Main Sewer Line Clogged?

January 31st, 2013 Posted in Sewer Lines
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If you’ve got a backup in your home plumbing and you can’t easily identify the source you may have a stoppage in the main sewer line. The clog, whether it’s caused by wadded paper flushed by your kids or a buildup of food wastes from the kitchen can work its way to the main sewer line and then stop.

What to do?

Well, if you are unsure of the source you may be tempted to start pouring all kinds of harsh chemicals into every drain you can think of, but this is likely to be counter-productive and potentially dangerous to the health of your family. If something is affecting the whole house it could be that the main line needs a bit of help. There are some things you can try yourself or you may require the services of a professional.

The first thing is to locate a clean-out, which can either be outside the home or in the basement or crawl-space. The clean-out will have a threaded cap, which will match the pipe, either metal or PVC, depending on your construction. You may also have multiple clean-outs in the lateral line depending, again, on construction and the distance to the municipal hook-up.

You’ll have to run a drain snake into the clean-out and hope you find the blockage. Then, work the snake until the blockage seems to clear, and then run water from the home into the line. It’s best to flush the system from the top or farthest line from the main. The clogged material should wash into larger city lines. If in doubt, it is always best to call for your friendly sewer professional.

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Sewer Lines: What Type Are Yours?

October 29th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Many homeowners don’t know what their sewer lines are made of until a break or backup occurs and they find out the hard way. But by knowing what type of lines you have, you may be able to avoid further messy problems, and anticipate replacement or sewer line repair costs.

Depending your home’s age, your sewer line could be made of one of the following:

Clay – From 1900 to about 1920, clay was often used in home sewer line construction. Generally very porous, clay has a tendency to soften and crack, which leads to problems with tree roots growing inside the pipes and clogging them. 

Concrete – In the 1920s and 1930s, concrete was often used. Very prone to cracking and breaking, this material also resulted in problems with tree roots and leakages.

Cast Iron – Cast iron has been used almost since the beginning, but was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s. While extremely strong, it has a tendency to rust and corrode over time. 

Orangeburg – A very popular sewer line material from the 1950s to the 1970s, Orangeburg was made of layers of compressed layers of coal tar and wood. The trades virtually abandoned Orangeburg when it was deemed too soft and apt to deteriorate underground.

PVC – Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is the most commonly used material in modern sewer pipes because it’s durable, relatively inexpensive, resistant to chemicals and easy to joint. It is a plastic derivative that comes in either white or grey. 

ABS – Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS, is also a plastic derivative, most often seen as a black pipe. It, too, is extremely durable and heat resistant, although it can be affected by ultraviolet rays. While similar in dimension, ABS and PVC should not be used together in sewer lines because of their different expansion rates.

Most municipalities now have codes that dictate the type of material that should be used for your sewer line, usually PVC, ABS or sometimes cast iron. It is important to check with your local building department or sewer septic contractor before doing any sewer line installation or repair.

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Sewer Lines and Tree Roots

September 27th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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A sewer line generally needs very little maintenance, but under certain circumstances tree roots can infiltrate a sewer line and cause problems.  Tree roots are attracted to moisture and if a sewer line is cracked, the moisture in the soil will attract the roots.  The tree roots will find even the smallest cracks and grow inside the pipe.  Cracks can occur in sewer lines for any number of reasons, but one of the most common areas for tree root infiltration is at the pipe joints.

Some older types of sewer lines are made from sections of pipe that are fitted together. Over time, the pipes can shift position a little and a small gap will form at the joint.  Tree roots love to grow into these gaps. Once the tree roots get inside the sewer line, two things can happen. First, a mat of tree roots will fill the sewer line and begin collecting grease, oil, hair and other debris until a clog forms.  Second, as the tree roots grow the crack in the pipe will get larger and larger.  The pipe may eventually break or even collapse.

Your plumber or sewer-septic professional can address tree root issues and handle any sewer line repairs.  Using a high tech video camera, they will inspect the inside of your sewer line to verify that tree root infiltration is the source of the problem.  The tree roots can be removed using high pressure hydro-jetting or an auger with a mechanical cutting head.

Removing the tree roots is only a temporary fix.  Unless you address the problem the tree roots will grow back in a few months or years.  Talk to your plumber or sewer-septic professional about your options.  They may recommend treating the tree roots chemically, removing the offending tree, replacing some or all of your sewer line, or installing a liner inside the sewer line.

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