Sewer line repair in Brooklyn

01Sewer line repair in Brooklyn: at a glance

Who owns the line

The property owner, from the building to the city sewer main, including the section under the sidewalk and street. DEP maintains the main itself.

Common failure points

House trap in the cellar, cast-iron pipe under the cellar floor, joints under the sidewalk where street-tree roots get in

Who can do the work

A NYC Licensed Master Plumber. Sidewalk and street openings also need city permits, which the plumber arranges

Typical buildings

Brownstones and rowhouses, frame two- and three-family houses, prewar apartment buildings

When the city is involved

If several buildings on the block back up at once, report it to 311 so DEP can check the main

New to this topic? The general guide covers the basics: sewer line repair.

02What's different in Brooklyn

Three things make Brooklyn sewer work different from a typical suburban job:

1. The house trap. Many Brooklyn houses built before the mid-20th century have a U-shaped trap on the main drain inside the cellar, near the front wall, with a fresh-air vent at the sidewalk or under the stoop. It's the most common spot for a main-line clog, and it can stop a sewer camera from going further. Clearing or replacing it is often the first step.
2. The line runs under the sidewalk. On most Brooklyn lots the building sewer leaves through the front wall and runs under the sidewalk to the main in the street. A repair beyond the property line means opening city sidewalk or roadway, with city permits and restoration rules. That changes cost and timing more than any other factor.
3. Street trees. Mature street trees line many brownstone and two-family blocks. Their roots find joints in old cast-iron and clay pipe. Root clogs come back after cleaning unless the damaged joint is repaired.

03Typical situations

04How the job usually goes in Brooklyn

1. Clear the blockage so the building can use water again, usually through the house trap or a cleanout in the cellar
2. Run a sewer camera and record where the problem is, measured from the entry point
3. Locate the spot from the surface: under the cellar floor, in the front areaway, under the sidewalk or in the street
4. If repair is needed: Licensed Master Plumber files the plumbing work; sidewalk or street openings need city permits before digging
5. Repair or replace the section, test the line, and restore the cellar floor or sidewalk

05Permits, licenses & who to contact

• Plumbing work: NYC Licensed Master Plumber, with DOB filings as required. NYC permits explained
• Emergency work: an LMP can start emergency repairs under an Emergency Work Notification and file afterward
• Sidewalk or street opening: separate city permits, arranged by the plumber before excavation
• Main in the street: NYC DEP. Report suspected main problems to 311
• Check a license: how to verify a NYC Licensed Master Plumber

06What affects the price in Brooklyn

• Whether the problem is inside the cellar, in the areaway, under the sidewalk or in the street: each step outward adds permits and restoration
• Whether the house trap needs only clearing or replacement
• Depth of the line and access through the cellar or front areaway
• Sidewalk restoration requirements once a section has been opened
• Whether a trenchless method is possible for that line and location
• For context only: in 2013 NYC DEP estimated owners paid $10,000–$15,000 to repair a sewer line break. Costs have changed since; ask for a current quote

Prices are set by the plumber. Ask for the price, or how it will be calculated, before work starts.

07Before you call

Having this ready makes the first call faster:

• Which fixtures back up, and whether it's worse after heavy rain
• Where the house trap or cleanout is in the cellar, if you know
• Whether neighbors have the same problem
• Building type and number of units
• Any past camera footage or repair invoices

08Brooklyn: frequently asked questions

09Related