Sewer Repair

What Can Cause Sewer Damage?

Sewer repair becomes necessary when your home's underground waste system faces various forms of damage or obstruction that prevent proper sewage flow. Understanding these common causes can help you identify when it's time to call for professional sewer repair services.

Corroded & Deteriorating Pipes: One of the most frequent reasons for sewer repair involves aging, rusty, or severely damaged pipes that can no longer effectively transport sewage away from your home. Over time, sewer pipes made from older materials like cast iron or clay can corrode, crack, or collapse entirely, creating significant blockages that require immediate sewer repair intervention. These deteriorated pipes not only restrict sewage flow but can also lead to dangerous backups into your home and contamination of surrounding soil.

Tree Root Infiltration: Tree roots represent another major cause requiring sewer repair services. As trees search for water sources, their roots naturally gravitate toward sewer lines, especially those with existing cracks or loose joints. Once roots penetrate even the smallest opening in your sewer pipe, they rapidly expand and create dense blockages that completely obstruct sewage flow. This type of root intrusion typically requires specialized sewer repair techniques, including root cutting and pipe relining or replacement, to restore proper function and prevent future infiltration.

Grease & Kitchen Waste Accumulation: Kitchen-related blockages frequently necessitate sewer repair when grease, cooking oils, and food particles accumulate over time. Despite flowing down your kitchen sink as a liquid, grease solidifies inside sewer pipes, gradually building up layers that narrow the pipe's diameter and eventually create complete blockages. This type of buildup often combines with other debris to form stubborn clogs that require professional sewer repair equipment and expertise to remove effectively.

Inappropriate Flushing Habits: Sewer repair is often needed when non-flushable items create major blockages in your waste system. Paper products beyond toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes (even those labeled "flushable"), cotton swabs, and other bathroom items can accumulate in sewer lines and cause serious obstructions. These materials don't break down properly in water and can combine with other debris to form massive blockages that require professional sewer repair services to resolve.

When any of these issues affect your sewer system, prompt professional sewer repair can prevent minor problems from escalating into costly emergencies involving sewage backups, property damage, and health hazards.

What Are The Signs I Need Sewer Repair?

Think you might have a need for sewer repair at your home? Here are some signs to watch for:

• Multiple Drain Backups: When several drains throughout your home back up simultaneously—toilets, sinks, and showers all acting up at once—this typically indicates a serious blockage or damage in your main sewer line that requires immediate professional repair to prevent sewage from backing up into your living spaces.
• Sewage Odors Around Your Property: Persistent sewer smells in your yard, basement, or around drains signal that sewage isn't flowing properly through damaged pipes. These foul odors often indicate cracks or breaks in your sewer line that allow gases and waste to escape, creating health hazards and requiring prompt repair.
• Soggy Spots Or Lush Grass Patches In Your Yard: Unexplained wet areas, sunken spots, or unusually green grass patches above your sewer line path often indicate leaking sewage that's fertilizing your lawn. These signs suggest significant pipe damage that needs immediate attention to prevent contamination and costly property damage.
• Gurgling Sounds From Drains Or Toilets: Strange gurgling or bubbling noises from your plumbing fixtures, especially when using other drains, indicate air pockets caused by partial sewer line blockages. These sounds warn of developing problems that can quickly escalate to complete backups without proper repair intervention.
• Slow Draining Throughout The House: When multiple fixtures drain slowly despite individual drain cleaning efforts, the problem likely exists in your main sewer line. This widespread sluggish drainage indicates partial blockages or pipe damage that restricts sewage flow and requires professional sewer line repair to resolve effectively.
• Foundation Cracks Or Settling: Unexpected foundation cracks, especially near your sewer line path, can result from soil erosion caused by leaking sewage. As waste seeps into surrounding soil, it can create voids that cause foundation settling, making sewer line repair crucial for both plumbing function and structural integrity.