If you’ve ever heard a gurgle from your toilet or smelled a stench near the drains in your home, it could be more than a passing issue. Sewer line issues don’t go away on their own. You always need to seek professional help to rectify them. These issues can begin as something small but can continue to grow until they mess up your whole house.
Tree Roots Love Sewer Lines
Any time a sewer line fails, the first culprit to suspect is tree roots. As trees develop, their roots meander underground in search of water. Old or cracked sewage pipes are an invitation to enter. Even when there are tiny gaps, the roots work their way into the line through these small openings and eventually impede the flow. In this case, you might start to experience slow drains or backups. The roots are usually cut free from the pipe in small chips by a tool commonly referred to as a rooter. In some situations, they may even need to remove a part of the pipe altogether if the damage is bad.
Old Pipes Break Down
If your house was built before the 1980s, odds are that your sewer line is made of clay or cast iron. These materials don’t last forever. Clay cracks and moves around, and cast iron rusts from within. Fissures can allow soil and dirt into the sewer line, where they will lead to clogs. Plumbers can now use cameras to inspect these lines without the need to dig up part of your yard. If they discover breaks or large portions of decay, they may recommend trenchless repair.
Grease and Wipes Create Clogs
Too many people pour grease down their kitchen sink, hoping that hot water will wash it away. Instead, it cools and congeals inside the pipes. Over time, that grease gets mixed with other things it shouldn’t, including “flushable” wipes. Despite the written claim that they are safe, they don’t disintegrate like toilet paper. Sooner or later, the pipe becomes so choked that water has nowhere to go. Plumbers often clear these blockages with high-pressure water jets, which scrub the inside of the pipe and leave it unharmed.
Soil Movement Causes Shifting
Sometimes the ground beneath your house moves. This can be due to heavy rain, drought, or construction in the area. Your sewer line may bend or crack as the earth moves. These issues are more difficult to detect until they are truly prominent.
So, as soon as you smell funky odors, hear gurgling noises, or see the draining more slowly, don’t wait to do something about it. Sewer line problems tend to get worse the longer they’re ignored. Fortunately, the pros come equipped with the tools and technology to diagnose and repair the problem with less mess and stress. To schedule sewer line repair and inspections for your Yuma, AZ home, reach out to the folks at PHD Plumbing.