If you are like most homeowners in the area, you give little thought to your home’s sewer line. As long as everything flows from your home to the city sewer system, you remain blissfully unaware of the condition or life expectancy of this one essential pipe. But when you think about all of the waste and filthy water that travels through this pipe, you should begin to wonder how long it is expected to last. Fortunately, if you know the signs to watch for, you will have some warning before your home’s sewer line completely fails and floods your home or yard with raw sewage.
Critical Warning Signs
There is no precise life expectancy for any water line or plumbing pipe. There are many variables to consider, including the pipe material, the quality of the liquid flowing through the pipe, and even the installation technique. But as your home’s sewer line begins to age, it can develop cracks, clogs, and other issues that will hamper its function. And that is when you will start to see the following tell-tale signs of sewer line issues:
- Backed up toilets
- Foul odors in the bathroom or kitchen
- Flooding in your basement
- Backed up water in your tub or shower
- Slow clearing sink, tub, and shower drains
- Mainline backflow
What Is Main Line Backflow
That last warning sign might be a term you are not familiar with unless you have some plumbing background. But for the average homeowner, it just sounds scary. And in truth, it really is alarming when it refers to a sewer line. Mainline backflow is when the pressure in the main drain or sewer line build up enough to stop the flow of waste and water from your home to the sewer system. Instead, the pressure in the main drain line forces the waste back into your home.
Your home’s drains all work using gravity. So it is not as difficult as you might think for the pressure to build up in a damaged or partially clogs drain line and create a backflow situation. If your home frequently experiences issues with mainline backflow, a device called a backflow valve can be installed to prevent future contamination of your home with raw sewage.
The Upsetting Thought Of A Sewer Line Replacement
When you think about having your sewer line replaced, two awful thoughts come to mind. The first is the cost. It must be costly to dig up a pipe that is several feet deep and runs from your home to the street. The second thought is an image of that massive trench across your yard. All of the destruction to your lawn, garden, and sidewalks will be unsightly and also costly to repair. But thanks to modern technology, there is another option.
Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement
Many homeowners are pleased to learn that trenchless sewer line replacement is a viable solution in most cases. This process only requires a fraction of the excavation as a traditional sewer line replacement. The old pipe remains in place, and a resin liner coated with epoxy is installed inside it. The liner is pulled through the old pipe, so all that is needed is an access hole at each end of the line. Once the epoxy cures, the liner is rated to last up to 50 years.
If you see indications that your home’s sewer line is nearing the end of its life, call (818) 918-6297. A licensed plumber from Turbo Plumbing & Rooter will evaluate your sewer line and let you know if trenchless sewer line replacement is a good solution for your home.
