The vast majority of plumbing problems experienced by the average home or business owner involve fixtures, pipes and drains that can be easily fixed by professionals without the use of excavating or other invasive tools. Ask your average plumber, and he'll tell you that most calls are received for clogged toilets, leaky faucets and drains that need to be snaked to remove a blockage. Plumbing is a very common trade, and for smaller, less expensive jobs such as these, there are numerous options in the phone book or on the Internet for competent professionals who will do a good and fair job for you. In fact, if you've been a homeowner for a while, you may know how to fix most plumbing problems yourself without having to call in professional help.

There are some plumbing jobs, however, that require professionals to excavate deep into the ground in your basement or yard in order to unclog, repair or replace a malfunctioning sewer drain, gas line or water line. Excavating equipment is, frankly, essential for the most serious plumbing problems, and without excavating these plumbing repairs would take ten times as long and cost much more money for homeowners. Luckily, with today's technology, the exact location of most sewer drain clogs and breaks can be pinpointed using drain cameras and locating devices. And compact excavation equipment is becoming more and more common at even smaller plumbing a drain cleaning businesses as it becomes more affordable and easier to operate.

Most excavating work in plumbing jobs will be needed when dealing with sewer mains, gas and water lines that run through your yard and require some serious digging to get to. The reason these pipes and drains are placed beneath the ground is because they are easily damaged and are afforded a certain degree of protection from being buried under a layer of dirt. Unfortunately, the same protection provided by layers of soil also make these drains and pipes harder to get to when it comes time to repair or replace them. Additionally, it also makes it much easier for these lines to be broken accidentally if your excavator is not a trained professional who knows how to dig with extra care and precautions.

Many sewer main lines in older homes were constructed with clay tiles, which has a tendency to become infiltrated by tree roots that snake in through cracks in the pipe as they look for moisture and nutrients. These clay tile sewer drains are often plagued with breakages and blocks as a home ages, and many plumbing excavation jobs involve replacing these clay pipes with a plastic PVC material that is more durable and easily cleaned. Even if your clay sewer drain does not need to be completely replaced, your plumber may suggest that you have some excavating done in order to install a plastic cleanout that will make drain cleaning easier in the future.

Above all else, remember that if any excavating work is being done by plumbers or drain cleaning professionals in your yard, you need to ensure that they have properly identified where all existing electrical, gas and water lines are located before digging. Doing so can help prevent a dangerous and costly mistake if any of these pipes are accidentally broken during the excavation process.