Sewer Line Common Problems

Sewer line problems can be caused from long-term buildup of flushed materials that cause blockages, intrusions of tree roots that cause clogs and breaks, and corrosion or collapse due to outdated plumbing components. These and other common problems in your sewer lines can cause lots of problems, including gross sewer backups, bugs, bad smells, black mold, and many other issues that affect the health and safety of your home and family.

Sewage Blocks And Backups

If your toilet backs up when you flush it or water backs up in sink or bathtub drains, the problem could be in one drain or in your main sewer line. Sewage backups are usually caused by a blockage somewhere in the sewer line and usually occur in the lowest open drain. This issue could be caused by the buildup of flushed materials and remedied with an easy cleaning. If slow drains and backups persist after you’ve had your pipes cleaned, it could be a sign of deteriorated sewer lines, a bad pipe connection, or tree root intrusion that can easily be detected with a sewer video inspection.

Tree Root Intrusions

One more common cause of sewer line issues is tree roots, especially if you have large trees anywhere on your property. Small tree roots find their way into tiny sewer line cracks in search of water and cause the pipe to clog as it grows. As roots become bigger, they may cause the pipe to break from inside, but they can also crush pipes from the outside.

Corrosion Problems

Older sewer systems made of cast iron pipes provide excellent protection against tree root intrusions, but rust and corrosion happens often. Corroded pipes eventually fail, which restricts flow and causes backups.

Sewer Gas Odors

Sanitary sewer systems need to be airtight everywhere except the vent stacks on your home’s roof. You shouldn’t be smelling any disgusting sewer gas smells in or around your home. If you do, there’s a probably a crack in your sewer lines and sewer gas where it shouldn’t be. Prolonged exposure to sewer gas can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, sinus infections, and other unhealthy consequences.

Mold Dangers

Sewer line breaks behind the walls in your home cause increased humidity, which could lead to dangerous mold growth. Eventually, you’ll notice mold on the walls and/or ceilings where the pipes are broken. Mold in your home can cause a slew of health issues, especially if someone is allergic to mold or suffers from asthma, and it can damage your home’s structure.

Rodent & Pests Problems

If you’ve suddenly developed a continuous problem with rodents or pests invading your home and standard pest control tactics don’t fix it, you may be suffering from  a sewer line break. Although it may seem a strange entry point, rats and bugs can squeeze through an opening in your sewer line as small as a quarter and enter your home to spread life-threatening diseases.

Foundation Issues And Sinkholes

Sewer leaks beneath your home’s foundation left untreated for a long time can cause a void to develop beneath the foundation or in the yard. This could lead to extreme consequences, including indentations or dips in your lawn, foundation issues like severe settling and/or cracks in the slab, and even sinkholes. Foundation problems put your home and your family’s safety at serious risk.