Sewer lines, which are part of the drainage system of a house, are one of the essentials in any home. They help remove and transport sewage from homes to the main sewage line for treatment or disposal. Having a proper sewage system in your home offers comfort and several benefits.
Over time, the lines could decay, break, or have blockages, which could affect their working. Regular maintenance checkup is usually done through the sewer line cleanout to remove these blockages or identify damages in the system.
Indicators Of An Improper Sewer Line
Several signs could show your sewer lines are failing. Once these develop, you need to act fast and conduct a thorough checkup and repairs to ensure it’s in proper condition. A broken sewer could have adverse effects on inhabitants, so maintenance is critical.
Some of the signs you need to do repairs include the following:
- Sewage Backups
Sewage backups occur when you try to flush your toilet or run water in your sinks and the water flow back to your house. These backups can be caused by a blockage in the main sewer system or a particular line in your home. When a backup occurs, you should test the other sinks or toilets in your home to identify the extent of the damage. If the problem is in all the drainage systems, then the blockage could be in the main sewer. You should take necessary measures such as calling the involved authorities or hiring a professional.
- Sewer Gas Odor
Sewer odors are the most precise indicators of cracked drainage pipes. Proper sewer systems are usually airtight, and at no point should they allow air or smells to come out. When you sense a bad smell in or around the house, you should do a thorough inspection of your drainage system to identify where it’s coming from. Ignoring such smells could lead to extended damage to the pipes and increase repair costs. It also increases the risks of an unhealthy living environment.
- Insects And Rodents Infestation
Rodents such as rats thrive in sewage, and an improper sewage line could allow them to infest your homes. The rats could squeeze through cracks in the drainage system and drainage pipes. Insects such as cockroaches and sewer flies could also take advantage of broken sewer lines to breed and infest a house. The presence of these insects should act as a warning to have your drainage system checked as they carry infections such as hemorrhagic fever and other allergies dangerous to humans. Pest control can work, but if they’re persistent, you should inspect your sewer pipes.
- Wall Cracks
Wall cracks are usually formed when the soil in the foundation shifts due to water or the weight above it. This could be normal in other circumstances, but some could be caused by water leaking into the sewage pipes. Cracks on walls or slabs could indicate extended periods of leakages and the urgency of the repairs because the water needs to accumulate a certain level to shift the ground supporting the building. You should do a proper leakage inspection to identify and correct the problem as soon as possible.
- Mold And Mildew Problems
Molds and mildews usually thrive in humid areas and can spread rapidly if there’s enough water. In places such as walls, ceilings, or cracks, a broken sewer pipe could provide a good condition for the molds to grow. If you spot them, you should take the necessary steps to identify if the growth is caused by a leak or by something else, then do the repairs. Molds and mildew can cause allergic reactions and even damage the home’s appeal. If the problem isn’t corrected early enough, there’ll be cracks and, in worst cases, the building may collapse.
- Slow Drain
The rate at which water drains away from your tubs, showers, or toilets could significantly drop, and this could be caused by tree roots infiltrating the drainage pipes attaching to the sides. When such cases occur, it’s essential to check the cleanouts for any necessary blockages. Video inspections can also be done in case the issue persists. However, using chemicals to clean the drainage system could cause further damages by eating away the drainage pipes.
Conclusion
If you experience or notice any of these problems in your home, you need to seek professional help as soon as possible. Plumbing problems could cause severe damages to your house and also health risks to people accessing the house. You should also normalize inspecting your drainage systems regularly. This will help identify any problem before it develops to an extent where it’ll require complex procedures to repair.
Thank you for explaining that video inspections can help with locating issues thanks to slow draining. My husband and I have been having a lot of problems with our drains lately even after cleaning them out. It seems like we might need to call someone soon to take a look to see what the problem is.