When a sewer line fails, human waste spills into the area around it. This could be in your crawl space or basement, or it could be underground. When the wastewater enters the ground, it can seep into the groundwater or your drainage field and pollute it. It’s going to cost money, maybe a lot, wherever the sewer line breaks. This is why regular sewer maintenance is crucial.
Why Sewer Lines Break in the First Place
The are many reasons why sewer lines break. Debris, such as hair, oils, and fats from cooking and cleaning, accumulates in the pipes to the point where they create a clog. These clogs can cause backflows into your fixtures. If they’re bad enough, they can break the pipe. Tree roots love to find even small cracks in the pipe and infiltrate them until the pipe is completely clogged. This can also cause the pipe to break. Pipes also break just because they are old and have grown fragile.
Routine maintenance and troubleshooting by a professional plumber can prevent these problems. The cost of snaking, or even hydro jetting, is minuscule compared to the expense of repairing and replacing your sewer pipe and cleaning up the biohazard that its breakage left behind.
Sewer Maintenance Also Helps Your Property Value
Besides allowing your sewer line to work well and protecting the health of your household, a well-working sewer line protects the value of your property. It may, in fact, increase it.
A problematic sewer line might be hard to see from the curb. Yet, a potential buyer is going to notice the backed-up sinks and bathtubs and the wet spots on the lawn even though it hasn’t been raining. They will also become aware of the gurgling sounds in the drains and, of course, the bad smells.
These are all signs of a failing sewer line. They’re also indicators of a home you’re not going to be able to sell. A property assessor who visits your home while it’s in this state may also feel compelled to lower the value of your property.
How to Help Maintain Your Sewer Line
There are things you can do to keep your sewer line in good working order and avoid devastating repair and replacement costs. You should have a professional inspect your system every couple of years as well as clean it. If you suspect problems, have them fixed while they’re still small. Also, refrain from flushing anything down the toilet besides human waste and toilet paper. Install drain strainers to catch other types of debris, such as hair.
If You Need Sewer Maintenance, Call Us
When your sewer line breaks, you should consider it an emergency. If you need sewer line repair, don’t wait to call our professionals at Jordan Air of Athens, GA.
