A sewer problem is never a small thing. Whether you’re dealing with a backed-up line, a cracked pipe, or a full sewer collapse, the contractor you hire will determine whether the job gets done right the first time — or whether you’re calling someone else to fix their mistakes six months later. In Chicagoland, where aging clay and cast iron pipes are the norm and ground shifting is a constant reality, choosing the wrong contractor can mean thousands of dollars in unnecessary damage or repeat repairs.
Here’s what you need to know before you hire anyone to touch your sewer line:
Do: Ask for References and Actually Check Them
Every contractor will tell you they do great work. References are how you find out if that’s actually true. Any reputable sewer repair contractor should be able to provide you with a list of recent clients without hesitation. Don’t just collect the names — follow through. Call them. Ask whether the work was completed on time, whether the final cost matched the estimate, and whether they’d hire the same contractor again.
Online reviews on Google and the BBB are a good supplement, but direct references from real customers carry more weight. A contractor with a long track record of satisfied customers in your area is almost always a safer bet than one with no verifiable history.
Don’t: Hire the First Contractor You Call
When sewage is backing up into your basement, the instinct is to call the first number you find and get someone out there immediately. That’s understandable — but rushing into a hire without comparing options is one of the most common and costly mistakes homeowners make. Even in an urgent situation, it takes very little time to get two or three quotes.
Different contractors can quote wildly different prices for the same job, and the scope of work they propose may vary significantly as well. One contractor might recommend a full sewer line replacement while another identifies a localized repair that solves the same problem for a fraction of the cost. Getting multiple opinions gives you the information you need to make a smart decision rather than an expensive one.
Do: Verify Licensing and Insurance Before Anyone Digs
This is non-negotiable. Illinois requires sewer contractors to carry specific licenses, and any company working on sewer lines in the Chicago area should be able to show you their credentials on request. Ask for their plumbing license number and their sewer contractor license number — and verify them.
Insurance is equally important. If a worker is injured on your property or an underground utility line gets damaged during excavation, you need to know that the contractor’s liability insurance — not your homeowner’s policy — covers it. Ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm it’s current before work begins. A legitimate contractor will have no problem providing this.
Don’t: Skip the Permit Conversation
Sewer line repairs almost always require permits, particularly in the Chicago metro area. The City of Chicago and most surrounding municipalities require contractors to obtain the necessary permits before any excavation or underground work can begin. These permits exist to ensure the work meets code and is inspected by the appropriate authorities.
If a contractor tells you they don’t need a permit, or that pulling one will slow things down so they’d rather skip it — walk away. Unpermitted sewer work can create serious problems when you go to sell your home, and it leaves you with zero recourse if the work fails. A reputable contractor will handle the permit process as a standard part of the job.
Do: Take Experience Seriously
Sewer repair is not a field where you want to be someone’s learning experience. The conditions underground in Chicagoland — clay soil, freeze-thaw cycles, decades-old pipe materials, tree root intrusion — require hands-on knowledge that only comes with years of work. An experienced sewer service contractor has seen the full range of problems that can complicate a repair, and they know how to adjust when the job looks different underground than it did on paper.
Ask how long the company has been in business and how many sewer line repairs they complete per year. Ask whether they use camera inspection before recommending a repair — a contractor who diagnoses a sewer problem without a sewer camera inspection is essentially guessing. The best contractors invest in the right diagnostic tools and use them every time.
Don’t: Overlook Warranties and Guarantees
Quality sewer work should come with a guarantee. Before signing anything, ask the contractor what warranty they offer on their workmanship and what warranties apply to any materials or replacement pipe being used. These terms vary from contractor to contractor, but a company that stands behind its work will have clear answers and put them in writing.
Be cautious of vague guarantees like “we’ll come back if there’s a problem.” That’s not a warranty — that’s a promise that means nothing without specific terms, time limits, and conditions attached to it. Get it in writing before work begins.
Do: Ask for a Clear Scope of Work and Timeline
A professional contractor should be able to give you a written description of exactly what they plan to do, what materials they’ll use, and how long the project will take. This isn’t just about setting expectations — it protects you if a dispute arises later about what was included in the original quote.
Pay attention to how a contractor answers questions about the process. Someone who can walk you through each step clearly and confidently — from the initial camera inspection through excavation, repair, backfill, and restoration — knows what they’re doing. Vague or evasive answers about the process are a red flag worth taking seriously.
Don’t: Let a Low Price Make the Decision for You
It’s natural to want the best price, and getting competitive quotes is smart. But a quote that’s dramatically lower than everyone else’s is rarely good news. Lowball pricing usually means one of three things: the contractor is planning to cut corners on materials, they’re underestimating the scope of the job and will hit you with change orders once work begins, or they simply don’t have the experience or equipment to do the job properly.
Sewer repair done poorly is far more expensive than sewer repair done right. A cheap fix that fails in two years — or causes additional damage to your foundation or landscaping — will end up costing you far more than the reputable contractor you passed over the first time.
Do: Clarify the Cleanup and Site Restoration Plan
Sewer line repair, especially work that requires excavation, can leave a significant mess. Trenches, displaced soil, damaged landscaping, broken concrete — these are all realities of underground work. What separates a professional contractor from an unprofessional one is what happens after the pipe is fixed.
Ask specifically what site restoration is included in the quote. Will they backfill and compact the trench properly? Will they replace any concrete or asphalt they cut through? Will they re-seed or restore any lawn areas? Get this in writing. A contractor who takes pride in their work leaves a job site clean and restored — not just technically functional.
Don’t: Ignore Your Gut
Beyond credentials, quotes, and references, pay attention to how a contractor communicates with you. Are they responsive? Do they answer your questions directly, or do they deflect and rush you? Do they explain what they’re recommending and why, or do they just hand you a number and tell you to decide?
A contractor who respects your time, communicates clearly, and treats you like an informed homeowner rather than a sales target is far more likely to deliver quality work than one who pressures you to sign quickly or dismisses your concerns.
The Bottom Line
Hiring a sewer repair contractor is one of the bigger decisions a homeowner or property manager can make. The right contractor will diagnose the problem accurately, explain your options honestly, do the work to code, and leave your property in good shape. The wrong one can turn a manageable repair into a prolonged nightmare.
Take the time to verify licensing, check references, compare quotes, and ask the hard questions. Your sewer line connects everything — it deserves the same care and attention you’d give any major investment in your home.
If you’re in Chicagoland and need a sewer line repair you can count on, Suburban Plumbing Experts is available 24/7. Call us at 708-801-6530 (suburbs) or 773-570-2191 (Chicago), or contact us online for a free estimate.
