Sanitary sewer and manhole services play a crucial role in maintaining the local infrastructure. As a rule of thumb, sewers, and manholes should be inspected at least once in six months. If not, they may get blocked or clogged, causing extreme damage both inside and outside the plumbing infrastructure.
Let’s discuss the importance of sanitary sewer and manhole services.
Sanitary Sewers and Manholes
Think of sewers as an elaborate network of pipes that are installed inside and around properties to redirect waste material. They come in various sizes and are built using different materials depending on the type and volume of waste. The main purpose of sewers and manholes is to transport waste from residential and commercial buildings to a waste treatment plant.
For obvious reasons, these sewers and manuals accumulate damage over time that requires regular serving, repairing, and cleaning. In some cases, the manhole infrastructure may require a costly replacement.
Clogged sewers can cause a wide range of problems. For example, if a sewer gets clogged up, all the waste, including grease, dirty water, and toxic material, will accumulate and back up. The first sign of a clogged sewer is the emanation of a pungent smell. From here on out, it’s only a matter of time before the waste reaches your home.
Signs that Your Sanitary Sewers and Manholes Need Servicing
Whether you’re dealing with strange smells, noises, or changes in water pressure, it’s important to know what signs to watch out for when you suspect sewers and manholes are clogged. At Mesa Plumbing Company, we’ve seen it all regarding clogged sewers.
Here is our round-up of the most common signs that your sanitary sewers and manholes need servicing in Arizona.
Root Formation around Manhole Covers
Root formation is the biggest indicator that a manhole needs to be serviced. This often occurs when the manhole is built near a massive tree, leading to root invasion since the trees can easily access water. Once tree roots have made their way into the manhole, they will quickly spread their roots. Over time, the manhole covers will get corroded, expanded, and dismantle.
This effect may be exacerbated by the movement of vehicles on top of the manholes. As the roots further spread around the manhole, the water pressure in the system will also increase, causing flooding and clogging. The irony is that manhole covers are installed to prevent root invasion. But the covers weaken over time and allow roots to break the seal.
A weak manhole cover can allow roots to form over the seal, causing damage over time. Manhole covers that have gone for several years without servicing are more susceptible to root invasion because they penetrate the seals in their systems.
Root invasion doesn’t just cause a problem to the manhole cover but can potentially damage the entire plumbing infrastructure.
Blockages around the Sewer
Over time, the sewer accumulates waste and garbage that clogs up the system. This can cause water to flood the surrounding area. Most people with sewer blockage are usually unaware that the damage can spread to their manhole covers too. This can block sewage flow from pipes in many homes and offices.
If you’ve ignored sewage maintenance for several years, it’s probably time to consider your options. Sewerage maintenance can save you from major problems, including health risks.
After servicing your sanitary sewage, you should take steps to prevent a future blockage from occurring. This means not allowing leaves, garbage, or debris to pile up in your yard and make their way to sewers and manholes.
But the garbage inevitably makes its way into sewers and causes blockages. Clear out leaves and other debris, especially around the manhole covers. In case of a severe blockage problem, consider calling the sewer department or Mesa Plumbing Company if you’re not sure what to do.
Deterioration of Asphalt
When water starts to pool out of the manhole cover, it could lead to serious damage. This causes a severe problem for passersby and can also damage the asphalt. When the asphalt is exposed to water for too long, it becomes brittle and hard, causing it to crumble. Over time, the asphalt develops small holes that make it look unsightly.
If you’ve noticed the deterioration of the asphalt around the manhole cover, it’s time to call the experts at Mesa Plumbing Company to see what’s causing the damage. A professional inspection will let you know if you need to repair the manhole cover or replace it. In case your manhole cover needs replacement, always consult a trusted vendor to provide you with quality parts.
Damage to the Brick and Mortar Supporting the Manhole Cover
The brick and mortar around the manhole cover can be damaged by extreme weather, natural disasters, and traffic. Excessive damage to the brick and mortar can lead to devastating pedestrian injuries. This is why it’s important to have sewers and manholes inspected by a professional.
Doing so will minimize and prevent flood damage to your property due to manhole dissertation and plumbing problems. You will also gain an understanding of the type of alarms, sensors, and water detection systems you need to install around your property. Installing these advanced detection technologies will provide you with prompt alerts whenever a flood or leak occurs around your property.
Sewer and Manhole Services in Arizona
Servicing manholes and sewers require advanced tools from experienced professionals. In the case of manholes, you will need to deploy high-pressure water to eliminate all the debris and garbage that has accumulated around the sides of the sewer.
The maintenance of sewers and manholes cannot be underrated, whether you find them around your backyard, alley, basement, or parking lot.
Wrapping Up
It is easy to ignore the maintenance of sewers and manholes in Arizona. However, allowing the damage to accumulate can lead to serious damage to both property and life. Some of the most common signs that your sewers and manholes need maintenance are the pooling of water, root invasion, and sewer blockage.
You could go about replacing the manhole cover yourself, but doing so requires an accurate measurement of the hole’s height, depth, and width. Instead, it is highly recommended to hire help or professionals, such as the team at Mesa Plumbing Company