The sewer line is the main line connecting your household plumbing to the civic sewer system. All of the drains from your sinks and tubs lead to it, making it an invaluable conduit for removing waste safely and effectively. The sewer line is usually buried beneath your property, allowing it to do its job safely and efficiently. When trouble arises, however, it can be difficult to spot the problem. Leaks and clogs often stay hidden until the damage becomes extensive, and reaching the sewer line itself can be a trying task.
Luckily, modern plumbers have plenty of new tricks and techniques that makes repairing or replacing a damaged sewer line much easier than it was just a few years ago. But before they do that, you the homeowner need to be able to spot the signs that something is wrong. With spring here and the ground thawed, any issues with your sewer line that may have cropped up over the winter will make themselves known. That makes now the perfect time to look for any issues your sewer line may be experiencing and call for a professional plumber if you do.
WHAT KINDS OF SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms can vary from case to case, and no single sewer line problem quite resembles any other. Generally speaking, however, there are a few common symptoms you should look for. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Strange smells. We probably don’t have to tell you that leaking sewer lines can produce odd odors in your home. They usually emanate from either the drains or from unspecified places in the yard.
- Similarly, a leak in the sewer line will produce odd puddles in strange parts of the yard, with no ready sign of how they got there.
- A clogged sewer line means back-ups or slow draining elsewhere in the sewer system. In many cases, these issues will affect more than one drain in the house, and might affect all of them.
- Greener plant life. Tree roots may be attracted to leaking waste from sewer lines, since it makes a natural fertilizer. In some cases, the roots may even invade the pipe itself. Regardless, the added fertilizer will make some plants greener and healthier than surrounding plants in your home.
- Cracks in the concrete. If the problem lies beneath a concreate patio or near a pool. It’s apt to affect the concrete itself: notably with the appearance of cracks in the concrete. This is usually the sign of an advanced problem.
- Higher Bills. Sometimes, it’s not any specific symptom that causes concerns, but the simple fact that your monthly water bills are higher than normal. Leaks or clogs in the sewer line can create higher bills very easily, so if yours undergoes any unexpected spikes, it’s probably best to consult a professional.
If you spot these problems, turn your water off, and call in a trained plumber immediately. Here in Bogota, NJ, reliable plumbing repair services can be performed by the experts at BZ Dependable Plumbing & Heating Inc.
