The Vintage Homeowner’s Guide to Sewer Line Repair & Upkeep
While you probably don’t want to spend much time thinking about your home’s sewer line, it’s a crucial component of your home’s plumbing system. It’s responsible for carrying wastewater away from your home, so if it’s not properly maintained, it can lead to costly repairs and unpleasant plumbing issues. This guide from our plumbing experts at American Vintage Home is designed to provide homeowners, especially those with older homes, with helpful tips and insights into residential sewer line upkeep.
What Can Cause Sewer Line Damage?
Understanding the potential causes of sewer line damage is the first step in prevention. Several factors can contribute to sewer line issues, including:
- Aging infrastructure: Older homes often have sewer lines made of outdated materials that are more prone to cracking and corrosion.
- Tree roots: Trees near your sewer line can send out roots in search of water. These roots can infiltrate and clog the sewer line, leading to blockages and damage.
- Foreign objects: Flushing non-biodegradable items like wet wipes, sanitary products, or even grease down the drain can cause your sewer line to clog.
- Ground shifting: Changes in soil composition or ground movement, such as earthquakes, can shift or damage sewer lines.
Signs of Sewer Line Damage
Detecting sewer line damage early can save you from extensive repairs and costly replacements. Keep an eye out for the following signs that something is wrong with your sewer line:
- Multiple clogged drains: If multiple drains in your home are clogged or drain slowly at the same time, you could be dealing with a blockage further into your sewer line.
- Unpleasant odors: Noxious or foul odors near drains or in your yard can indicate that your sewer line isn’t properly removing wastewater.
- Backups: Frequent toilet backups or water backing up into the bathtub or sinks are clear signs of sewer line issues.
- Lush spots in yard: A section of your lawn that’s unusually green and lush might indicate a sewage leak beneath the surface.
How To Take Care of Your Sewer Line
Sewer line problems can be messy and expensive hassles to get fixed, so it’s better to avoid them altogether. To ensure your sewer lines stay in the best shape possible, follow these tips:
- Schedule regular inspections: Periodic inspections of your sewer line are helpful for identifying any areas of concern, especially if you have an older home.
- Avoid flushing inappropriate items: Only flush toilet paper down the toilet. Dispose of items like wet wipes, hygiene products, and paper towels in the trash.
- Don’t pour grease down the drain: Never pour cooking grease down your drains! Instead, let it cool and solidify, then dispose of it in the trash.
What To Do if Your Sewer Line Is Damaged
If you suspect that something is wrong with your sewer line, you should contact a professional plumbing company right away. For homeowners in the Chicago North Shore area, American Vintage Home offers top-quality sewer line repairs and replacements. We also offer trenchless sewer repairs that will restore your sewer line with minimal disruption to your property.
When you call us, our professional plumbing team can conduct a thorough inspection of your sewer lines, using advanced methods and technologies like a sewer video camera inspection. This will allow us to determine the exact cause and location of your sewer line damage so that we can determine if repairs or a replacement is the best option.
Call American Vintage Home today at (847) 999-4595 to schedule a sewer line inspection in Evanston or the surrounding areas.
