Every home depends on a single sewer line to take the wastewater out of the house plumbing system. Sewer line is essential to ensure smooth functioning of the plumbing system. As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining your home’s sewer line and repair or replace it if it gets damaged..
The important question is how can you find out if the sewer line of your home is damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced?.
In this post, we’ll highlight a few signs of a damaged sewer pipe. If you notice these signs, you should consider sewer line repair or replacement..
1) Blockages and Backups
A sewer backup typically occurs because of a blockage in the sewer line. If a backup occurs every time water runs down your bathtub drain or sink or when you flush, then the issue is likely in the main sewer line because all drains in a house depend on this sewer line for proper drainage. However, if you only experience backups in a single drain, then it means that the problem is in that drain..
If you experience backups regularly, it means that your sewer lines are broken or deteriorated. If you get the pipes cleaned and still experience blockages and backups, you should call a plumber to determine the cause of the problem..
2) Slow Drain
If you experience a slow drain, it may be a sign that there is blockage somewhere in the sewer line that can cause a sewerage backup. If your sink, toilet or bathtub isn’t draining fast even after you have cleared the line, there may issues like cracks or tree root intrusions that are affecting your sewerage..
3) Sewer Gas Odor
Sewer gas odor in your residential apartment or commercial building is a sure sign that your sewer line has gotten damaged. A sanitary sewer is always air tight because of which you never smell odor of sewer unless there is an opening or crack in the sewer lines..
4) Mold Issue
Growth of mold in your home may also point to a damaged sewer line behind the wall. Mold starts growing when the humidity level gets higher. If the sewer pipe going through the walls of your home is damaged, the humidity level will increase leading to mold growth. If you ever notice mold growth and sewer odor in your home, it is a sign that your sewerage pipes are broken from somewhere..
5) Foundation Cracks
More extreme signs of deteriorated sewer pipes include issues in the home’s foundation like cracks in the foundation settlement, foundation slabs and in rare cases sinkholes. In case the main line that runs under your foundation slabs starts to leak and the leak goes untreated for a long period, a void might develop under your foundation. This can cause foundation problems like cracks and sinkholes. If you notice foundation issues, you should call a plumber right away to check the sewer line..
6) Rodent Issue
You might not believe it, but a rodent issue in your home can be a sign of a damaged sewer line. A rat can easily squeeze through an opening in the sewerage pipe and make its way into your property. Rodents can spread life-threatening diseases; therefore, if you are experiencing a rodent problem, you should get your sewer pipes inspected..
7) Insects
Cockroaches and sewer flies can easily get through the cracks in your sewer lines. Therefore, if insects like cockroaches and sewer flies frequently show up in your bathroom and kitchen, it may be a sign that you sewer pipes are damaged..
8) Septic Waste in the Yard
A clear sign of a broken or damaged sewer pipe is septic waste pooling in your home’s yard. The septic waste can also occur because of a damaged septic tank, clog in drain fields or a crack in the main line..
Addressing Sewer Line Signs
It is essential that you always keep your sewer lines cleaned and unclogged. If the sewer line is damaged or clogged, it can have adverse effects on the plumbing system of your house. If the issue isn’t resolved, it can escalate and cause more damage. Therefore, if you notice any of the warning signs that we have highlighted above, you should immediately take action to address the problem..
Homeowners often consider temporary solutions to resolve sewer line issues by simply repairing the line instead of replacing their old degraded sewerage pipes or use drain cleaners to get rid of the blockage or slow drain. Some people run a snake through their sewerage pipes to eliminate the clog or blockage. These remedies can cause more damage to the sewer line and escalate the problems in the future..
Repair jobs prove to be more expensive than replacement of the sewer line. That is why it makes more sense to have the sewer line replaced instead of wasting money in repairs. Sewer line replacement gives home owners peace of mind and keeps the sewerage line problems at bay for a long time..
If you are currently experiencing any of the sewer line issues that we have discussed in this post, you should call a plumber to inspect your sewer line. A qualified plumber will thoroughly inspect your sewer line and detect the issues in the line. If the line is severely damaged and is beyond repairs, the plumber will recommend sewer line replacement. If there is a minor issue like a clog or blockage and your sewerage lines aren’t degraded, the plumber will clean the sewerage line by hydro jetting..
At Mesa Plumbing Company, our plumbers are qualified to repair and replace sewer lines in both residential and commercial buildings. We can inspect your sewer line and determine the problems in the line. If the sewer line needs to be replaced, we can install a new sewer line. If minor repairs are required, we can make the repairs to ensure that your plumbing system works efficiently. Call us at (480) 832-1660 for sewer line repair or replacement.