Sewer Line Repair · Allen, TX
Written by Steven Shipler, Texas Licensed Master Plumber (Texas License #45825), MBA
This is a sewer line repair in Allen, TX. After foundation work on this home, the sewer line failed a pressure test and we found 5 cracks. Instead of breaking up the floors, we’re fixing it with one tunnel under the house and a new sewer line. A job like this usually takes 2 days, sometimes 3 if the weather turns, and it’s permitted with the city.
Sewer Line Repair in Allen, TX After Foundation Work
The homeowners in Allen had just finished foundation work. Lifting and leveling a slab can move the pipes under it, so they called us to pressure test the sewer line.
The line didn’t hold. Once we tracked it down, there were 5 cracks in the sewer line under the house.
The good news: on this house, all of it can be reached from one tunnel. That makes it a pretty straightforward fix. We dig a tunnel under the slab, replace the damaged line, and fill it back in. The floors inside stay where they are.
Foundation work done? Get the sewer line checked.
Pressure tested, usually fixed in 2 to 3 days, permitted with the city.
Call or Text 972-333-5448What We’re Fixing, Step by Step
Step 1: Map the cracks
Before we dig anything, we mark where every crack is on a plan of the house. That’s what tells us whether one tunnel can reach all of them. Here it can.
Step 2: Protect the yard
Tunneling moves a lot of dirt. We lay plastic down first, pile the soil on it, and keep it all in one place so it can go right back in the hole.
Step 3: Dig the access pit and tunnel under the slab
On this house the tunnel itself takes about 6 hours. That’s the prep stage you see in these photos.
Step 4: Replace the sewer line
With the tunnel open, the plumbing work is about another 6 hours: cut out the cracked line and put in new sewer line through the tunnel.
Step 5: Inspection and backfill
We pull a permit on jobs like this. Sometimes we wait on the inspector, but usually not long. Then filling the tunnel back in takes about 6 more hours.
| Stage | About how long |
|---|---|
| Dig the tunnel | 6 hours |
| Plumbing work | 6 hours |
| Fill it back in | 6 hours |
| Whole job | Usually 2 days, sometimes 3 (heat or rain can add a day) |
What a Homeowner Should Do First
- Get a sewer pressure test after foundation work. The slab can move the line even when nothing looks wrong inside.
- Watch for the signs: slow drains, gurgling, a sewer smell, or damp spots near the foundation.
- Don’t wait on a failed test. A cracked sewer line under the slab keeps leaking into the soil under your house.
- Ask about tunneling before anyone breaks up your floors. If the cracks can be reached from one tunnel, the inside of the house stays untouched.
- Make sure it’s permitted. A permitted job gets checked by the city inspector.
What Does Sewer Line Repair Cost in Allen?
It depends on how many cracks there are, where they are, and how long the tunnel has to be. Pricing depends on the job. Call or text 972-333-5448 and we’ll tell you what yours needs.
Why Flash Fix
One call covers plumbing, sewer, electrical and air conditioning. Every plumbing job is run by a Texas Licensed Master Plumber, we pull the permits, and we fix the problem fast. Most sewer tunnels like this one are done in 2 to 3 days.
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Serving Allen and Nearby Cities
Allen: after foundation work, the sewer line under the slab is the part nobody sees. A pressure test after the foundation is done tells you where you stand.
McKinney: we repair cracked sewer lines under the slab in McKinney homes too.
Plano: for Plano homes with cracked sewer lines under the slab, we can often tunnel, so the floors stay in place.
Flash Fix also serves Richardson, Frisco, North Dallas and Dallas, across Collin County and Dallas County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foundation repair crack my sewer line?
Yes. Lifting or leveling a slab can move the pipe under it. That’s why this Allen homeowner had the sewer line pressure tested right after the foundation work.
How long does a sewer line repair by tunnel take?
On this job it’s about 6 hours to dig the tunnel, about 6 hours of plumbing work, and about 6 hours to fill it back in. We can usually finish in 2 days, sometimes 3 depending on the weather.
Do you have to break up my floors?
Not when the cracks can be reached from a tunnel. On this house, one tunnel under the slab reaches all 5 cracks, so the floors inside stay as they are.
Can weather delay the job?
Yes. Heavy rain or extreme heat can add a day. That’s why we say 2 days, sometimes 3.
Do you pull a permit for a sewer repair?
Yes, we pull permits on these jobs. Sometimes we wait on the inspector, but usually not long.
What happens to my yard?
The dirt goes on plastic sheeting while we work, then right back into the tunnel when the repair is done.
How do I know if my sewer line is cracked?
A pressure test is the sure way to know. Slow drains, gurgling or a sewer smell after foundation work are reasons to get one.
How much does a sewer line repair cost in Allen?
It depends on the number of cracks, where they are and how long the tunnel is. Call or text 972-333-5448 and we’ll tell you what yours needs.
Sewer line cracked after foundation work in Allen?
We’ll test it, show you where the cracks are, and fix it with as little digging as it takes.
Call or Text 972-333-5448
Steven Shipler is a Texas Licensed Master Plumber (License #45825) with an MBA. He runs Flash Fix, Incorporated in Allen, TX, serving Collin County and Dallas County with plumbing, sewer, electrical and air conditioning service.