Dealing with sewer pipe damage can be a considerable inconvenience to you as a homeowner. The repairs prevent you from doing routine activities such as taking a bath or washing dishes. Thankfully, you can avoid lengthy and rigorous renovations if you know how to look for signs of damage to your pipelines.
Watching out for pipeline red flags
As a homeowner, maintaining your home’s amenities is an essential part of living a comfortable lifestyle. Any interruptions to your electrical wiring, plumbing, and even your roofing can make it harder to get through your day. Your plumbing’s sewer pipes are always in danger of wear and tear due to environmental factors and your maintenance routines. Because of this, you should know how to detect its damages to avoid expensive and lengthy repairs.
In this article, we will share four warning signs that connect to different sewer pipe problems.
1. Slow drain in toilets and sinks
It can be challenging to detect slow drains if you ignore how your flushes and drains usually go down. However, if you notice that your toilet, bathtub, or sinks are draining slowly, it could be a sign of a build-up of blockages in your pipes. Before they turn into full-blown backups, you should perform a clean-up of your pipes to flush the blockages out.
2. Backups when flushing or running water down the drain
It’s typical for sewage backups to occur near your lowest open drain if your sewer pipe has blockage issues. Generally, the blockage source is at your main sewer line if all your plumbing fixtures experience backups. However, if they only occur in one area of your home, you may have an isolated problem.
If you still experience backups even after receiving cleaning treatments, your pipes may have a deeper underlying issue. Your pipeline complications can range from channeling, corrosion, root intrusion, or misaligned pipe connection. It’s best to ask for a sewer video inspection from a plumber to know the right response to fix your pipes.
3. The smell of sewage around the house
A foul odor is a tell-tale symptom that you have cracks in your sewer system. Sanitary sewers should be airtight, except the vent shacks on your roof. If you’re smelling sewer odor inside your home, it’s a sign that you may need to ask a plumber to assess the integrity of your pipelines.
If you don’t attend to leaks and cracks immediately, you can invite the presence of mold in your home. This is a major concern for properties, especially in regions that have high humidity levels. Cracked sewer pipes can increase humidity levels, making them excellent breeding grounds for mold.
4. Lush patches, indentations, and sinkholes in your lawn
Sewer pipe issues can manifest outside your property as well. If you start noticing extra green patches in your lawn, it may be due to leaks underground. Your sewage can act as a natural fertilizer for vegetation, which could be why some parts of your lawn are growing faster than others.
Additionally, the presence of indentation, cracks, and sinkholes can also point to sewage leaks. These are more severe conditions that won’t just inconvenience your plumbing fixtures. Your outdoors can also be hazardous to your pets and small children if left unattended. If these environmental signs appear in your property, you may be facing a severe complication with your pipeline’s foundation.
Conclusion
If you want to avoid expensive sewer pipe repairs, you should be vigilant in detecting the different warning signs above. Keep in mind that noticing these symptoms is only half of the cure. Remember always to contact professional plumbers to perform the right diagnoses and treatments on your home’s pipelines.
If you’re looking for licensed plumbers in Charlotte, NC, we have experienced professionals that can address all your pipeline concerns. Visit our blog today for more tips and tricks in maintaining robust and healthy plumbing systems!
