Sewer Line Replacement in Kokomo, IN
Much like electricity and hot water, homeowners take their sewer line for granted. It works silently 24/7 to carry off wastewater and dispose of it safely. But sewer lines are not eternal, nor impervious to forces that may cause them to crack.
What Sewer Lines Do
The domestic plumbing system has two essential functions. First, it brings clean water into the home and distributes it. Second, it carries wastewater safely away. The sewer line is the component that transports the wastewater.
In areas served by public sewers, wastewater drains into the public system via the sewer line. In other areas, the sewer line leads to a septic tank. Sewer lines are installed at a slope so that gravity carries the wastewater away.
Causes of Broken Sewer Lines
Sewer line cracks or breaks most often result from:
- Pipe material failure. No piping material lasts forever.
- Tree root invasion. Sitting water attracts roots, which enter via cracks. Tree roots may grow to hundreds of feet if they detect water.
- Pipe corrosion. Iron pipes eventually rust and disintegrate.
- Earth Movement around the pipe. The earth around the sewer line provides support. Sinking or moving the earth stresses the line, which may cause it to crack.
Long-Lasting but not Eternal
Sewer lines theoretically have a long life. But even long-life ends eventually, and several threats may cut short its life. Common pipe materials may last:
- Cast-Iron: 75-100 years
- Clay: 100 years
- Cement: 100 years
- Orangeburg: 50 years
- PVC: 100 years
Symptoms of Sewer Line Failure
A broken sewer line fails to carry wastewater to its destination, allowing it to flow into the soil. This may occur beneath the house or further out in the yard. Indicators of a broken sewer line include:
- Foul odors and strange sounds. A noxious smell in the yard may emanate from a broken sewer line. Odors are especially noticeable in warmer climates where lines are usually closer to the surface.
- Several slow drains throughout the home. Most simple drain clogs occur in a single fixture like a sink, toilet, or shower. But when multiple fixtures simultaneously have difficulty draining, the problem could be the sewer line. Monitor how quickly dishwashers and washing machines are draining.
- Depressions or sinkholes in the driveway or yard. These conditions suggest that excess water is present beneath the surface. A broken sewer line may flood a portion of the yard or cause spongy ground.
- Isolated lush green grass. Excess nutrients and water are present, which may leak from a broken line.
- Interior Water Damage. Mold, mildew, discoloration, accompanied by off-odors and a damp feel, suggest the possibility of a sewer line problem.
- Extreme Temperatures. Uncharacteristic cold may cause the ground to heave, placing stress on the line that causes cracks. Icy blockages may also split the line.
- Foundation settling or cracks.
Sewer Lines Are the Homeowner’s Responsibility
Local governments consider the sewer line part of the private plumbing system. This means that homeowners are responsible for repair and maintenance. Homeowner insurance typically does not cover sewer line replacement unless another party causes the damage, or a covered catastrophic event causes it.
The Process: Sewer Line Replacement and Repair
Summers Plumbing will dispatch a technician to your home with a video camera to view the sewer line interior. If that inspection reveals a sewer line break, we repair it using one of these methods.
Pipe Lining. This is “trenchless” line repair, requiring no excavation. A modest crack or break requires treatment of only a section of the line. Your Summers technician will carefully insert an inflatable, epoxy-covered tube into the existing line. After inflation, the epoxy hardens, preventing future leaks.
Pipe Bursting. Pipe bursting is also a trenchless technique, but it requires a new pipe and is more complex, time-consuming, and expensive. The technician uses a tool to shatter the defective pipe, replacing it with a new section.
Traditional Excavation and Pipe Replacement
There are situations in which the damage requires traditional excavation to expose and replace the defective portion of the line.
Kokomo, IN Professional Sewer Line Replacement
If you need sewer line replacement service, Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling is proud to serve the Kokomo, IN area. We know that prompt and cost-effective plumbing service important to you. Our friendly, professional technicians have seen it all, and have the experience and equipment to get the job done.
Schedule service online or call us today at 765.252.0727 to get the service you deserve at a reasonable price. Check online for local reviews and specials!
