Sewer Line Repair & Replacement
in Erlanger & Florence, KY

Home » Plumbing Services » Sewer Line Repair & Replacement

Arlinghaus service van parked in front of a home

Sewer line problems have a way of announcing themselves at the worst possible time. The floor drain that starts backing up sewage during a dinner party. The yard that develops a soggy, inexplicably green patch in the middle of summer. The smell that shows up inside the house and won’t go away no matter what gets cleaned. In Erlanger, Florence, and across the older neighborhoods of Northern Kentucky, these situations aren’t unusual, they’re predictable. The clay tile and cast iron sewer laterals that run under the yards of homes built between the 1940s and 1980s throughout Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties were never designed to last indefinitely, and the combination of NKY’s clay-heavy shifting soil, hard limestone water, and freeze-thaw cycles has been working against them for decades.

Arlinghaus provides sewer line repair, replacement, and installation for homeowners throughout Erlanger, Florence, Covington, Newport, Independence, and all of Northern Kentucky. We diagnose accurately with camera inspection before recommending any repair scope, and we offer both traditional and trenchless repair methods depending on what your specific situation calls for. If you have a sewer emergency right now, call us. We respond 24 hours a day.

Have a Sewer Emergency? Call for Immediate Service

Sewage backing up into your home, complete loss of drainage throughout the house, or sewer gas odors throughout multiple rooms are all emergency situations. Stop using all fixtures immediately and call Arlinghaus. We respond 24/7 throughout Erlanger, Florence, and all of Northern Kentucky.

Map of Arlinghaus Air service area around Cincinnati.

Do You Need Sewer Line Repair or Replacement?

The symptoms that send NKY homeowners searching for sewer help tend to follow recognizable patterns and those patterns usually point toward either repair or replacement depending on what’s behind them.

Signs that point toward repair:

  • A single fixture or area is affected, isolated damage like a localized root intrusion or a single crack can often be addressed with spot repair or trenchless lining
  • The line is under 40 years old, otherwise in good condition, and camera inspection confirms damage is limited to one section
  • The problem is new and hasn’t recurred after a professional cleaning or minor repair

Signs that point toward replacement:

  • Multiple fixtures throughout the home are draining slowly or backing up simultaneously
  • Gurgling sounds when flushing, persistent sewage odors indoors, or unusually green soggy patches of grass above the sewer lateral
  • Sewage backing up into floor drains or tubs
  • Camera inspection reveals damage, bellying, or root intrusion throughout the length of the line
  • The pipe is clay tile, Orangeburg, or heavily corroded cast iron at the end of its useful life
  • Recurring failures despite previous repairs 

When the picture isn’t clear from symptoms alone, camera inspection gives us the definitive answer before we recommend anything.

Your Local & Trusted
Sewer Line Repair & Replacement Service Pros
Icon of a house with tools representing available home services
What We Do

At Arlinghaus, it all starts with passion. We’re a family-owned business specializing in electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning services. With years of experience and a team of certified residential contractors, we provide reliable services that homeowners can depend on.

Map location pin icon representing service areas
Where We Serve

We’re proud to serve the communities of Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, and Greater Cincinnati, Ohio areas, with an office based in Northern Kentucky and the Sharonville, Cincinnati area. We love our region, which blends the warmth of happy small-town charm with the variety and excitement of big-city life.

Testimonial icon – user silhouette with quotation bubble
Why Choose Arlinghaus

Our award-winning, expertly trained team has over 6,000 five-star reviews. We’ve been voted the Best in Cincinnati for Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning, Best of the North by Cincy Magazine, and Best of NKY for 10 consecutive years, which means our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is recognized year after year.

Happy House blue gradient branding banner
Our Work Stands Out
Even more than Our Shirts

It all starts with passion. Arlinghaus is proud to be a trusted, family-owned plumbing and HVAC company in the Kentucky, Cincinnati, and Indiana areas.

See What our Happy Customers Say
Our service tech was knowledgeable and took the time to show us what was going on with our AC unit. I was kept up to date with texts throughout the process before he arrived. He took the time to ask if we had any questions. Would highly recommend Arlinghaus!
Arlinghaus was great to get someone to my home immediately as I was dealing with a burst pipe. Mike Thomas was so kind and professional, and thorough in his work. The rates were very reasonable for the wonderful service provided. I certainly will be calling them back if I have any future issues (though I hope I don't!)
I contacted Arlinghaus to have our hot water heater replaced and water softener system installed. The two techs that came out and worked on our project, Derek Mullins and Claude Jones, were excellent! Super nice guys, kept us informed, and did a fantastic job on our house. I appreciate their professional manner and knowledge on this job and I would recommend them for future work. Thank you guys for restoring the hot water in our house and for installing our new water softener, we are so happy for these upgrades!!
4.9
0 + Reviews on Google!
4.9
0 + Reviews on Google!
Happy House blue gradient branding banner
Our Work Stands Out
Even more than Our Shirts

It all starts with passion. Arlinghaus is proud to be a trusted, family-owned plumbing and HVAC company in the Kentucky, Cincinnati, and Indiana areas.

See What our Happy Customers Say
Our service tech was knowledgeable and took the time to show us what was going on with our AC unit. I was kept up to date with texts throughout the process before he arrived. He took the time to ask if we had any questions. Would highly recommend Arlinghaus!
Arlinghaus was great to get someone to my home immediately as I was dealing with a burst pipe. Mike Thomas was so kind and professional, and thorough in his work. The rates were very reasonable for the wonderful service provided. I certainly will be calling them back if I have any future issues (though I hope I don't!)
I contacted Arlinghaus to have our hot water heater replaced and water softener system installed. The two techs that came out and worked on our project, Derek Mullins and Claude Jones, were excellent! Super nice guys, kept us informed, and did a fantastic job on our house. I appreciate their professional manner and knowledge on this job and I would recommend them for future work. Thank you guys for restoring the hot water in our house and for installing our new water softener, we are so happy for these upgrades!!
4.9
0 + Reviews on Google!

Common Causes of Sewer Line Damage in Northern Kentucky

  • Tree root intrusion – mature trees throughout Erlanger, Florence, Newport, and Covington actively seek moisture in sewer pipe joints; roots grow rapidly once inside and can completely block the line
  • Soil movement from freeze-thaw cycles – NKY’s limestone-based clay soil shifts with temperature and moisture changes, causing underground pipe joints to separate and misalign over decades
  • Pipe material deterioration – clay tile cracks under soil pressure, Orangeburg softens and collapses, and cast iron corrodes and narrows internally; all three are common in pre-1980 NKY homes
  • Grease and fat buildup – accumulated kitchen grease coats the sewer line interior over years, narrowing the channel until a full blockage develops
  • Flushable wipes and foreign objects – products marketed as flushable don’t break down in sewer lines and are a leading cause of main line blockages throughout the region
  • Bellied pipe – a sagged pipe section from soil movement creates a low point where waste collects; a common finding in camera inspections of older NKY sewer laterals
The
ArlingHaus
Difference
Happy House mascot graphic, left-facing

We’re a family-owned business with deep roots in the Erlanger, Kentucky, and Greater Cincinnati communities. Our commitment to quality service and customer satisfaction has made us a trusted name in the area for years. Here’s a little more about what makes our electrical company stand out:

Family-owned and operated icon – house with family

Family-Owned and Operated:

We’re proud to be a local business that puts the community first.

Experienced team icon – group of people silhouette

Experienced Team:

Our team is fully certified, highly trained, and passionate about what they do.

Comprehensive services icon – checklist

Comprehensive Services:

From minor repairs to full installations, we handle all residential needs.

Customer-first icon with a hand and a person

Customer-First Approach:

We focus on clear communication and friendly service every step of the way.

Customer satisfaction icon – smiling face with thumbs up

Satisfaction Guarantee:

We're not happy until you’re happy — every job comes with a satisfaction guarantee.

Award-Winning Service:

Thank you to our community for voting Arlinghaus as The Best in Cincinnati, Best of NKY 10 years running , Best of the North and more:

Happy House Maintenance Club logo

Happy House CLub

Sewer Line Pipe Materials & Lifespan in NKY Homes

  • Clay tile – pre-1960 homes; 50–60 year lifespan; susceptible to root intrusion and cracking; most laterals in older Erlanger and Covington neighborhoods are at or past end of life
  • Orangeburg – 1940s–1960s homes; typically failing after 50 years; softens and collapses from water exposure
  • Cast iron – through the 1980s; 50–100 years but corrodes internally; NKY’s hard water accelerates scale buildup
  • PVC – modern standard; 50–100 years; resistant to root intrusion; installed in replacements and newer construction

If your home was built before 1980 and the sewer lateral has never been inspected, a camera inspection is the most informed investment you can make before a problem forces the conversation.

What to Do When Your Sewer Is Backed Up

  1. Stop using all water – every flush and faucet run adds to the backup volume
  2. Don’t use chemical drain cleaners – they won’t clear a main line clog and can damage pipe materials
  3. Locate your clean-out access point – typically a capped pipe near the foundation; our team will use this on arrival
  4. Stay out of standing sewage water – sewage carries serious health risks
  5. Call Arlinghaus – we respond 24/7 and arrive prepared to resolve the situation in a single visit

Trenchless Sewer Repair & Replacement

When sewer line damage qualifies, Arlinghaus uses trenchless repair methods that restore the line without full excavation, such as preserving driveways, landscaping, and mature plantings. The two primary methods are pipe bursting and CIPP lining. Camera inspection determines which approach is right for your specific line condition. For full detail on how each method works, explore our trenchless sewer repair services.

Sewer Camera Inspection: Diagnosis Before Any Repair

Before recommending any repair or replacement scope, Arlinghaus performs a video camera inspection to see exactly what’s happening inside the line. Camera inspection is also valuable for NKY homeowners purchasing an older home, as knowing the condition of the sewer lateral before closing can change a purchase decision or a negotiating position.

Sewer Line Installation

New sewer line installation is needed for new construction, homes where the existing lateral has failed beyond repair, and additions requiring a new municipal connection. Arlinghaus handles sewer line installation throughout Northern Kentucky, fully permitted and inspected per Kenton County, Boone County, and local municipality requirements.

Avoiding Sewer Line Problems

  • Never flush anything except toilet paper.
  • Keep cooking grease out of all drains.
  • Schedule a sewer camera inspection every 1–2 years for homes older than 25 years.
  • Have tree roots near the sewer line addressed proactively, as annual root cutting is far less expensive than emergency repair.
  • Schedule professional main sewer line cleaning every 18–24 months; annual cleaning is included in our Happy House Club membership.

Why Choose Arlinghaus for Sewer Line Repair in Northern Kentucky

  • Camera inspection before any recommendation – accurate diagnosis before committing to repair scope; no guesswork, no unnecessary excavation
  • Traditional and trenchless methods – we match the repair approach to your specific situation
  • 24/7 emergency response – we respond around the clock throughout Erlanger, Florence, and NKY
  • NKY sewer expertise – we understand the clay tile, Orangeburg, and cast iron systems common in this area’s housing stock
  • Licensed and insured in KY, OH, and IN – every repair and installation fully permitted and code-compliant
  • Upfront pricing – confirmed before any work begins; no surprise invoices on a job this significant
  • 6,000+ five-star reviews – the most reviewed plumbing company in Northern Kentucky
  • Best of NKY 10 years running – recognized year after year by the NKY community
  • Happy House Seal of Approval – every repair and installation backed by our guarantee

Have a Sewer Emergency? Call for Immediate Service

Don’t wait on a sewer problem. Call Arlinghaus now or book online for sewer line repair, replacement, and installation throughout Erlanger, Florence, and all of Northern Kentucky, 24 hours a day.

Northern Kentucky Sewer Line Repair & Replacement FAQs

In The Community

We believe that one of life’s greatest gifts is the ability to celebrate one’s place in a thriving community, with family and friends, where everyone shares a common set of goals and dreams. We are fortunate to work and live in great communities throughout Kentucky, Cincinnati and Indiana, areas that have welcomed and embraced us over the years. We are happy to give back to those communities through a variety of initiatives, some very public, others totally private. We’re a people-first company.

GET FUNDING TODAY!