Today I’m discussing a critical piece of your home’s infrastructure that you probably don’t give too much thought: your sewer line. Buried beneath your yard is this eminently important pipe which carries all your plumbing waste out of your home and away to be treated.
When I represent buyers in a home purchase, I always recommend they pay to have the sewer line inspected. Commonly known as a sewer scope, the plumber runs a camera down the line to inspect for concerns. Why should you inspect? Because your sewer is critical to the functioning of your home and fixing it can be costly. You want to know if the home requires a sewer line repair before you move forward with a decision to purchase.
Disclaimer: I am not a licensed plumber. This article is based on personal experience, questioning of professionals, tales from people I know and internet research.
History Lesson
Needing to carry in potable water and carry away wastes for a growing civilization, the Mesopotamians introduced clay sewer pipes to the world in 4,000 BC. I give them a lot of credit because we were still using clay sewer pipes well into the 19th century. Copper and lead pipes came along, with lead being the preference for the Roman Empire. The latin word for lead is “plumbum”, which is the origin of our term “plumber”.1
In the U.S. clay sewer pipes were common between 1900 and 1980. Clay is a sturdy material, but it is subject to damage and degradation over time. It’s typical lifespan is 50-60 years. After 1980, PVC pipes were much more widely available and became the material of choice for new or replacement sewer lines.2
We’re mostly going to focus on clay sewer pipes today, as the average single-family home in the U.S. is 40 years old. However, my PVC friends sitting in your post-1980 builds, you are not off the hook. Stay tuned for your own potential issues.
Pottery Problems
Clay sewer pipes tend to be subject to three main issues, requiring a sewer line repair.
Root intrusion
Do you have trees in your yard? Does your neighbor have trees in their yard? Trees are always seeking water through their roots and the smallest fracture in the clay pipe can allow roots to penetrate. As the roots grow and expand, they wreak more havoc on the pipe.
Bellies in the Line
Over time, the pipes can sag, creating what the plumbers call a “belly” in the line. This low spot interferes with the pitch of the line, which means that the flow of water and sewage isn’t occurring as it should toward the main line. If the water is sitting the pipe, it can lead to build up or backups over time.
Pipe Corrosion/Scale
As the water sits in the sewer line, it can corrode or scale the pipe. I always picture this situation like plaque building up in arteries. Over time, the diameter of the opening for sewage shrinks so it’s more and more difficult for the sewage and water to drain out.
Poop Problems
So how do you know if you have a problem with your sewer lines? If it’s a more minor issue, you probably won’t know unless you have the line scoped with a camera. Sewer lines can run many, many feet from your home to the city hookup; I typically see 60-90 foot runs. If you have a belly at 35′, the problem may be far enough out that there’s no backup at the house to alert you to the issue. The sewage is draining sufficiently, just not optimally.
How do you know if you have a big problem? You’re going to know because you will literally smell the poop somewhere. If your pipe is collapsed, you might smell it or see it in your yard where the sewage is now dumping into the yard. You might have sewerage backing up into your home via the bathtub or other drains. You might hear abnormal gurgling in your plumbing. Do not ignore these warning signs.
If you are experiencing any of these issues, you should contact a licensed plumber to come out and take a look. Waiting to address these issues can turn into a snowball effect. Early on, you may have more options for repair which are easier on your bank account.
Repair or Replacement
So the plumber says you’ve got a problem. What are your options?
Sewer Line Repair
If your pipes are only in moderately bad shape and are of sufficient diameter, you may be able to complete a trenchless repair, sometimes called a “sleeve”. Trenchless, meaning the plumber won’t have to dig up all the old pipe and replace it outright.
Three or four methods can be used to complete this repair, but the end result is your old pipe ends up lined with a brand new pipe inside the old one (or the remnants of the old one). Most methods focus on piping in some type of coating that cures in the pipe itself. Remember when you used a balloon to support your papier-mâché art project? Same concept. The balloon holds the shape for the papier-mâché until it cures into that globe or self-portrait head you’re making.
The benefits of this method is it is much cheaper, can be completed more quickly, is less disruptive to your household, and it doesn’t result in your yard being completely ravaged when they dig it up. The drawback seems to be that you lose overall diameter of your sewer line, so you want to ensure your remaining diameter is sufficient for your household’s needs.
Replace
In the event the line cannot be repaired, you will need to complete a full replacement. The plumber is going to bring in heavy machinery, dig up the old pipe and replace it with a new PVC line. It will be painful and expensive, but in the end you should never have to worry about your sewer line for the duration of your home ownership.
What about insurance?
Unfortunately, your sewer line is not typically covered under your homeowner policy. The damage usually occurs over time and is considered wear and tear. However, some companies do offer a rider on the sewer line. You might wish to look into this option if you are interested. If the sewer line is damaged in a sudden and unexpected event, your insurance may cover some or all of the expenses. (I’m trying to imagine what this event might be, but I’m coming up empty.)
PVC Caution
Just because you live in a home built post-1980 with PVC, does not mean you have no concerns. I recently asked a plumber about inspecting more recent builds and his response caught me off guard. He related that while the PVC is a more durable material, the quality of workmanship from the plumbers installing new systems seems to have declined. You have to worry about whether the plumber hooked everything up correctly and applied the appropriate pitch to the trench. E.g. If the plumber didn’t install the pipe correctly, the literal shit could be flowing back toward your home.
Thanks for joining me this week as we dove into this enthralling topic of sewer line repair! As always, I’m here to help with all your homeowner adventures.
Photo by Vie Studio
