//Glossary
Pipe belly (sag)
A low spot in a drain or sewer line where the pipe has settled below its proper slope. Water and solids collect in the sag instead of flowing through, so the line clogs repeatedly in the same place.
Why can a belly not be fixed by cleaning?
Cleaning empties the sag for a while, but the pipe is still low and the next flow settles in the same spot. The only permanent fix is to correct the slope, which means replacing that section of pipe, either by excavation or, where the conditions allow, by a trenchless method that can address it.
How does a plumber confirm a belly?
On camera, the picture goes underwater for a stretch and comes back out. The locator marks where it starts and ends on the surface, which tells you how long the repair section is.
Guides that use this term
- › How drain cleaning works: snake, camera, and what happens on the call
- › Why the same drain keeps clogging
- › What a sewer camera inspection shows, and why it comes before the quote
- › Trenchless sewer repair, explained: lining, bursting, and when each fits
- › What damages a sewer line: roots, old materials, ground movement and grease
- › Signs of a sewer line problem: what to watch for before it backs up
- › Slow drain: what it usually means and what to do first
- › Sewer smell in the house: dry traps, vents, and when it is the line
- › Spot repair vs full sewer replacement: when each is the honest answer
- › Trenchless vs digging: which sewer repair do you need?
Related terms
//Open 6am to 7pm daily · 24/7 emergency
Trust Done-Rite for all your plumbing needs
Licensed, bonded and insured. Family-owned since 2014. No trip charge, 1-hour response, and 24/7 emergency service.
