Who Should I Call for a Sewer Line Problem?

If you are on a city sewer system, you pay for your waste treatment service and expect them to handle any issues that occur. Waste from your home is whisked away through the municipal sewer system and brought to a treatment plant, a much easier process for a homeowner than a septic system. However, first it must get from your home to the main city sewer line. When you have sewer backup or a broken sewer pipe, you may wonder who to call, a sewer professional or your sewer utility provider.

Home Sewer Line Repairs

In most situations, the city sewer service only covers the main sewer line, not the connecting pipes that go into your home. This means any sewer pipes between the connection to the main line and your home are your responsibility. If your sewer line breaks and is leaking into your yard, you will need to have it repaired. The same is true if a clog in your private sewer line is backing up sewage into your home. These pipes, like the ones in your home, are owned by you and are not considered part of the city sewer service.

Call a Sewer Service Pro

If you are having a sewer line problem, call a sewer service professional. While a plumber can fix pipes in your home, you want a company that handles sewer or septic repairs. A quick inspection can determine where the problem is and what needs to be done to fix the problem. A professional can also determine if a problem is coming from the main city sewer line and help you alert the utility company to have it fixed.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Protect Your Sewer Line During Utility Work

Your main sewer line may be hidden, but just under the surface of your yard it is performing its duty. Many people may not know exactly where their sewer line is, which can pose problems. If a new phone line or gas pipe needs to be installed to your home, utility workers may need to run a trench through your yard. It is vital to protect your sewer lines from damage to prevent expensive repairs down the road.

Find Your Sewer Lines

If you have a lot schematic of your property, it may show you where your sewer line runs. You may also be able to get an outline of underground utilities on your property from your local utility or building municipal departments if they have one on file. The other option is finding the outlet from your home (usually in the basement or crawlspace) and following the path to the septic tank or city sewer line.

Inform Utility Crews

Most utility crews will investigate to ensure they are not disturbing any existing utility lines before they begin digging. However, do not assume they have done their due diligence. It is not uncommon for damage to be done to sewer lines or a D-Box that is not realized until many years later. When you need to replace a sewer line because it eventually breaks from damage done years prior, you most likely will be left paying for the repair.

Concerned that a utility crew may have damaged your sewer line? Contact a local sewer line service to have your pipes inspected for damage. It is better to find out sooner than later, giving you an opportunity to have the repair done before it causes damage to your home or property.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

Should You Replace Your Main Sewer Line?

The main sewer pipe or line that whisks your home’s waste away to a septic system or city sewer can last for decades. Many old sewer lines still exist that were made from clay, lead, concrete or metal, first installed forty, fifty or more years ago. While these pipes have done their duty, they are more likely to have problems in the future. If you have one of these older types of sewer lines, is it time for replacement?

You may think if there is not a problem, why fix it? True – you can wait for a problem to arise and then replace the pipe if needed. That day may come sooner than you think. If a sewer line is over thirty years old and made from a material that deteriorates like metal, concrete or clay, the day may come when there is a large sewage pool in your yard, or a sewage backup into your home. Or, you could proactively replace your old sewer line now before you have a sewage emergency stinking up your home.

Replacement Options

Most sewer lines now are made from PVC or plastic. These will not corrode from moisture or age, and they tend to withstand tree roots invasion better than the older types of pipe. Once in place, it is unlikely that you will need to repair or replace your sewer line again in your lifetime, so it is a wise investment.

If you are not sure what type of sewer line you have, you can get yours inspected by your local sewer service company. They can do a camera inspection to check the inside of your sewer line to determine the type and condition and give you options for replacement, if needed.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Is a Trenchless Sewer Line Right for Your Septic Repair?

If you have a broken sewer line in your septic system, you may be wondering if a trenchless sewer line repair is a good option. No one relishes the thought of tearing up their yard to replace sewer lines, which is why trenchless pipe repairs can sound like a good option. However, there are some factors to consider before you choose a trenchless sewer line versus traditional pipe replacement.

Trenchless sewer line repairs are attractive to homeowners. They do not require the broken pipe be dug up with a trench. Instead, a pipe lining or soft-lined pipe is put in place of the broken pipe. This only involves digging two holes on either side of the broken pipe instead of a trench. This can save landscaping and take less time. However, there are some drawbacks to this method. Some factors that can be a problem include:

  • The grade or slope of the pipe needs to be just right. Pipe lining or trenchless pipe replacements require the right slope or pitch to work correctly.
  • Pipe bursting can cause disruption and damage to other structures underground. Pipe bursting is used when the pipe is being replaced using a trenchless method; if underground utilities are too close, the bursting action could cause damage to this equipment.
  • Unforeseen complications can result in a trench method to be needed, causing further delay and cost.

While trenchless pipe replacement or repair can be beneficial in some situations, it is not the solution for all sewer pipe repairs. Traditional sewer line repairs may require a trench, but many issues can be avoided with this method. Talk to your local sewer/septic repair services about which method is best for your sewer line repair.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

What’s Happening Inside Your Sewer Lines?

There was a time when a sewer line problem meant only one thing – you would need to dig up those sewer lines to find the problem. Not only was this time consuming and expensive, it also made a big mess of your yard. Often the issue with a sewer line is something as simple as a tree root clogging a pipe. With digital video technology, you can now see what is happening inside your sewer lines without ever disturbing the ground above them.

Sewer Video Camera Inspection

If you have a backed drains in your home or you have noticed wet areas in your lawn, you know there is probably a problem in your sewer lines. The question is where and what exactly is the issue. It could b e a clog, a broken pipe or a few different problems. With digital video camera inspections, a local sewer service company can view the inside of your sewer lines and find the problem.

Often the sewer line issue is a clog. This can be from waste collecting in the pipes or the occasional tree root that will penetrate into a sewer line. The good news is that many clogs can be removed without ever digging up the pipe with the use of hydro jetting, which removes the clog with high pressure water, or a commercial metal snake. If it is a broken pipe, the sewer repair service will know exactly which pipe needs repair and can offer the best solution.

Next time your drains start to become slow or you notice a bad odor in your yard, call your local sewer company that offers video camera inspections. They can quickly find the issue and offer a fast repair option without the expense and mess of a manual inspection of your sewer pipes.

Posted on behalf of:
A-Flo Free Septic
Lawrenceville, GA
(770) 927-7926

Do You Know Where Your Underground Sewer Lines Are?

You may walk over them every day, and never know where they’re located. Sewer lines transporting your wastewater run from your home to the city sewer line or out to your septic system, located a few feet under the ground surrounding your house. Since you don’t see them, they’re often forgotten or neglected, which can lead to problems over time. Planting trees too close to your sewer lines or driving over the top of them can be a source of significant damage, and often happens because you don’t know which areas to avoid. Learning where your sewer lines are can help you protect them, saving you money on expensive sewer line repairs in the future.

Locating Your Outdoor Sewer Lines

If you had your home built, finding out where your sewer lines are shouldn’t be difficult. You should have received blueprints or diagrams from the contractor when the plumbing and sewer lines were installed. However, if you bought your home from a previous owner, you may need to do a little research to find out the exact location of your sewer lines.

You can try contacting the last owner to see if they have information on your sewer lines. If that isn’t an option, you may be able to contact municipal agencies in your area if you are using the city sewer system. They often have property maps on file which identify where sewer pipes are located. For homeowners on a septic system, see if you can find the company that installed your system originally.

If you can’t find the plans or map of your sewer lines, you can make an educated guess. There should be a larger drain pipe which exits your house. If you have a basement, that would be the first place to look. If you can find that pipe, you know where it starts, then can trace the path it would need to take to the city sewer or septic.

One other option is to have a sewer line inspection, which is a good practice for maintaining your sewer lines. Your local sewer-septic contractor can perform an inspection on your pipes and help you locate the path of your septic lines, plus give you tips on how to protect them from damage.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

Fall Sewer Line Maintenance

Now that summer is in the rear view mirror, it’s time to think about the winter months ahead. For homeowners, there is a laundry list of items which need to be addressed before the weather changes. One thing that may not come to mind, though, is sewer lines for your home. Still, ensuring your sewer lines are ready for winter can eliminate sewer problems during the cooler months and prevent sewer repairs. 

Sewer Line Maintenance Tips For Fall

There are several problems which can occur during the winter due to freezing temperatures. Even in regions with warmer weather, a cold snap can harm sewer pipes or septic systems. The best solution is to ensure the system is ready to handle the coming winter weather. This can include: 

  • Pipe inspection. Have your sewer pipes inspected to ensure there are no blockages or cracks in the pipes. Most sewer companies now offer digital camera inspections, where you and your sewer-septic professional can view the interiors of your pipes to identify any problems.
     
  • Have blockages removed. If tree roots or sludge have started to block your sewer lines, have these blockages cleared with a thorough pipe cleaning. Many sewer services use hydrojetting equipment to safely clean sewer pipes.
     
  • Repairs. If there are any cracks or breaks in the sewer pipes, get them fixed now before the winter months. Ask your sewer-septic contractor about options like trenchless sewer line replacement or pipe relining. 

Hard freezes can cause many plumbing and sewer problems. Preventive maintenance on your sewer lines can help reduce the chance of winter sewer problems, saving you money on emergency repairs.

Posted on behalf of Find Local Sewer Septic

Why a Sewer Line Inspection is a Must for the Homebuyer

When a buyer purchases a new home, the bank or mortgage company typically requires an inspection that covers the condition of such things as the home’s structure and its heating, cooling and internal plumbing systems. What it does not always cover, however, is what you can’t see: the sewer lines that run underground from the house to the municipal sewage lines out on the street.

For a house that is older than 20 years old, a sewer line inspection at the point of sale is an absolute must. This inspection, conducted by a sewer septic professional contractor, will tell you what the lines are made of, what condition they’re in and if there are any breaks or blockages that could cause very costly problems down the road. If there are indeed issues with the lines, you may even be able to resolve them during the property transaction.

What is the best way to assess the condition of sewer lines? Obviously, short of digging up the yard, you have to get the best possible picture of the ground below, something that is best done through a camera inspection conducted by a sewer septic contractor. In this process, a fiber optic video camera is attached to the end of a very long probe that is sent directly from the house through the sewer lines and out to the street. The mini camera then transmits back to a monitor images that are so accurate, you can actually see the debris inside the lines, along with any cracks, breaks or blockages.

So if you’re looking for a new home, be sure to make your own checklist of what to inspect and definitely include a sewer line video analysis. For a relatively nominal fee now, it literally could save you thousands of dollars in the long run!