Sewer lines are one of the most important components of plumbing systems. As such, it’s important you take steps to protect your sewer line. The best way to avoid potential issues and ensure a sewer line remains in good condition is to have a professional plumbing company maintain it regularly. In this article, we’ll explain what sewer line maintenance involves, the benefits it can provide, and what signs to watch for that indicate your home has sewer issues.
Preventing Sewage Backups
One issue you definitely want to avoid is having your sewer line start backing up. Dealing with a sewer backup can be a nightmare since it results in raw sewage coming out of certain floor, shower, and bathtub drains. The lowest drains in a house are the ones that usually back up. That means the drains on your main floor if your home has a concrete slab foundation or a crawl space or the drains in the basement. Having floor and shower drains back up is the biggest concern since the sewage can create a nasty flood when someone is taking a shower or your dishwasher or washing machine is running. If you don’t spot the problem immediately and quickly clean everything up, you could end up with fairly significant water damage.
Sewage backups can occur for a few different reasons, such as a blockage in the sewer line caused by flushing things you shouldn’t or frequently pouring fat, oil, and grease down your kitchen sink. Some homes also have an issue where their sewer lines don’t have the correct slope. Having the correct slope is essential for ensuring water carries the waste all the way out of the sewer line when you flush the toilet. If the line has too much slope, the water will flow out of the line too fast, and the solids will get left behind. Too little slope also results in solids getting stuck and a blockage quickly forming. The same can happen if a sewer line settles over time and ends up with a sag or belly in it.
Another issue that will eventually lead to sewage backups is when tree roots are growing inside the sewer line. Tree root intrusion is a much more common issue than you may think, especially in older sewer lines. Sometimes larger roots just end up basically punching a hole in the sewer line as they grow. Older sewer lines can also develop issues where a joint that connects two pieces of pipe is no longer fully sealed. This can result in a small amount of sewage leaking out, leading to roots growing toward the line to feed on the water and waste. Small roots can get inside through the loose joint and will then quickly start growing much larger and taking over the pipe. When this happens, all of the solid waste and toilet paper get stuck in the roots and clogging up the line.
The best way to avoid sewage backups is to make sure everyone in the house knows to only flush toilet paper and waste and to have your sewer line inspected and maintained at least once a year. Camera inspections help to identify issues like tree roots, fat buildup, partial blockages, cracks, etc. Having your sewer line rooted every so often also reduces the risk of it backing up since it fully cleans the line to get rid of fat, corrosion, and any solids that are stuck.
Avoiding a Replacement or Costly Sewer Repairs
Another reason why you should have your sewer line inspected and rooted regularly is that it can help you avoid having to pay for expensive sewer repairs or a full replacement. If your sewer line has an issue such as a loose joint that allows roots to get inside, you may not need to have it repaired right away as long as it is rooted regularly to get rid of the root growth. If you don’t do this, the roots will likely grow big enough that they put a large hole in the line or cause it to crack.
These issues are something a plumbing company can sometimes fix without needing to replace the entire line unless the damage is extensive. In situations such as if your sewer line ends up collapsing due to rust and corrosion or breaking as a result of a major clog or tree roots, your only option will be to pay several thousand dollars for a full replacement.
Ensuring Your Plumbing Works Properly
Another concern when your home has sewer issues is that it can make it impossible to use your plumbing as normal. For instance, you can end up with your shower draining so slowly that you can only take very short showers due to the risk of your shower overflowing. Sewer issues can also lead to various drains frequently clogging and you needing to hire a plumber to unclog them.
Another common issue is that your toilets may not always flush properly, resulting in you needing to flush more than once. Having to flush two or three times bathroom use is not only annoying but will also cause your water bill to be much higher than it should be.
The biggest issue is again when your sewer backs up since it makes it so that you can’t run the dishwasher or do laundry. In most cases, you won’t even be able to flush the toilet without everything you flushed coming back up somewhere else in your house.
Common Signs of Sewer Line Issues
If you suspect there are any issues with your sewer line, you should contact an experienced plumbing and sewer service immediately. Taking immediate action is essential for avoiding backups and preventing your sewer line from potentially being damaged. Another concern is if your sewer line is leaking, it can lead to water seeping through your foundation and damaging your floors and other parts of your house.
Backups are an obvious sign you need to have your sewer line inspected and rooted or possibly repaired or replaced. You should also watch out for issues like all of your drains being slow or drains and toilets that frequently make a chugging or gurgling sound since these issues indicate that your sewer line is at risk of backing up. A strong sewage odor inside or outside your house is also a sign of a fairly serious sewer issue such as a blockage or a leak. One other thing to watch for is if the ground near your sewer line feels soft and squishy or is overly wet since this usually indicates a major leak in the line. A leak will also often result in the grass in the surrounding area growing faster and looking greener and healthier than the rest of the lawn.
If you need to get your sewer line inspected and maintained or if you’re currently dealing with any sewer issues, Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter is always here to help. We’re a local, family-owned company with years of experience providing reliable plumbing and sewer services in San Jose and throughout the Silicon Valley area. We offer 24/7 emergency services so you can count on us day or night for fast, professional assistance whenever any issues arise. Give us a call if you need to schedule a plumbing service appointment or if you have any questions.
