Sewer service lines across three towns
Sewer Line Repair in Eagle, ID
Sewer line repair in Eagle begins when the lowest drain backs up, several fixtures slow down together or the yard smells. Call (208) 781-4118 because a backed-up sewer can reach floors, outlets and furniture fast.
Warning signs
- Sewage or dirty water backing up into the lowest drain in the house
- Several fixtures draining slowly at once
- Toilets that gurgle when a washing machine or tub drains
- A sewer smell in the yard, garage or crawl space
- A wet, unusually green or sunken patch in the yard above the line
Common causes
- Roots entering joints in the service line
- A sag, crack or offset joint that catches paper and grease
- Grease, wipes and other items that build up in the main line
- A section crushed or shifted by soil movement or heavy loads
- Older pipe that has worn out or been repaired before
Checks you can do yourself
- Find the cleanout, a capped pipe near the house or at the property line, and note where it is. Leave the cap on, because sewage can rush out.
- Watch which drains back up first and which follow. The lowest drain in the house often shows a main-line blockage first.
- Hold off on laundry, the dishwasher and long showers until the drains are working.
- Ask a neighbor whether they have the same trouble, then call your sewer provider to ask about the public main.
Get help right away if
- Sewage is coming up through a tub, shower or floor drain
- A backup has reached a floor where outlets, appliances or a furnace sit. Stay out of the water.
- Wet ground and a strong smell appear in the yard above the line
- You hear or smell gas while working near a sewer cleanout or trench: leave without touching switches and call 911 or the gas company from outside
What a visit covers
- Phone (208) 781-4118. Say where the backup shows up and which fixtures it hits. The contractor can then suggest a visit.
- Confirm whether the trouble is in the private service line or the public main, and find the cleanout.
- Clear the line, then run a camera to find roots, sags, cracks or broken joints.
- Measure how far from the house and how deep the problem lies.
- Explain the options, such as a spot repair, a liner or a replacement, and which need a permit.
- Make sure underground utilities are located through 811 before any digging starts.
Valley specifics
Eagle Sewer District, at 44 N Palmetto Ave, says it operates over 190 miles of sewer line with more than 15,000 connections and 13 lift stations. The City of Eagle also notes that some properties still use private wells and septic systems.
Garden City runs its own Sewer Division through Public Works at 6015 N Glenwood St, (208) 472-2900. Star Sewer & Water District, at 10831 W State St, (208) 286-7388, describes a $30 million treatment plant project to replace an aging lagoon system.
Under Idaho Code 54-2602, sewer, septic, excavating and utility firms may handle lines beyond a building's foundation walls without the plumbing contractor certificate. Ask what license or registration the person you hire holds for that work, and call 811 before any digging.
Common questions
How urgent is a sewer line problem?
Rate it from 1 to 10. At 8 to 10, sewage is coming up through a tub, shower or floor drain, or water has reached outlets or a furnace. Stop using water, stay out of the wet area and call (208) 781-4118 now. At 4 to 7, gurgling toilets or a sewer smell in the yard, call within the week. The line keeps filling. At 1 to 3, one slow drain, treat it as a drain clog first.
How do I know whether the blockage is mine or the district's?
A backup in only your house often points to your own line. Neighbors with the same trouble point to the public main. Call your sewer provider: Eagle Sewer District at 208-939-0132, Garden City Public Works at 208-472-2900, or Star Sewer & Water District at 208-286-7388.
Why would a plumber want to run a camera down the line?
A small camera on a cable shows roots, sags, cracks and broken joints. That lets a repair target the damaged section instead of guessing. It also gives you pictures to compare quotes.
Who should I call before anyone digs?
Call 811, the Digline service. Digline says notice goes to underground utility owners at least 2 business days and no more than 10 business days before excavation, and that local utility companies provide the line marking at no charge.
Does this cover Star and Garden City too?
Yes. Sewer work reaches Star and Garden City as well as Eagle. Each has its own sewer provider for the public main, so call that provider about the public main, and call (208) 781-4118 for the line on your side.
What to have ready
Have your address, the room or fixture, when the trouble began and whether the water is off. Add the age of the heater or the home if you know it. For tenants, the property owner is the first call. Homes in Eagle, Star and Garden City are covered, so call (208) 781-4118 because those details let the contractor plan the visit.