
When Should I Replace My Sewer Line?
Before we go any further into this post, let’s make one thing clear. If you’re asking when you should replace your sewer line, we assume that you mean when should you schedule a professional sewer line replacement. Because if you’re asking us when you should grab the shovel and the toolbox to replace your own sewer line, the answer is simple—never! This is a job for experienced, licensed plumbers only, so work with our team.
Remember, your sewer line is buried on your property. That means that you cannot give it a quick visual inspection the way that you might inspect exposed pipes in your home. What you can do, however, is learn to recognize signs of trouble with your sewer line, understand some basic facts about how it works, and contact us at the first sign of trouble. You’re not going to be going through sewer lines regularly, but there’s a good chance you’ll need to replace yours at some point.
Signs of Trouble
Your sewer line is responsible for taking the waste and wastewater from your drainage system and removing it from your property. That means everything from food scraps handled by your garbage disposal to what you’re flushing down the toilet. Given that, it is probably not too surprising to hear that foul odors are a sign that your sewer line is in trouble.
Now, if you smell foul odors coming from your drains, they may just need to be cleaned. The smell of sewage is pretty unmistakable, though. If you smell it in your home or on your property, you’re not going to be able to ignore it—nor would you be tempted to.
Another sign of trouble, and one that would be paired with this odor, is spongy spots on your lawn. If your sewer line is leaking, then it may saturate your lawn. In fact, it may even make patches of your lawn thrive by fertilizing them! Those healthy patches certainly don’t mean that this is a benefit to you, though.
When to Replace
In some cases, it is going to be possible to fix a leaking sewer line. Maybe there is just a bad connection, or a single point of concern that can be dealt with.
However, in other instances, a full replacement will be necessary. Perhaps corrosion has hit the entire pipe hard. Maybe the pipe isn’t fully corroded yet, but is made of outdated materials that are at a greater risk of such problems than the durable plastics commonly used today. If that’s the case, then replacing now while everything is exposed makes more sense.
Ultimately, you want to get your sewer line replaced before disaster strikes and you’re left with a very unhygienic cleanup project on your hands—well, hopefully not literally on your hands. It’s not always possible, but alerting us to trouble when you first notice it will help.
Testimonials
What Our Customers Say About Us


He explained, while he saw no immediate problems. what we might expect going forward, given the furnace's age and condition. After I asked about major component vs. whole-unit replacement, he provided a thorough explanation, and pricing, of options for us to consider.
Very good experience with Jef! Highly recommend!



Also, thanks to the other team members involved such as the appointment scheduler and Justin. Both were very professional & efficient with my slightly demanding request.

My issue is that service was for the morning and ended up at 3pm. This has been a problem for multiple service/maintenance appointments to include two cancelations. As a working professional, timing is very critical in my daily scheduling.

He took the time to walk me through everything about our unit and answered all my questions clearly. I was very impressed with his professionalism, knowledge, and attention to detail.
Thank you, Jeremy, for your excellent service!







His experience led us to a solution for our pipes, which saved us thousands and thousands of dollars.
He’s a good man to have on your side



Edit: I was contacted by the branch manager and she accepted full responsibility and was very upfront. They made up for it in kind and I appreciate them being upfront and willing to make the situation right. Their customer service is top notch!


The service was perfect. The technician Julian Bray was pleasant, knowledgeable and completed the install quickly. The area was left cleaner than when he arrived.


The leads Nick & Brian were knowledgeable and covered our floors to protect them. Their crew included Kevin & Ricky who were also kind and respectful.

As always they came thru and did an excellent job Damian Palazeulos was very meticulous and skilled.






Installer Tech Ardian and his assistant arrived on schedule this morning and have completed the job that needed to be done orderly and neatly. Thanks everyone.


Junior Gonzalez (Goettl) came the next evening, replaced my wall inlet valve and began the reinstallation. He found that the flange did indeed need to be replaced, but that required soldering due to my older house’s lead pipes.
Richard Wenzlaff (also with Goettl) came the next day and finished the installation (including soldering pipe repair and flange installation).
Great people. Very courteous and patient. Very thorough: they checked water pressure and dbl checked their jobs. Would recommend and call again.

Jesus was are tec came in check everything let me know what would need to be done or taken care of came in respectfully with a great attitude
Highly exceptional service we definitely will be requesting him if possible great experience today









Would use Goetll (and Andrew) again!



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Recommended!

We appreciate the information and expertise, and we're looking forward to getting excellent service.





Sally


Thank you David for a job well done.

Johnthan, Thank you so very much for conducting the plumbing assessment of my home this morning. Your professionalism, expertise and personal demeanor were outstanding. Your patience, knowledge and customer educational skills were greatly appreciated, and I am a much better informed customer when it comes to the status, potential issues and how to resolve any water/ plumbing related issues that may arise in the future.
Again, thank you.
Abdiel Chavez, technician came out today to perform my heating system check. He was very professional and thorough in his assessment. It was a pleasure seeing him again as he was the initial technician to come to my home when I first moved here, so it was like having a visit from an old friend. Thank you Abdiel.











Damian was wonderful. He is a great asset to the Goettl team. Thank you for quick, reliable service.




...... we had an AC problem a few days later. Peter Medelez from Goettl came out and fixed it expertly and made some recommendations to ensure it won't happen again. Some things hadn't been done correctly when it was installed several years ago (by someone else), and he will be back next week to fix them. I highly recommend Goettl.
... 10/15/25 ... we had a leak in the main water line which was running into the neighbors' yard. In less than two hours of calling Goettl, Clayton Purvis arrived to fix the leak. He repaired the leak and fixed connections, and repaired something previously done incorrectly in the unknown past. He was done before we had to leave for a prior equipment. I feel confident in the quality of work, as I always am when I have to call Goettl for something.






Had Andrew come out to remove garbage disposal and repipe sink. He also swapped out 13 emergency water shut off valves in 3 bathrooms.
Andrew was professional, courteous and expedient. He did have to run out to get some supplies. He stayed until 7pm to complete the job on one trip.
May 2023 update. Technician Steve came today to do the summer rejuvenation. Friendly and professional tech. Explained the process and findings. Both systems are new, so everything checked out good. Did a god cleaning of coils and now all set for the summer season. Had them out for fall prevention service and to review the systems that are here. I just bought the house and needed to understand what was in place.
The service tech, Kevin was very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. He explained and provided photos and video of all components. He ensured keeping house clean and wore booties.
My second unit is not in the best shape, and Kevin explained each of the issues. I will follow up with service managér to determine next steps (repair or replacement).
I signed up for there service plan and am very pleased with the service and communication to date
12/21 Luis C came today to do routine maintenance on hot water heater. Professional and courteous. He did a through job and explained everything.
10/15. Juan came today and did a great job. He was professional, courteous and friendly. Was here for exterior water bid but also did a hot water heater. Took his time and explained everything.









If there was a 6th star, he’d be getting it!










Thank you Preston








Professional, knowledgeable and efficient. Very polite and courteous
Also installed surge protectors on the the condensers






We’ve been Goettl customers for years and have always appreciated their service, but Kevin Edwards truly raised the bar. During his visit yesterday, Kevin showed outstanding attention to detail and technical expertise. He thoroughly inspected every part of our HVAC system, documenting his findings with photos and clearly explaining issues that had gone unnoticed through several previous service visits.
Kevin discovered that our HVAC system had been improperly installed when the home was built—something no other technician had identified. He explained how that flaw had created a chain of problems affecting the furnace, cooling system, and overall efficiency. Because the system uses an outdated refrigerant, repairs weren’t a viable long-term solution, and Kevin guided us toward a responsible upgrade plan.
While no homeowner wants to replace a system after only seven years, we’re grateful Kevin uncovered these hidden issues before they caused a catastrophic failure. His thoroughness, honesty, and professionalism turned a potential headache into peace of mind. Kevin is an exceptional representative of Goettl, and we recommend him without hesitation.

I want to express my complete satisfaction with the work performed by Frank Piusseaux, a technician from Goettl.
For months, several technicians tried to identify the issue with my air conditioning unit, but no one could solve it. However, from the moment Frank arrived, he showed great professionalism and dedication. He took the time to carefully investigate the cause of the problem and determined that the issue was a short circuit in the wiring between the thermostat and the unit.
Thanks to his knowledge and effort, my air conditioning system is now working perfectly.
I truly hope that Goettl recognizes the value of having such a skilled, responsible, and committed employee. Technicians like him make a real difference and deserve special recognition, even a financial incentive, for the value they bring to the company.
Thank you very much, Frank, for your excellent work!









Great service great company. Will definitely be using for future HVAC needs.


Great communication.
Explained everything in detail.
Took before and after pictures.










I called Goettl and set up an appointment.
Mike H arrived on time and with his extreme knowledge and experience, he was able to replace the tank and give my system a much needed flush. Mike was so courteous and polite and answered all my questions and gave me advice on the how and why this happened and how to avoid this in the future.
Thank you Goettl and thank you Mike!




This past week our service technician was Andrew Morgan and he is such a friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled technician. He spent time making sure the job was done correctly and he explained it in terms that I could understand. Not only is our unit functioning even better than before, I also gained knowledge of how the system works.













I highly recommend Goettl as this is the second time l've used them in less than a year. (2 seperate issues)... and I highly recommend them..anytime and anyday.
They have exceeded to top any expectations I could have ever had with any company.


Jerry also noticed our water pressure was low after flushing toilet then trying to wash hands in bathroom sink which were so he suggested a new pressure regulator as we have had a new better water conditioning system installed. We now have the best water pressure even when using a shower and kitchen sink faucet at the same time. Also Jerry is a master plumber and we appreciate his knowledge and experience. Will definitely call Goettl again when a plumber is needed.
Ralph & Kathy Lesmeister



Darean Guerra today. He arrived on time and took the time to explain what he was going to do. He was very knowledgeable which helped me trust what he was doing. He left his work area clean. I am very pleased with his work.




Now we have a new flange, installed correctly, and ready for the new toilet!








The company is installing a tankless heater and the customer service is outstanding.
I recommend Geottl to all!

I definitely recommend Goettl for all your needs.

Nick was helpful, friendly and professional in scheduling the appointment around my commitments.
I have used Goettl for nearly 20 years for my plumbing and HVAC needs. I recommend them as reliable, professional and easy to work with.


They made sure my carpet was covered and when they were all through they cleaned up perfectly
I would recommend your company to anyone looking to put in a new air conditioner.
Thank you so much for all you did for me.
Sincerely, June Jones

And I would highly recommend the company and the quality technicians like Jarod.
Jarod is the go to if you want excellent
Customer service and communication for any AC related issues. He is very knowledgeable, personable and trustworthy. I am grateful and satisfied.







They listened to my issue, were very through, checked for leaks, etc. I’ve lived in Lakeway for 30 years, used MANY local plumbers - but Goettl will definitely get all my business moving forward. HIGHLY recommend!
Ty, Wil & Adrian!

Everyone from the Goettl sales representative Christian, Tech / Advisor Josias recommended a HVAC A/C and Heating system replacement. Technicians team Veronica and her partner.


Jeremy Canchola serviced our mini-split today with the usual Goettl efficiency and professionalism.
Highly recommended!


Hopefully, we will get Jack for our next service call.







Robert, Tyler, Adrian & Luis, Thank you all so much.
