Sewer repair is just as important as any other installation process, this means that you have to pay attention to details.
This includes gurgling toilets, slow drains, spot molds mildew, and faint odors. These are all signs of a broken sewer line in your home and to investigate, you might need professional help.
Managing sewer lines is not as easy as you may think, where you will most definitely need experts. The loopholes can lead you away from the actual cause of damaged and broken lines. Here are a few questions that we get asked ever so often about damage and drainage:
. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE A BROKEN LINE?
Just like everything, there are some of the basic signs that show if your line has trouble building up. A broken line will show some basic plumbing line damages, which include foul smell which is the easiest to detect. Main lines often carry away the dirt and garbage from the sewer lines, which means that roots can create blockages.
If you see the pipes starting to shift and settle in the soil of your home, get to inspection straight away. You may have a few plugged drain lines here and there which can bring backup. Minor clogs are soluble with solutions or cleared with a plunger. A blocked sewer line may not seem like a problem at first, it can become one if ignored for long!
Drains are easy to open, yet sewerage backup is hard to clean and fix. Your sewer might be blocked which is a task expensive to take care of, should be only tackled by professionals. Regular inspections are the best in this regard, where you get to know and see the damage. Tracking the ongoing problem is rather easier than having to deal with it as soon as the havoc strikes.
Regular inspections keep the sewers running smooth and low. In most cases, the authorities will recognize the problem and send a team your way to deal with problems as big as a flooded line. Backups however are not a massive problem, easy to clean with the right gear. It is a task to understand the problem and clean it up afterward. Homeowners have to pay for the job if the negligence is coming from their view.
. HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE CLEAN SEWER LINES?
Drain pipes are comparatively easier to clean, however, sewer lines go a little too deep down. This means that you should take consider the intensity of the job and clean it up at least twice yearly. These lines tend to grow roots through pipes and shift with the place. The most common method is an equal mixture of an acid and base reaction.
Don’t reach a point where you have to get emergency sewer repair because it will be heavy on your pocket. Do all the DIYs because in most cases, they perform very well. High water pressure can cause blindness and permanent damage which is why all operators use proper equipment. People have died in these accidents, only because of negligence. Consider talking to proper authorities who work day and night to solve these problems.
You can do it with equal parts vinegar, baking soda and pour down all that fizz down the drain. Let it rest for a few hours and get to scrubbing. An unclogged sewer line is great for easy drain. The system bears so much, that that one clog can jam up the whole drain. After getting done with the scrubbing and washing, flush all the gunk down with hot water.
. WHAT SHOULD WE DO IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?
If the authorities notify you themselves, it means you should consider getting the job done in a matter of weeks. This is not something to delay, since the estimate varies on weather and other miscellaneous conditions. If you keep delaying it, the clog can get worse.
Try to avoid the area for as long as you can without having to risk contamination. The water waste comes under great pressure, which means that you are at risk of cutting, or breaking something. A manhole is a confined space, not to be dug in without proper safety gear. Do not bother risking your life for a task like this.
This means that you might have to pay up to $10,000 in the worst case. The contaminated drain water is hazardous and can make someone severely sick. In case of emergency, here are some guidelines that you should follow strictly:
- Call for help immediately.
- Keep your pets and children away from the area.
- Clean up the surface with a soft detergent.
- Make sure to wear gloves.
- Try to locate the place from afar.
- Sanitize the affected area.
- Have your sewer line inspected by a professional as soon as possible.
. WHAT ARE THE HAZARDS OF A SEWER LINE DAMAGE?
There are approximately more than two million illnesses caused by sewage exposure every year. The wastewater is beyond repair, full of bacteria and viruses. It can harm the breathing system of an average human which is why cautionary measures are important to consider.
With all these contaminants, you can end up in an emergency room without even knowing. Wastewater is majorly fungi, pesticides, and medications which is why they attract rats and insects. This is a moist environment perfect for the growth of rodents and insects.
Various airborne diseases can birth in this environment full of dirt and bacteria. You need proper safety gear to dig deep in the lines and get it all cleared which is risky. For the most part, leave it out to professionals because the risk of contracting a disease is high.
Even after all this information, cleaning a severely damaged sewer line is not a DIY project. The backup can be harmful to anyone living in the vicinity. It is rather better to seek professional help before it is too late.