Protecting your home and Lake Superior
The sewer line that runs from your house to the street is your responsibility, and it may be much older than you think. Over time, many private service lines crack or collapse. When storms and snowmelt soak the ground in Duluth, clear water seeps into those broken lines and overwhelms the sanitary sewer. The result can be sewage backing up into basements or onto the street and eventually reaching the lake.
The good news is that a failing service line can be fixed, often without digging up your yard. Carlson Duluth Company handles residential and light commercial sewer and water installation, replacement and repair, using both trenchless pipe lining and traditional excavation.
Signs your sewer or water line needs attention
- Several drains backing up or running slowly at the same time
- Sewage smells in the basement or yard
- Soggy, sunken or unusually green patches of lawn over the line
- Backups after heavy rain or spring melt
- Roots found during drain cleaning, or repeat clogs in the main line
- Low water pressure or discolored water from an old supply line
Many homeowners do not realize their service line has stopped working properly until a backup happens. Finding out early, before a backup floods the basement, keeps both the repair and the cleanup smaller.
What is included
- Trenchless pipe lining with the Hammerhead lining system
- Trench replacement and excavation
- Sewer and water line installation, replacement and repair
- Lead water line replacement
- Guidance on the City of Duluth I&I program
Our process: two ways to fix a line
When it is time to repair an old sewer line, we start by discussing your options. Trench replacement means excavating to the old pipe and replacing it with new. It is the right choice when a line has collapsed or needs to be rerouted, and our excavating services are built around exactly that kind of install and repair work.
Trenchless lining uses Hammerhead Trenchless technology to install a new liner inside the existing pipe, sealing cracks and joints without a long trench across your yard. Hammerhead publishes a lining warranty statement, and its products are listed with IAPMO and certified by ICC Evaluation Service. We will show you which approach fits your line and give you a free estimate either way.
Why the I&I program matters
Most communities around Lake Superior run two separate systems. Sanitary sewers carry wastewater to a treatment plant, while storm sewers carry rain and snowmelt straight to streams, rivers and the lake. When clear water leaks into the sanitary side, a problem known as inflow and infiltration, the pipes can exceed their capacity and overflow.
Fifty-five percent of Duluth’s sewer system is over 50 years old, and most homes built before 1970 were designed with roof drains or footing drains that send rainwater into the sanitary sewer. The City of Duluth’s I&I program addresses this with sump pump installations and footing drain disconnections, designating an area of the city each year for mandatory inspection. In some areas grant funding is available, and the city’s residential grant program can help with service line replacement. Approval must come before work begins, so contact City of Duluth Utility Operations first. We are happy to explain the process.
Get the lead out
Older homes may still have lead in their water lines. Although lead pipes are no longer installed, lead in drinking water adds to other sources of exposure and can build up in the body over time. Inspecting and replacing old water lines is a practical step to protect your family.
Why Carlson Duluth Company
We have been helping customers generation after generation: the Carlson family has worked on Duluth plumbing since 1905. We are committed to keeping Lake Superior clean, and we are glad to explain the warning signs of a failing sewer line and how the community can work together on cleaner water.
Area served
We provide sewer, water line and pipe lining services in Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor, Superior and nearby communities. To have your line inspected or to get a free pipe lining estimate, call (218) 727-0063.