The sewer line in your home is a crucial part of your plumbing system and must be maintained for it to function correctly. Many homeowners overlook their sewer lateral because they don’t know much about it and don’t know how to tell if there are problems. Even home inspectors sometimes overlook a sewer lateral because it’s underground. Worse, the majority of inspectors don’t have the correct, specialized equipment to do a proper sewer inspection. Professional certified plumbers use specialized waterproof video camera snakes that are pushed through sewer lateral piping, to conduct visual inspections.
Avoid Untimely Replacement
If you want to ensure the lifespan of your sewer line, then inspections are the key. Regular inspections, along with maintenance, can help to avoid an untimely sewer line replacement, avoiding severe damage by catching small issues before they become big ones. Blockage, grease build-up and tree roots can shorten the lifespan of your sewer line if left unchecked.
The Property is Older
Many older homes still have early 1900s clay pipes that have outlived their “useful life” and are more likely collapse, crack or have allowed tree roots to enter the pipe and cause a blockage.
The Distance Between the House and the Street Could be an Issue
Regardless of the type of pipe installed, if the distance from the house to the street lateral connection is significant, there is a strong possibility that settlement of the soil has happened over the years. Settlement of soil can cause pipes to settle unevenly, which causes the pipes to drop lower in sections or become offset.
Be Proactive and Identify Potential Problems
Sewer inspections may also be conducted proactively, as part of a regular maintenance cycle for wastewater infrastructure. Having your sewer inspected regularly helps you to catch potential problems early on. That way, you can get them fixed before they get worse and require more extensive and expensive repairs.
Don’t Wait Till There’s an Emergency
Sewer damage isn’t just expensive, it can also cause severe problems inside your home. If there’s an issue with your sewer line, you’re likely going to have to deal with issues like flooding and water leaks. If this happens in your home, you’re going to have to spend more money repairing and replacing belongings that are damaged by the water — not to mention the smell.
Get Evidence of the Problem for Your Insurance
Sewer inspections provide video evidence of the problem with your sewer line, helps you to get a better idea of what’s happening, and can be valuable when it comes to working with your insurance company.
