|
Because your sewer main is responsible for carrying waste away from your home, the last thing you want is for it to stop functioning. An obstructed or damaged sewer main means that waste gets where it shouldn’t, in your yard or in your home, leaving you knee deep (so to speak) in problems. Like most things in your home, sewer main lines tend to have more issues with age. Clay, cast iron, Orangeburg, or old even old plastic pipes become extremely vulnerable over time. Clay Pipes Clay pipes are highly susceptible to intrusion from thirsty tree roots looking for a drink. Root intrusion is when nearby trees push roots into pipes where they grow wild, often fully obstructing the pipe. Because roots can grow into extremely tight spaces, they are known to grow into tiny cracks and break apart pipes. Root intrusion is particularly prevalent in clay pipes that are not wrapped in tar. Cast Iron Cast iron is tough as nails and has been the typical material used for indoor plumbing for much of history. While they are relatively durable, cast iron pipes are known to rust. This rust can build up and cause problems with clogging in the main line. If the rusting goes undetected, the pipes will eventually collapse. Cast iron pipes are also vulnerable to corrosion from acids that are used for cleaning or form naturally in the pipe. Orangeburg Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of Orangeburg piping. This old pipe fell out of favor long ago when performance issues became apparent. The pipe is made from rolled up tar paper which is then laminated in asphalt. If it sounds flimsy, that’s because it is basically just a glorified toilet paper roll. Homes with Orangeburg pipes can have serious issues with the performance of their plumbing. The pipes are not designed to hold up to heavy weight over a long period of time, and tend to sag and collapse. If you know that your home has an Orangeburg sewer main, be sure to replace it! Plastic Plastic is touted as a tough and durable plumbing material, but even old plastic lines can have problems after a certain age. As plastic ages it becomes weaker and more brittle, and has been known to collapse. If you are experiencing problems with your plumbing that you suspect are related to your sewer main line, contact a plumbing professional. A plumber can scope your pipes and their trained eye will be able to pick up on the problem with a video camera. Your plumber can advise you on whether the line needs to be replaced or if cleaning will do. Thanks to advances in plumbing technology, most home owners can expect their new line to serve them well for the remainder of their life. Don’t wait until you’re in a plumbing nightmare, get your old sewer main line replaced on your schedule before it becomes a problem.
Related Articles -
sewer line repair, sewer main, plumbing repair, plumbing emergency, emergency plumbing, plumbing contractor, sewer pipes, local plumber,
|
