Sewer lines are among the trickiest plumbing pipes to fix. Because they are buried underneath your property, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem.
Pipes can break, clog, or even overflow, causing soggy spots on your lawn and raw sewage to seep into the ground. This can create a mess and be very expensive to clean up.
Root Infiltration
Tree roots are extremely sensitive to differences in moisture and nutrient levels in the soil. They tend to grow toward areas where they can find these things, which is why they often find their way into sewer lines.
Roots enter pipes through cracks and gaps that exist between the different pipes. As they absorb moisture from the sewer line, these roots multiply and expand. This process can cause cracks to grow larger and obstruct the waste water’s flow.
If this happens, it can lead to foul odors and standing water in your home. This is why it’s so important to have regular drain inspections and cleanouts.
Many plumbers will recommend chemical root inhibitors that help to kill the roots inside the pipe. These chemicals can also prevent re-growth of roots into the damaged area.
Sagging
If your sewer line is sagging, it can cause issues with the flow of waste through it. Ideally, pipes are installed with a slight slope that allows gravity to move water and solid waste down the pipe.
This positive slope helps prevent clogs by pulling waste from your home to the main sewer line. However, when the slope of a pipe gets disrupted, it can cause a dip or sag in the pipe’s length, which is known as a belly.
The sag can become worse over time, as it collects more water and debris. This can eventually cause the sag to collapse and create a clog.
It’s important to get sewer lines repaired as soon as possible. If left untreated, sewer line problems can lead to sinkholes in your yard and even foundation damage that could require costly repairs down the road.
Cracks
Cracks in your pipes are a common plumbing issue that can lead to leaks and backups. This can happen because of a variety of factors, including age, water flow, tree roots, soil shifting and freezing ground.
If the cracks are hairline, they can be repaired without much damage. This process is known as pipe relining and it creates a new wall within the existing pipe to restore proper flow.
Pipe relining is a trenchless and cost-effective option that doesn’t require any excavation or destruction of your home. It is performed by inserting a resin-impregnated liner into the damaged sewer pipe and letting it harden in place.
Depending on the damage to your pipe, it may be a better idea to replace your entire sewer line. If you have a pipe that has cracked, your plumber will be able to identify which section needs repair using a sewer camera inspection. Once they locate the damaged part, they will choose the most appropriate method of repairing it.
Burst Pipes
Sewer pipes that are damaged can be difficult to repair, especially when there are many broken spots. These are ideal situations for pipe bursting, which is a minimally disruptive and effective trenchless repair method.
Burst pipes are the result of a number of issues, including frozen pipes and water pressure that is too high. These can both cause the walls of the pipes to expand, weakening them until they break.
Luckily, a number of specialized plumbing services offer Sewer Line Repair in Miami FL using trenchless techniques. This is a more cost-effective, less disruptive option than traditional methods, and it’s available for a wide variety of sewer pipes.
For instance, a pipe made of cast iron can be replaced with this technique. It is also possible to use this method for pipe lines that are corroded or in bad shape.