Sewer Line Tips

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What is the most common reason people need sewer cleaning?

The Most Common Reason For Sewer Cleaning

If you need sewer cleaning for your plumbing system, you might be among the people experiencing a blockage in your lateral line. According to the Department of Transportation in San Jose, California, a blockage in your lateral line is the most common reason people have back-up problems with their plumbing system. Toilets get clogged, drains get backed-up.

There are two main parts to a sewage system - the main line and the lateral line. The main line carries your sewage to the treatment plant, while the lateral line runs from your home to the main line. Things like seafood shells and grease can clog up a lateral line, so avoid throwing them down your drain. In addition, tree roots can also enter and break the pipe of a lateral line.

   
What is pipe relining?

Trenchless Pipe Replacement – Pipe Relining

In some situations, a type of trenchless pipe replacement called pipe relining is the best method to solve troubled sewer pipes. Pipe relining involves using an epoxy relining substance to create a mold within a damaged pipe. With pipe relining, a plumbing professional essentially creates a new smooth skin almost like a new pipe within the existing one. Your plumbing professional can evaluate the best method of injecting the epoxy relining substance. However, often times, your plumbing professional will need minimal digging and can use the sewer line clean out access to perform repairs. You can use this trenchless pipe replacement method for sewer pipes damaged from roots, to fill in crack and holes, or fill in missing pipe.

   
What is involved in laying down a new sewer line?

Laying Down A New Sewer Line

If you're laying a new sewer line for your home, you'll have to find out what your local codes are, but some require your water line and new sewer line to be 10 feet apart from each other. You'll also have to consider the placement. The sewer line always needs to be below your water line. This is because in the event that either your new sewer line or water line breaks, you won't have to deal with sewage seeping into your water system. It's also really helpful if you have a sewer contractor who is knowledgeable as well as insured to dig trenches for the installation of a new sewer line. In most cases, your sewer contractor gets hired by a general contractor doing remodeling work on your home.

   
What kinds of problems might I have with my sewer pipes?

Three Types of Sewer Pipe Problems

If you have sewer problems, there could be a number of reasons why the pipes in your sewer are not holding up. Here are three types of sewer problems that could be occurring:

1. You have a bellied pipe. This means the surrounding soil has caused your sewer pipe to sink and now waste and paper are collecting in this section of the pipe.
2. The pipes in your sewer have leaking joints, allowing the water to flow out of those areas.
3. You have a substandard pipe whose materials are not of high quality and therefore, the pipes are degrading or corroding.

   
How will purchasing a house with easements over the sewer lines affect my ability to maintain and repair it?

The Truth About Sewer Lines And The Easement

If you're considering the purchase of a home with an easement over the sewer lines, make sure you find out exactly what you're getting into. Very simply, an easement is a legal right for someone other than the homeowner to use a part of the property for a specific use. This someone else might be your neighbor or it might be the government.

A common easement occurs when utility lines and sewer lines run along your property line or perhaps your backyard. If it's a gas, electric, or telephone line along your property, you might see frequent trips from repair trucks to your property. A more disruptive situation might occur when you have sewer lines running through your backyard that require repair. You might have to have your lawn or pavement ripped up in order to facilitate the process.

Many easements exist for an unspecified period of time and pass down from one owner to the next. Occasionally, an easement exists for a specific duration and may be renegotiated or may expire. So before you sign on the dotted line, consider any existing sewer lines and easements which affect your property line.

   
How do I stop roots from breaking my sewer line?

Stop The Problem At Its Root – Use A Root Barrier

Sometimes, when a tree encroaches on your plumbing, there's little you can do about the tree itself – especially if it's your neighbor's tree. Tree roots can infiltrate your sewer line and break your pipes. However, there is a way to solve the problem and save your sewer line. Use a root barrier. A root barrier made of plastic will prevent a nearby tree root from damaging your sewer line. The root barrier will also keep the tree root from lifting up the sidewalk or destroying a retaining wall. The process will require work on your part, however.

You'll have to dig a trench three to four feet deep along the length of the pipe. You may also have to cut off some of the tree root. Unfortunately, lopping off any bit of the root might compromise the integrity of the tree, so you'll want to consult an arborist before you do any cutting.

   
Can you tell me how pipe bursting works?

Trenchless Pipe Replacement – Pipe Bursting

One method of trenchless pipe replacement is pipe bursting. This non-intrusive method of repairing your pipes will have minimal impact on your landscape. Rather than digging out an entire section of your pavement or ground area, your plumbing professional will first create small holes at the beginning and end of the damaged pipe. Pipe bursting involves the use of a hydraulic machine. The damaged pipe will get broken up as new pipe is laid down. This trenchless pipe replacement method causes much less damage to the area surrounding the damaged pipe than the traditional method of pipe repair.

   
How does a plumbing professional perform a sewer line replacement?

Sewer Line Replacement

If your sewer line has so much damage that it is beyond simple drainage repair, you'll need to hire a professional to do a sewer line replacement for you. One way of doing a sewer line replacement is the traditional repair method. In the traditional repair method, a plumbing professional opens a trench in the area surrounding the length of sewer pipe which needs to be fixed. Then, your plumber will attach a new replacement pipe to your existing line. In some cases, your plumbing professional will need to do extensive digging and he may bring in a backhoe, which is a heavy piece of construction equipment with a large shovel, to dig up the trench as well as fill it back up upon completion of the sewer line replacement.

   
When should I call in the local Baltimore plumber to fix my sewer lines?

When To Call In Your Baltimore Plumber

Sometimes, a combination of weather, use, and normal wear and tear can cause your sewer pipes to become damaged. In that case, it's time to call your Baltimore plumber in to repair or replace your sewer pipes. Here are three scenarios where you should call your Baltimore plumber in to help you out:

  • When shifting soil or cold weather causes your pipes to crack or break, you should call in your local Baltimore plumber.
  • If your sewer pipe deteriorates and corrodes, restricting the flow of water, call your local plumbing professional to replace your sewer pipe.
  • Trees and shrubbery may enter your sewer line, blocking the normal flow of water. Your local plumbing professional can repair or replace the sewer pipes as needed.

   
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