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An important thing to know about sewer repair is that it’s important to work with a plumber who’s prepared for and experienced with the full range of possible repairs. In other words, an expert. This is someone who has been through enough sewer repair scenarios that they can help you get the most effective repairs because they know what works. These days, there are many great solutions for sewer repair problems that don’t involve digging up the pipe and replacing it. If your situation does require a pipe replacement, junction with the city sewer, paperwork, and more, you want that expert to step in and handle it professionally. At MainLine Plumbing, we’re experts at tough jobs and underground plumbing in Coral Springs, FL, and beyond, and we’re ready to work hard for the best outcome when you need sewer repair. We’re the plumbers you can relax and trust when you have potentially major plumbing work to be done.
Sewer Lines Last a Long Time and Are Made of Many Types of Materials
When a sewer line has issues, it’s important to remember that it’s likely at least as old as your home. It could be made of cast iron, with an expected life of 50 to 100 years, or clay, providing 50-60 years of service. As time passes, the material may weaken, and external forces could cause damage, more easily if the pipe is older. Those forces can include the slow growth of tree roots, sudden pressure of heavy equipment rolling over it above, shifting soil from water table changes or seismic activity, construction-related changes, and much more. Each type of sewer repair situation is different, from natural weakness from the time that allows leakage and may be patched, to root intrusions and crushing that might require pipe replacement — or perhaps just relining. Pipe bursting is also a solution in some cases, where the pipe is destroyed in place and another pipe slid in to replace it. The right choice is the one that will do the job and last. Fortunately, even patching and relining use materials that are expected to last as long as typical pipe materials.
First, Make Sure You Need a Sewer Repair
Modern video inspection equipment allows plumbers to look inside your pipes, from the smallest water lines in your bathroom to your drains and main sewer line. We can look inside and explore the length of the pipe, looking for damage such as breakage, pressure fractures, tree intrusions, and more. We may also see that your sewer has a huge clog in it, which isn’t common but it does happen. There was one in London, called a fatberg, that weighed more than 300 tons, a giant glob of wet wipes, fat, oil, waste, and other materials blocking sewer lines that people can walk through standing up.
Smaller versions of the fatberg can gather in residential sewer lines, and while it may seem like the sewer line is terminally blocked, powerful hydro-jetting technology and other methods can remove the blockage and let the sewer flow again, eliminating sewer-related backups throughout the house. Sometimes a repair is needed, but video inspection indicates that it is a relatively small problem that can be patched, and with video guidance, a special patching device can deliver material right where it’s needed. Access required is minimal, usually, a couple of holes dug or using a cleanout port.
Replacing the Pipe Without Digging a Trench
Trenchless sewer repairs are quite popular these days, and when they’re the right solution for the situation, they can be a fantastic one. As with patching, a video inspection is necessary to determine the overall condition of the pipe and make sure the situation is right for the repair technique. Two common methods are relining, where a new pipe liner is guided through using holes dug at each end, and pipe bursting, where the existing pipe is pushed away or “burst” in all directions making room for a new pipe to be slipped into the existing space. Each method of sewer repair has its constraints, but if your situation allows for one of these solutions, it can be a long-lasting alternative to digging a trench and replacing the sewer pipe in its entirety.
Sewer Pipe Replacement
Swapping sewer pipes involves digging a trench, making the exchange, and managing the connections on each end. The street side of the sewer line can get involved, as it connects to the city sewer, and may involve some paperwork and even work under the street in front of your house, requiring repaving and a police detour while the work is in progress. When the work is done, however, odds are it will be a generation or two before it needs to be done again. Other patching and repair methods may be available for special cases as well.
Behind the Scenes, Experts Have More to Consider
For underground plumbing such as your sewer repair, each consideration of a repair technique and the plans that go into completing the repair involve a range of concerns. Expert plumbers will think about the type of soil you have, the age and materials involved in your sewer line, water table, and nearby tree growth considerations, and any seismic activity in the area. They’ll think about your home’s foundation and sewer line connection, and how stable they are, and other civil engineering considerations. Their trusted guidance is based on a wealth of experience and education.
Your Sewer Line Experts in Coral Springs, FL
When you’re considering a major underground plumbing project such as sewer line repair in Coral Springs, FL, our team at MainLine Plumbing can help make sure it’s done right. For work and materials that may wind up lasting for half a century, it’s worth doing right for peace of mind and as an investment in your home. Put us, and our extensive experience, to work for you. Call our underground plumbing experts.