Top 7 When to replace your sewer lines

Most homeowners don’t really take much thought about their sewer lines, and whether they need to be repaired or replaced. However, for sanitary and waste disposal fixtures and appliances to operate properly, your home plumbing system has to be kept in good condition. Delaying the necessary measures can only result in extensive damage to property, exposure to health risks, and the high cost of repair and replacement.

It is always a good idea to keep your sewer lines properly maintained. Proper disposal of food, grease, and other waste materials, watching out for root intrusion on sewer pipes and monitoring your drainage flow are just some ways to prevent damages. However, there are certain conditions that will require complete replacement of your sewer lines, and this must be done the soonest possible time to prevent further damage.

Here are some signs that your sewer lines are already in need of replacement:

1. The appearance of consistently damp sink holes in the yard. When sewer pipes burst, the waste water will rise into the soil in your yard, causing the soil to turn to mush and sink. Or, it could create tiny pools of water that come out of nowhere.
2. Persistent foul odor. The stench of waste water cannot be mistaken. Whether waste water comes out of burst pipes in your yard or in your basement, a foul, obnoxious smell will always be evidence of its presence.
3. Recurring plumbing issues. If your bathroom drains, or toilet keep getting clogged even after having them repaired, this could be a sign of a bigger underground sewer line problem. These can be remedied temporarily, but will continue to recur unless the bigger issue is addressed and your sewer pipes replaced.
4. Ancient pipes. If your home was built several decades ago, and you have not had any sewage pipes replaced, maybe it’s time to do it already. With the passage of time, sewer pipes will rust and fail more frequently and need to be replaced.
5. Appearance of molds in the ceiling and walls. Molds thrive in damp, dark places. If a mold suddenly appears on your ceiling, on walls and other places that are not usually exposed to water, this could be caused by leaky pipes under the walls.
6. Flooding in your basement. The most dangerous effect of broken sewer lines is flooding in your basement and home’s foundation. Water in these places could weaken your home’s foundation and cause irreversible and costly damages.
7. Strange, gurgling sounds. The sounds are caused by air that escapes backward up in your toilet, and this only means that there is a blockage in your sewer line.

What should you do in case these signs are evident in your home?

The first step would be to identify just exactly what the problem is. Is it a clogged sewer pipe or a burst pipe? A camera video inspection is the best way to identify what and where the problem originates. Get a good, reputable plumbing company with the necessary equipment to assess the problem for you. Patching up the leaks can offer temporary respite from the issues, but if the problem is already in its advanced stages and the pipes are ready to give up, replacing them would be the most plausible solution and ultimately the most practical, too.