the launch pit and the pull pit. You see the marks before any saw touches the slab.
Break and Excavate
We saw-cut the slab, break out the concrete, and dig the trench with an excavator where access allows, hand tools where it does not. Floors get plastic sheeting and plywood protection before we start. On a typical 20-foot under-slab run, this stage takes one to two days and generates most of the dust and noise.
Replace the Pipe
The old cast iron, clay, or Orangeburg pipe comes out and new PVC pipe goes in at the correct fall, with pipe couplings at every tie-in. If the run is long and the soil allows, we use a pipe bursting machine or trenchless drilling rig instead, pulling HDPE pipe through the old line and skipping most of the digging.
Test and Patch
We pressure-test the new line and run the camera through it a second time before anything gets covered. Then we backfill with gravel and compact it in lifts with a compactor, pour the concrete patch, and finish it level with the surrounding floor. Final walkthrough takes about 30 minutes.
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Tools and Methods We Use
Sewer Camera Inspection System
Pushed from the cleanout to the city tap to record the inside of the pipe. We use it before and after replacement, and you watch the screen with us.
Pipe Bursting Machine
Pulls new HDPE pipe through the old line while breaking the old pipe outward into the soil. This is how we replace under-slab lines without cutting concrete.
Hydro-Jetter
Clears grease, scale, and roots from a line before inspection. We use US Jetting and Spartan Tool units on Bryan sewer work.
Excavator and Trenching Tools
Used for open excavation where access allows. In tight hallways and finished rooms we switch to shovel and trenching tools and hand-dig the run.
Laser Level
Sets the fall on the new pipe and marks the slab cut lines so the concrete patch is as small as the job allows.
Plate Compactor
Compacts gravel backfill in lifts so the soil under the patch does not settle and crack the new concrete.
RIDGID and Milwaukee Pipe Cutters
Clean cuts on cast iron, PVC, and HDPE pipe. Precise cuts mean better joints and fewer leaks down the road.
NASSCO PACP Camera Grading
We grade every camera pass to NASSCO PACP standards, the same system municipal crews use. That means the condition of your pipe is documented in a format any inspector or engineer can read. You get the footage and the grade.
Trenchless Pipe Bursting
We pull new HDPE pipe through the old line from a launch pit and a pull pit outside the foundation. The old pipe breaks outward into the soil. It works when the old pipe is the right size and the run is fairly straight, and it keeps your slab intact.
Open Excavation and Replacement
When the pipe is collapsed, offset, or too damaged to pull, we excavate. We saw-cut the slab, dig the trench, remove the failed pipe, and install new PVC pipe at the correct fall. This is the method for Orangeburg pipe failure and badly crushed clay.
Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining (CIPP)
For some under-slab lines, we coat the inside of the existing pipe with epoxy resin and a liner instead of replacing it. CIPP works for cracked pipe but not for collapsed or offset runs. We tell you honestly when lining is the right call.
Pressure Testing and Second Camera Pass
Before backfill goes in, we pressure-test the new line and run the camera through it again. If a joint is off, we fix it while the trench is open. This is the step that keeps you from paying twice.
Where this service helps
When Bryan Homeowners Call Us
A 1960s ranch house in Bryan Heights with cast iron pipe under the slab and a third backup in two years.
We camera the line, confirm the corroded cast iron pipe has scaled shut and cracked, and replace roughly 25 feet of it with PVC pipe. We cut a channel through the slab, set the new pipe at the correct fall, and pour the patch back level. Backups stop, the drains run like new, and the homeowner has camera footage and a permit record for resale. Job took four days including concrete cure.
A rental duplex near the Texas A&M Area with clay pipe under the slab and roots at every joint.
We camera both branches, isolate the rear unit's failed run, and go trenchless where the pipe size allows. A pipe bursting machine pulls new HDPE pipe through the old clay line from two small pits outside the foundation. No slab cut, no flooring removal, and tenants back in the unit in two days. The landlord gets the camera footage and warranty paperwork on file.
A 1970s home in Villa West with Orangeburg pipe that has deformed and collapsed under the hall bathroom.
Orangeburg cannot be repaired, so we excavate. We saw-cut the slab, dig the trench by hand because of the tight hallway, remove the failed run, and install new PVC pipe with compacted gravel backfill. The line is code-correct and pressure-tested, the patch is flush with the hall floor, and the homeowner can lay new flooring after the concrete cures. Five-day job start to finish.
A homeowner in Copperfield with a slab leak and rising water bill but no visible pipe in the yard.
We isolate the sewer from the water lines, camera the sewer, and find a cracked section under the slab. We replace the failed pipe, pressure-test it, and confirm the leak is gone before backfill. Water bill returns to normal, the soil under the slab dries out, and the foundation stops moving in that corner. Repair documented with photos and video.
Local execution
How Under-Slab Sewer Work Runs in Bryan
Bryan's expansive clay soil is the biggest factor in under-slab sewer work here. The ground swells when it is wet and shrinks when it is dry, and that movement cracks clay pipe and pulls cast iron joints apart over time. The older housing stock in College Hills, Bryan Heights, and the blocks near Downtown Bryan still has cast iron, clay, and Orangeburg pipe under the slab, and all three fail with age. Summer heat bakes the soil dry, then fall rains soak it, and that cycle is hard on buried lines. We schedule most under-slab replacements in the cooler months when the ground is workable, but emergency calls come year-round. If you are comparing sewer line replacement under slab for older homes Bryan, the camera inspection is the only way to know which pipe you have and how much of it needs to come out. We pull the Bryan permit, meet the inspector, and keep the signed-off record with your footage.
College Hills
Mid-century homes with cast iron under the slab. We see corroded pipe and repeat backups here more than anywhere else in Bryan.
Bryan Heights
Older housing stock with clay and Orangeburg pipe. Root intrusion at joints is the most common failure we find.
Austin's Colony
Newer builds where under-slab lines are usually PVC, but soil movement still causes joint separation and cracked pipe.
Downtown Bryan
Renovated older homes where the sewer route crosses finished floors. Trenchless work saves the tile and the original hardwood.
Villa West
1970s homes with Orangeburg pipe that has deformed. These jobs almost always need open excavation and a concrete patch.
Expansive clay soil that swells and shrinks
Movement cracks clay pipe and separates cast iron joints. It is the main reason under-slab lines fail in Bryan, and it is why we compact backfill in lifts after a replacement.
Live oak and pecan roots near the sewer route
Roots find moisture at pipe joints and grow into the line. Hydro-jetting clears them for a while, but a root-damaged pipe under a slab usually needs replacement.
Hot summers and wet fall rains
The wet-dry cycle speeds up soil movement and pipe failure. We see more under-slab calls in late summer and again after heavy fall rain.
Older homes with original cast iron or clay pipe
Pipe from the 1950s through the 1970s is at or past its service life. When we camera these lines, we usually find scaling, cracks, or offset joints.
Before and after
What a successful service visit changes.
Cast Iron Replacement in College Hills
Before
A 1958 ranch house had backed up three times in two years. The camera showed 22 feet of corroded cast iron pipe under the slab, scaled shut to about half its original diameter, with a cracked section near the hall bathroom.
After
We cut an 18-inch channel through the slab, removed the failed cast iron, and installed new PVC pipe at the correct fall. Pressure test passed, second camera pass was clean, and the concrete patch cured flush with the hall floor. No backups in the year since.
Maintenance: We recommend a camera check every three to five years and a hydro-jet if you notice slow drains. Avoid pouring grease down the kitchen drain. The new PVC pipe should outlast the house.
Trenchless Pull in Austin's Colony
Before
A homeowner had sewage smell in the yard and slow drains across the house. The camera found root intrusion and a cracked joint in the clay pipe under the slab. Two previous plumbers had only jetted the line.
After
We went trenchless. A pipe bursting machine pulled new HDPE pipe through the old clay line from two small pits outside the foundation. No slab cut, no flooring removal. The job took a day and a half and the smell was gone the same week.
Maintenance: Keep trees and large shrubs at least 10 feet from the sewer route. We suggest a camera check every five years. The HDPE pipe handles root pressure better than the clay it replaced.
Orangeburg Failure in Villa West
Before
A 1974 home had a collapsed line under the hall bathroom. Orangeburg pipe had deformed and crushed, and the toilet would not flush without backing up into the shower. The slab had to come up.
After
We saw-cut the slab, hand-dug the trench through the hallway, removed the failed Orangeburg, and installed new PVC pipe with compacted gravel backfill. The patch was poured flush and the line passed inspection. Five days start to finish.
Maintenance: Wait for the concrete to cure before laying new flooring, usually about a week. We keep the camera footage and permit record on file. Schedule a camera check if you ever notice slow drains returning.
Problems we solve
Under-Slab Sewer Problems We Fix in Bryan
Most under-slab failures in Bryan fall into a handful of patterns. Here is what we see, what happens if you leave it, and how we fix it.
Repeated backups after every drain cleaning
If a line clogs twice in a year, the pipe itself is failing. Snaking clears the symptom and leaves the cracked or collapsed section in place. The next backup usually comes faster and backs up more waste. We camera the line, find the failed section, and replace it with new PVC pipe. Once the cracked or collapsed run is out, the backups stop. Most Bryan homeowners we help had already paid for two or three drain cleanings before they called us.
Sewage smell in the yard or under the house
That smell means waste is leaving the pipe before it reaches the city main. Under a slab, the leak saturates the soil and can undermine the foundation. It also attracts pests and makes the yard unusable. We locate the leak with the camera, excavate the failed section under the slab, and replace it. Then we pressure-test the new line before backfill. The smell goes away because the waste is back inside the pipe where it belongs.
Slow drains across the whole house
When every drain is slow, not just one, the problem is in the main line, not a single fixture. A partially collapsed sewer pipe under the slab restricts flow and gets worse as the pipe deforms. We run a camera from the cleanout and measure the restriction. If the pipe is deformed or offset, we replace the run. If it is root intrusion at a joint, we cut the roots and replace that section. Either way, you get a straight answer and a written price.
Foundation movement near the sewer route
A leaking under-slab line keeps the soil wet in one spot, which makes the clay here expand and contract unevenly. That shows up as cracks in tile, sticking doors, and slab movement that gets worse each season. We find and replace the leaking pipe, then compact the backfill in lifts so the soil under the patch is stable. Fixing the water source is the first step. We document the repair with photos so your foundation contractor has the full picture.
Pricing and expectations
What Slab Sewer Replacement Costs in Bryan
$4,500 - $15,000 depending on scope
Typical 2026 pricing for under-slab sewer replacement in Bryan runs $4,500 to $15,000, with most single-family jobs landing near $7,500. The range is wide because the work is different on every house. A short trenchless pull with no concrete work sits at the low end. A long open excavation under finished tile, with a city tap tie-in and a large patch, sits at the top. We give you a written price after the camera inspection, before any concrete gets cut.
The price covers the camera inspection, the pipe, the concrete patch, the permit, and the warranty. You get the footage and the paperwork. A failed line left alone will cost you more in backups, water damage, and foundation repair than the replacement does.
Length of the failed run
Pipe is priced by the foot. A 15-foot replacement costs far less than a 40-foot run. The camera pass measures the failed section so the quote reflects your actual line, not a guess.
Depth below the slab
Deeper lines mean more digging and more shoring. Most Bryan under-slab lines sit 18 to 36 inches below the floor. Past three feet, labor and safety requirements push the price up.
Trenchless versus open excavation
Trenchless pipe bursting skips the concrete cut and the patch, which saves money and time. Open excavation costs more because of the saw-cutting, the concrete removal, and the patch pour.
Flooring and finish
Tile and hardwood cost more to remove and reset than carpet or vinyl. We protect floors before we start, but some finishes need a flooring contractor after the patch cures.
Pipe material and fittings
PVC pipe and couplings are the standard for replacements. Tie-ins to the city main, cleanout additions, and any cast iron transitions add material and labor to the job.
Permit and inspection
Bryan requires a permit and an inspection for sewer replacement. We pull the permit and meet the inspector on site. The fee is part of the job cost, not a surprise line item.
Proof behind the promise
Licensed, Insured, and Documented
Technical expertise
Local Experience With Under-Slab Sewer Work
Our technicians hold Master Plumber and Journeyman Plumber licenses through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, and we carry OSHA safety certification for confined-space and excavation work. We have pulled failed cast iron, clay, and Orangeburg pipe out from under Bryan slabs in College Hills, Villa West, and the older streets near Downtown Bryan. We run NASSCO PACP camera standards on every inspection so the footage is graded the same way a municipal crew would grade it. When we say a line is collapsed, you can see it on the screen.
- State-licensed plumbing contractor with Master and Journeyman Plumber credentials on staff.
- NASSCO PACP-certified camera inspection on every slab sewer line job.
- OSHA-compliant excavation and confined-space safety on every dig.
- Trenchless pipe bursting and CIPP lining experience for slabs we can avoid cutting.
- EPA lead-safe certification for work in pre-1978 Bryan homes.
Customer stories
What Bryan Customers Say
Marcus T.Homeowner, College Hills
Our 1950s house had cast iron under the slab and we had snaked it three years running. ClearLine camered it, showed us the cracked section on screen, and quoted the job that afternoon. They cut a channel about 18 inches wide, replaced roughly 22 feet of pipe, and poured the patch back level. Two days of work and no backups since.
Dana R.Homeowner, Austin's Colony
We had sewage smell in the yard for a month and two other plumbers told us to just keep jetting it. ClearLine found root intrusion at a joint under the slab and gave us the option to go trenchless. They pulled new pipe through with the bursting machine and never touched our tile. Done in a day and a half.
Priya S.Landlord, Texas A&M Area
A duplex I rent near campus backed up on a Sunday night. ClearLine came out, stopped the flow, and camered both branches Monday morning. The rear unit had collapsed clay pipe under the slab. They replaced it, pulled the permit, and passed inspection. Tenants were back in by Thursday and I have the footage on file.
How much does sewer line replacement under a slab cost in Bryan TX?
Most under-slab replacements in Bryan run $4,500 to $15,000 in 2026, with a typical single-family job landing near $7,500. Length of the run, depth, pipe material, and whether we can go trenchless drive the number. A short 15-foot cast iron replacement with a small concrete patch sits at the low end. A 40-foot run under a finished floor with tile, plus a city tap tie-in, pushes toward the top. The camera inspection tells us which one you are looking at.
How do you replace a sewer line under a slab in Bryan?
We cut and break a channel in the slab along the pipe route, dig down to the failed line, cut the old pipe out, and set new PVC pipe at the correct fall. Then we pressure-test, backfill with compacted gravel, and pour a concrete patch flush with the floor. Where the pipe size and soil allow, we skip most of the concrete work and pull new HDPE pipe through the old line with a pipe bursting machine instead.
Can you replace sewer line under slab without breaking concrete in Bryan Texas?
Sometimes, yes. Trenchless pipe bursting pulls a new HDPE pipe through the old line from two small pits outside the foundation, so the slab stays intact. It works when the old pipe is the right size, the run is fairly straight, and there is room for the launch and pull pits. Cracked or offset clay pipe with heavy root intrusion may rule it out. The camera pass tells us in about an hour.
Who does slab sewer line replacement in Bryan TX?
We do. ClearLine Sewer Solutions handles slab sewer line replacement across Bryan and Brazos County, including College Hills, Bryan Heights, Austin's Colony, and the older blocks near Downtown Bryan. Our technicians are state-licensed, we run NASSCO PACP camera inspections, and we handle the concrete patch as part of the job. Call (979) 340-0181 and we will get a camera on your line.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Services
Residential Sewer Line Replacement
Most of our under-slab work is residential. Single-family homes in Bryan with cast iron or clay pipe under the floor are the jobs we see weekly, and we handle the camera, the dig, the pipe, and the concrete patch as one project.
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Commercial Sewer Line Replacement
Restaurants and retail buildings near Bryan Towne Center and Midtown Bryan often have under-slab lines carrying heavy grease loads. We schedule commercial replacements after hours so your business does not lose a day of revenue.
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Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement
When your under-slab line qualifies, trenchless replacement keeps the concrete intact. We pull new HDPE pipe through the old run with a pipe bursting machine, which means no slab cut, no flooring removal, and a much shorter job.
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Traditional Sewer Line Replacement
Some under-slab lines cannot be pulled. Offset clay pipe, heavy root intrusion, or a collapsed section means open excavation. We saw-cut the slab, dig the trench, replace the pipe, and pour the patch back level.
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Contact ClearLine Sewer Solutions
Call (979) 340-0181 and you will talk to someone who knows Bryan sewer lines, not a call center. We answer 24/7 for emergencies, and we schedule standard estimates Monday through Friday. Most camera inspections get booked within one business day.