Modern Sewer Line Repair Explained in Simple Terms
A malfunctioning sewer line in need of repair truly is the stuff of nightmares for home and business owners. Temporary fixes and band-aid solutions are many, but they’re only temporary, and over the long haul, they can work to prolong the misery.
Then of all the problems that you can be confronted with around your home or commercial building, a sewer line repair, with rare exceptions, just isn’t something that can be taken on as a do-it-yourself job.
It is downright nasty with infectious microbes, but sewer line installation and repair work is strictly regulated by strict municipal codes. So if you’re facing the prospect of a sewer line repair in and the area surrounding Pittsburgh PA, it may be time to call in the sewer repair specialist at Kwiatowski Plumbing at 412-681-9525
How about sewer line maintenance tips to avoid repairs?
There are several things that you can do to maintain your sewer line, and the first one is to not buy your way into somebody else’s problems. All too often, inspecting a sewer system just isn’t on the list of the things to check before purchasing a home or commercial building.
Out of sight means out of mind, and besides, most people just don’t know what to look for. And why would a potential buyer unless they have previous experience working in the plumbing trade?
A home or building over 50 years old should have its sewer systems inspected before purchase. But even if it’s a newer home, it’s a good idea to walk the property looking for gray water; the tell-tale foul-smelling mud end excessive vegetative growth.
Still more tips to help you avoid problems
Then after you buy a home or a commercial property, some of the things that you can do to help you steer clear of problems with your sewer are as follows. The first is to never put grease down the kitchen drain. It starts off soft when it’s in your home, but once it cools and solidifies in your sewer line, it hardens over time as it picks up other organic matter to form a solid obstruction.
In a bathroom, use a trash can for plastics and cardboard. Things like dental floss, cigarettes, and tampons get snagged in sewer lines and collect up other debris as it flows by. Then another hot tip is to avoid low-flow toilets. The savings on the water bill might turn out to be minimal when compared to the cost of sewer repairs further down the road.
What about structural damage to a sewer line?
Clogs and obstructions are one thing and are relatively straightforward to clear out. But structural damage to a sewer line is a different story. So one good tip is before you start in landscaping or begin planting trees around your place, is to take the time to map out where your sewer line is, particularly if you have a leach field attached to a septic system.
An area like this is best left relatively open or perhaps have a lawn or shallow-rooted plants integrated into a landscaping plan. Then be careful when driving a heavy truck or tractor over soft ground around your building to avoid crushing the line or causing it to sink in, forming a dip or low area where the affluent can settle in.
What about trenchless sewer line repair?
Trenchless sewer line repair has been generating quite a buzz in recent years, but for the average home or business owner, good information can be hard to come by that’s not connected to a sales pitch. So then, just what is trenchless sewer line repair?
In short, this new high-tech form type of plumbing repair involves inserting a flexible plastic tube coated with epoxy resin into a damaged sewer line to form a secondary inside liner.
Epoxy is a plastic resin that comes in two parts. One is a resin component, and the other is the hardener. Once they are mixed together, it hardens up by a chemical process, so that means that even in a wet sewer line, it will harden and cure in about twelve hours.
Is trenchless sewer line repair cheaper?
The answer here is, of course, it’s cheaper but not because the actual work and material cost less. Instead, the savings come in when fencing doesn’t have to be torn down, expensive landscaping is left in place, and the same applies to concrete flatwork.
And situations where a damaged sewer line is located underneath a dwelling where trenching is just out of the question. With the trenchless system, the lines are accessed but digging a hole at both ends so the new plastic liner can be pulled or pushed through then inflated with air pressure until the epoxy resin hardens it in place.
A few hot tips for interviewing Pittsburgh plumbers
Unlike carpentry work, plumbers finished project is buried in the ground. So you must get it right from the start when you sign on the dotted line with the plumber that you choose to do your work. Like Kwiatowski Plumbing at 412-681-9525, they should be licensed bonded, and insured with both liability and workman’s comp.
Also, just like Kwiatowski Plumbing, they should have a verifiable track record with satisfied previous clients and be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. Then during the interview process, they should make you feel comfortable and that they take pride in what they do and are interested in solving your problem.
Then for sure, you want a plumbing company to have a solid track record with and offer a trenchless sewer line repair option.
Give your sewer line a nice big flush
It’s something that most people just never consider because here again, out of sight means out of mind. But just like a toilet, a sewer line can use a good flush every few months or so.
A nice heavy blast of water to clear out any low areas and dislodge crud that may have become stuck or settled. So fill up the sinks, the clothes washing machine, and anything else you might have that contains water and drains into a sewer line.
Then quickly run around your home or building draining them all at once such that the lines will be flooded with a big gush of water. Doing this, we’ll also give you an early warning sign of a pending problem if the water is slow to drain or appears to be backing up.