Peace at any price always leads to misery. For so many of us homeowners, we get home from work, and the last thing we want to deal with is a plumbing issue. Sometimes we’ll listen to a toilet leak for weeks before we get around to doing anything. The problem is they seem so harmless, so we keep putting it off for another day. Until you get the water bill, then you pass out. There are other types of leaks connected to your home that can cause significant damage, such as a broken sewer line. While it doesn’t waste water, it can wreak havoc on a home and its surroundings. If you believe you have a broken or cracked sewer line, contact your plumbing specialist quickly to have it repaired.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Broken Sewer Line?
A foul odor is one of the main signs that your sewer lines are broken. A properly running sewer main should never release toxic sewer gases. In some instances, raw sewage leaks from the broken line, and the grass above the pipe lives off the nutrients in the raw sewage causing it to thrive. As a result, there is a lush green patch in the front yard. Depending on the size of the break, the area could be very soggy and smell of raw sewage. If not dealt with quickly, it can cause insects and rodents to start making their rounds. This could also become a health problem because raw sewage can cause all kinds of diseases.
Many Drains In Your Home Begin To Back Up
Another symptom is slow-moving drains in several areas of your home. In some cases, a broken sewer line is the cause of tree roots that have invaded your pipe. The result is many drains in your home will either be backing up or moving slowly. Under extreme cases, raw sewage is known to back up and overflow causing water damage in your bathrooms.
Mold Appears On Your Walls
Another thing to watch for is mold growing in your home. Mold spores are everywhere looking for a place to land. They thrive in warm, humid areas. Mold growing on walls could mean a damaged mainline, causing water to leak, creating an environment for mold to grow.
Let’s recap what to look for in a broken sewer main:
- Foul odor
- A lush patch of grass on your lawn
- Toxic smell of sewage
- A soggy area on your lawn
- Insects and rodents
- Slow-moving drains
What’s The Solution To A Broken Or Cracked Sewer Line?
Your sewer main specialist will complete a camera inspection of the sewer line to identify the issue and its severity. Depending on the severity of the problem, your plumbing expert will give a homeowner three choices. The first choice is to repair the break, and second is to install a trenchless sewer line. If your current sewer line qualifies, and third is to replace the old line altogether. Most lines qualify for a trenchless line. A trenchless sewer pipe costs much less and only causes minor damage to your landscaping. It uses your current line and coats it with 1/4 inch epoxy lining. The life expectancy of a trenchless sewer line is fifty years or longer. In some instances, the break will require repair. For old broken lines, sometimes the only alternative is a replacement for the old line.
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