Would you agree that there’s a wide scale of potential plumbing problems, ranging from very minor ones to major emergencies? Under the minor category, you might find items such as a running toilet or dripping faucet. Definitely not items that need fixed right away, but also not necessarily something you want to let sit for a year. On the flipside, when you mention major plumbing emergencies, you start considering scenarios like a flooded basement or a sewer line collapsing. Unfortunately, both of those can be costly repairs. Not to mention, the longer you let them sit, the severity of the issue can potentially escalate. Long story short, owning a home requires you to be mindful of your plumbing system. The better you understand the signs of a plumbing failure, the quicker you can act and get it resolved before it becomes an even bigger problem.
On this week’s blog, we’ll be discussing one of those plumbing problems that definitely falls under the “more severe” category. We hinted at it above, but there’s no denying that sewer line issues can occasionally be major headaches, particularly if you have to repair or replace it. Before we dive into that though, I would like to welcome any new visitors to our blog. Stine-Nichols Plumbing is a full-service plumbing business located in North Kansas City, MO. No matter if it’s residential, commercial or even new construction, we take pride in being a one-stop shop for all of your plumbing needs. If you’re ever interested in receiving a free quote for a potential project, you’re always welcome to fill out the form HERE or give us a call at (816) 348-3481.
Now, with that all being said, let’s hop right into the topic at hand: sewer line failures.
Value of Camera Inspections
Without a doubt, sewer line repair can be an expensive project for homeowners. It’s also one of those projects that you’re not going to want to put off when it’s needed. However, before you agree to a contract with a local plumbing company to complete the repairs, you also want to be confident that it’s absolutely needed. In other words, even if you notice some signs of a potential sewer line issue, if there’s an easier way to make the repairs, then that is always going to be the smart move.
The point I’m trying to make here is that you’ll always want to make sure your plumber uses a sewer inspection camera to reveal what exactly is going on in your sewer line. After all, your sewer line is something that isn’t readily visible on the surface, but inspection cameras allow us to see inside the line. Plus, the quality of the cameras have improved significantly over the years and now provide a real-time view that allows plumbers to pin-point the exact spot(s) where the issue resides. All in all, it’s worth it to pay for a camera inspection just to be completely positive before investing a full repair/replacement.
Planning on buying a home in the near-future? It’s always a good idea to have a sewer inspection completed prior to signing anything to ensure you’re not setting yourself up for some future plumbing headaches.
What Causes Sewer Line Collapses
While having a valuable tool like a sewer line inspection camera is always handy, there is also value in understanding what causes sewer line failures in the first place (and how you can potentially prevent them from occurring). Keep in mind that many of these are simply out of the control of a homeowner.
Old Age – As you can likely guess, occasionally sewer lines will break down simply from old age. While PVC is widely used nowadays, that wasn’t always the case, as various other materials (such as clay tile or cast iron) were once regularly used for sewer lines. Over time, we’ve learned that certain materials are better suited for sewer lines than others.
Tree Root Infiltration – If you drive through some of the older neighborhoods around Kansas City, chances are you’ll come across plenty of big trees. While they undoubtedly add to the character and charm of the neighborhood, they can also become a nuisance for your sewer line! With as far as these roots can eventually spread, they can pose a risk to your sewer line if there’s even the slightest of openings.
Lackluster Installation – We often talk about how important it is to work with a reputable and professional plumbing contractor. This is true for both the small jobs and the big ones. However, it’s even more critical for the larger projects, as the cost of making the same repairs twice is not something you want to endure. Well, believe it or not, one way sewer lines can fail is simply because they were not installed correctly. Whether that be on the original installation or a repair made later on down the road, make sure to do your due diligence before hiring a plumber!
Now while we could easily cover a complete blog post about the various causes of sewer line failures, I wanted to be sure to highlight a few of the more prominent ones. In addition to the ones mentioned above, there are several others to be mindful of, including clogs formed by flushing the wrong things down the toilet or putting the wrong items down the drain.
How to Spot a Failing Sewer Line
Sewer line inspection cameras are a great way to see what exactly is going on inside of your pipes, but you need to have something occur to prompt you to call a plumber, right? Well, the final point we’ll feature today involves knowing what signs signal a failing sewer line. Typically, when you say this, the first thing that comes to mind is sewage backup in the home, especially if you start to notice the issue occurring with multiple drains. Another easy sign that something isn’t right is when you start noticing some funky smells. While this doesn’t always mean you have a damaged sewer line that needs to be replaced, it should at least result in having a plumber out to take a look. And one final failing sewer line symptom to consider is when your yard is unusually soggy or damp. For instance, if you haven’t had rain or watered your grass in awhile, yet the yard is still wet, that might cause you to raise an eyebrow.
To sum it all up, the scenarios mentioned above don’t automatically mean that you’re facing an expensive sewer line repair in the near-future, but they are signs of potential problems. In some cases, it’s even something as simple as minor clog that just needs to be cleared. However, it’s important to note that’s not always the case!
Sewer Line Repair/Replacement Services in Kansas City
Have you ever had to deal with a sewer line repair or replacement project? We understand it’s not always the funnest of projects for homeowners to deal with, yet it’s important to get it fixed sooner rather than later. Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we always strive to make these types of projects as stress-free as possible. Before getting started, we always make sure to run the sewer line inspection camera to ensure we know exactly what we’re dealing with. After all, we don’t want to get started on an expensive project if there are alternative solutions. If you’re ever concerned about the current state of your sewer line or simply would like the inspection camera run through your lines, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re always happy to help!