No homeowner wants to face the fact that their sewer lines may be failing. It can be expensive to fix and inconvenient to go through. Yet ignoring the problem can prove to be disastrous, not to mention costly. From frequent clogging to foul odors, check out the top signs of failing sewer lines. If you’re still unsure, call a trusted sewer line replacement contractor in Sacramento to come out and inspect the situation.
1. Slow Drains
Slow drainage may seem harmless at first but it can actually be quite a serious sign that your sewer line could be failing. True, some minor clogs can be removed but DIY efforts don’t always work – especially when there is a major underlying cause for the blockage. If you can’t get the drain cleared on your own, call a sewer line expert to troubleshoot the situation. They may be able to perform a sewer camera inspection to determine exactly where the problem is and what can be done about it.
2. Foul Odors
If you’re like most homeowners, you don’t give much thought to your sewer lines. But if you keep detecting a foul sewage odor outside or inside your home, your sewer line could be to blame.
3. Mold Growth
Mold growth can happen anywhere in your home. In fact, it can grow anywhere there is excess moisture. So if a drain pipe has broken, mold can develop. That’s because the broken or leaking pipe allows moisture to get behind the walls, leading to the hidden proliferation of mold that you can’t see. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not there, and it could end up costing you thousands of dollars to fix the issue.
4. Backups and Blockages
If you have been experiencing repeated backups and blockages in your showers, toilets, or bathtubs, they could be due to blockages or breaks in the main sewer line. Oftentimes, sewer line issues impact the drain openings in a home. The extent of the damage will depend on the nature of the blockage. If you’re only having problems with one drain, the problem is likely confined to just that one fixture. However, if all drains in the home are blocked, the sewer line is the culprit, which makes the situation more serious.
5. Gurgling Toilets
Is your toilet making strange noises with every flush? If you’re hearing gurgling noises, you may have a broken sewer line. The strange noises occur when air gets trapped and then gets released. If your sewer is full of water, you will hear this noise.
6. Yard Waste
Even homes that aren’t connected to a city’s sewer system still have sewer lines, and those lines lead to septic tanks buried in the yard. When waste accumulates in your yard, you have a serious problem on your hands that likely involves a cracked sewer line, clogged leach field, or a full septic tank.
7. Green, Lush Grass
It’s ever homeowner’s goal to have a beautiful, lush, green yard. However, if you’re only seeing this in the area on top of your septic tank, you may have a broken sewer line or full tank. The lush appearance is a result of waste in the ground that is acting as an underground fertilizer, causing accelerated growth of that patch of grass.
8. Cracks in the Foundation
Another sign of a broken sewer or drain line is when you see cracks in your foundation. Foundation cracks and sinkholes in your yard often occur when sewer or drain line leaks go undetected for long periods of time.
9. Sinking Driveways and Pavers
If your patio, walkway, or driveway pavers are starting to sink and settle, sewer line problems could be causing this. You may notice an area of sinking pavers appearing lower than the rest. Don’t ignore the problem because they’ll just keep sinking into the sewage-saturated ground.
10. Pest Infestation
If you’re spotting rats, mice, or other rodents in your home, they could be getting in through broken sewer pipes. In the same vein, if you’re seeing insects such as sewer flies, cockroaches, and palmetto bugs, they may be entering the home through cracked pipes. Get your sewer lines inspected if you are noticing a large infestation of these bugs and they won’t go away no matter what you do.
11. Large Trees
Many sewer line breakages are caused by tree roots, which can strangle the pipes below ground. You’d be amazed at how extensive a tree’s root structure is, sometimes reaching hundreds of feet underground. When this happens, especially with very old and large trees, tree roots can crush your sewer pipes.
Get a Free Quote on Sewer Line Replacement and Repair
If you are experiencing any of the above signs of a failing sewer line, reach out to our experienced and trusted team for sewer line replacement or repair in Sacramento. Get your free quote and consultation today when you contact us at (916) 690-5858 or complete our online form.
