Downtown location Full Sewerline replacement

Downtown location Full Sewerline replacement

 

Call (785) 856-1152

Case

Repeated drain backups are usually a sign of a bigger underground problem. In this downtown Lawrence restaurant, the kitchen and floor drains had been backing up repeatedly, even after multiple drain cleanings. The issue kept returning near the dish machine, floor drain, and other key drain points, which made it clear the problem was deeper than a simple clog.

THE PROBLEM

After inspecting the lines with water jetting and camera equipment, the drains were found to be heavily corroded, brittle, and failing at the core. The best long-term solution was not another temporary cleaning, but a full replacement of the damaged drain lines.

In older commercial buildings, especially those with all cast iron underground piping, recurring drain problems often point to internal corrosion, breaks, and restrictions. When this happens, grease, debris, and wastewater have nowhere to go, which leads to backups, unpleasant odors, and costly interruptions for staff and customers alike.

3. Inspection and Diagnosis

To confirm the condition of the drain system, the lines were water jetted and then inspected with a camera. This process revealed the true extent of the damage: the pipes were old, fragile, and severely corroded. In several sections, the cast iron was no longer dependable enough to reconnect or patch without risking another failure.

Once the inspection was complete, it was determined that the most effective solution would be to remove the failing drains and replace them with new PVC. This would provide the customer a long-term repair instead of continued temporal fixes.

5. Repair Process and Result

Once the estimate was approved, the crew jackhammered the floors, removed the broken cast iron, and replaced it with solid-core PVC for the new drains. The work included new floor drain bowls, traps, and cleanouts where needed, along with the replacement of the floor sink near the ice machine. Once the new piping was installed, the remaining main drain was cleaned, jetted, and inspected to make sure the system was flowing properly.

The project was completed in three days by the crew’s dig team, restoring the restaurant’s drainage system and giving the customer a much more dependable setup. For a business that depends on kitchen uptime, that kind of repair can prevent ongoing disruptions and protect the building from repeat plumbing failures.

 

4. Scope of Work

The repair included jackhammering the concrete slab to access the failing underground drains and replacing the damaged piping with new PVC. The work also included replacing key floor drains, adding cleanouts, and addressing the broken drain and floor sink near the ice machine. Dust control measures were used to help protect the surrounding kitchen and equipment during demolition.

Call Blue Duck When

• you need your sewerline replace
• You need the lines camerad
• water is backing up from the floor drain.

When should a restaurant owner consider more than drain cleaning?

 A: If drains keep backing up after multiple cleanings, especially in the same areas, it usually means there is a structural problem like corrosion, a break, or a collapsed section of pipe.

Why not just keep jetting/cleaning the line?

A: Jetting helps clear buildup, but it cannot repair broken or badly deteriorated cast iron. If the pipe wall is failing, just cleaning it becomes a bandaid solution. At that point, it needs to be restored or replaced.

How do you know if the drains need replacement?

A: A camera inspection is the best way to tell. If the pipe is brittle, heavily corroded, or broken in multiple spots, replacement is usually the safest long-term fix.

Can you repair this kind of issue without shutting down the whole business?

A: In many cases, yes. The work can often be staged by area so the business can keep operating as much as possible during the repair.

What was the scope of work for this project?

A: Jackhammer and repipe broken or abandoned drains.
Replace 2 floor drains in the line area.
Replace broken drain and floor sink near the ice machine.
Install cleanouts for the grease trap and dishwasher line.
Replace broken cast iron between the dish sink and floor drain.
Lightly descale the remainder of the main drain.
Jet and camera inspect the remaining main drain.
Remove concrete, install new piping, and repour the slab in the repaired areas.

 

Call (785) 856-1152