The last thing you want to have to do if you’re a property owner is to replace a major installation. While you may hope that your water and sewer line last throughout the length of your homeownership, this is often not the case, and they certainly won’t last as long as the building materials themselves.
With the sewer line, it’s important to know early when you need to replace it, in order to prevent a major health hazard. We want to help you learn the signs and find out how long you can expect to wait before having to replace the sewer pipes underneath your property. Thankfully, it may not require as much work and mess as you think!
Sewer Line Lifespans
You cannot expect your sewer lines to last forever. That doesn’t mean there is a definite day you can expect your sewer lines to fail either. Your sewer lines will fail when they fail, although that generally falls within these timelines.
Cast iron pipes tend to last about 75-100 years. Most older homes will have this type of piping used for the sewer pipes. PVC piping, used for more modern sewer and drain lines, may last over 100 years.
However, this all depends on how well the pipes are installed and taken care of, along with the environment surrounding them. It is possible for sewer lines to show problems sooner. And if you own an older home, you may not know how old the pipes truly are.
Signs of Failure
That’s why it’s so important to watch for signs of pipe failure.
- Odors in the yard – This is a dangerous sign sewer lines may be leaking.
- Grass growing quickly – If the grass in one part of your yard seems to be growing faster than the rest, it may be getting some extra fertilization thanks to a leak underneath.
- Clogged drains – Drains that are clogged, slow moving, or backing up are cause for concern.
Other Possible Causes
Of course, sewer and drain problems can also be caused by other factors. If you notice sewage is backing up, there may be a major clog. Fats, oils, and grease can cause this to happen frequently and in large amounts.
You may only develop a leak in one part of a sewer line thanks to nearby ground movement. Or your pipes might be affected by nearby tree roots, which grow towards sewer pipes since they are such a good source of water and, well, fertilization.
The Good News
The good news is that pipe replacement may not be as big of a deal as you think. In the past, all plumbers had to dig up the complete length of the sewer pipe, and some plumbers still do. If this sounds like a hassle and a mess to you, you need to find a plumber who offers trenchless pipe repair and replacement.
Trenchless pipe relining allows the plumbers to go in with a hydraulic piece of equipment through a pipe cleanout or a hole dug in the pipe. The pipe is cleaned out first, and then a new pipe lining is inserted. The lining is inflated and seals to the old pipe thanks to an adhesive coating applied beforehand.
Call a plumber in West Palm Beach, FL. Reach out to Admiral Plumbing Services, LLC today.
