Sewer lines last a long time, longer than most of the other plumbing in today’s homes. They don’t last forever, however. If you’ve been having trouble with sewer backups, here are a few things to consider in determining if it is time to replace your sewer line.
Does your home have an Orangeburg sewer line? This sewer pipe was common in the 60s and early 70s. If you have this type of piping, you’re already living on borrowed time. Orangeburg sewer pipe flattens and disintegrates over time. When this happens, you’ll experience frequent blockages that you cannot entirely remedy. If you have an Orangeburg line and you haven’t replaced it, it’s just a matter of time before the line fails.
Is your exterior sewer line made of “thin wall” sewer and drain piping? While legal, this type of sewer pipe is another disaster waiting to happen. The trouble with this pipe is the walls of the pipe are very thin, not at all like modern schedule 40 sewer pipe. This leads to cracked pipes and cracked fittings. You won’t know you have thin wall piping until your plumber exposes the piping in your lateral line. If you find you have thin wall pipe, replace the entire line with four-inch schedule 40 sewer pipe rather than attempt a temporary repair.
Are you having repeated problems with tree root stoppages? Today’s sewer pipe comes in 20 foot lengths, eliminating many pipe joints, where roots typically enter the line. Eliminate the joints and you’re well on your way to eliminating the roots-in-your-line problem.
Cracked and split cast iron sewer pipe.
Does your home have cast iron piping? This is common in many older homes. Cast iron pipe rots, or cracks and splits. Depending on where the pipe is located, this can be an expensive fix. A job of this magnitude requires considerable skill and manpower to remedy.
We can detect many of these sewer line problems with a video sewer inspection. At Sav-On Plumbing, we are skilled in the diagnosis and repair of all these types of problems. We are happy to provide you with an in-home estimate on this type of repair.
Yard post sewer line replacement.