Sewer Line Replacement in Peru, IN

Much like electricity, hot water, and central heat and cooling, homeowners take their sewer line for granted. It works silently 24/7/365 to carry wastewater away from your home and dispose of it safely. But sewer lines are not eternal nor impervious to forces that may cause them to crack and leak.

What Sewer Lines Do

The domestic plumbing system has two essential functions. First, it must bring clean water into the home and distribute it. Second, it must carry all wastewater safely away from the home. The sewer line is the key to carrying off that wastewater.

In areas served by public sewers, wastewater drains into the public system via the sewer line. In other areas, the sewer line leads to a septic tank. Four to six inches in diameter sewer lines are installed such that gravity carries the wastewater away.

Causes of Broken Sewer Lines

• Pipe material failure. No piping material lasts forever.
• Tree root invasion. Sitting water naturally attracts roots, which enter through seams and cracks. 
• Pipe corrosion. Iron pipes eventually rust and disintegrate.
• Earth Movement around the pipe. Earth stabilizes and supports the sewer line. Sinking or moving earth places stresses on the line, causing it to crack.

Long-Lasting but not Eternal

Sewer lines theoretically have a long life. But that long life expires eventually, and several threats may cut its life short. Common materials may last:

• Cast-Iron Pipes: 75-100 years
• Clay Pipes: 100 years
• Cement Pipes: 100 years
• Orangeburg Pipes: 50 years
• PVC Pipes: 100 years

Homeowners suspecting sewer line problems in Peru, IN, turn to Summers Plumbing.

Symptoms of Sewer Line Failure

• A broken sewer line fails to carry wastewater to its destination, allowing it to flow into the soil. Indicators of a broken sewer line include:
• Foul odors and strange sounds. A noxious smell in the yard may emanate from a broken sewer line. 
• Odors are especially noticeable in warmer climates where lines are usually closer to the surface.
• Several slow drains throughout the home. Most drain clogs occur in a single fixture like a sink, toilet, or shower. But when multiple fixtures simultaneously have difficulty draining, the problem could be the sewer line. Monitor how quickly dishwashers and washing machines are draining.
• Depressions or sinkholes in the driveway or yard. These conditions suggest that excess water is present beneath the surface. A broken sewer line may flood a portion of the yard or cause spongy ground.
• Isolated lush green grass. This suggests that excess nutrients and water are present, which may have their source in a broken line.
• Interior Water Damage. Mold, mildew, discoloration, accompanied by off-odors and a damp feel, suggest the possibility of a sewer line problem.
• Extreme Temperatures. Uncharacteristic cold may cause the ground to heave, placing stress on the line that causes cracks. Icy blockages may also split the line.

Sewer Lines Are Usually the Responsibility of Homeowners

Local governments consider the sewer line to be part of the private plumbing system. This means homeowners are responsible for repair and maintenance. Homeowner insurance typically does not cover sewer line replacement unless another party causes the damage, or it was caused by a covered catastrophic event.

The Sewer Line Replacement Process

Summers Plumbing will dispatch a technician to your home with a video camera to view the sewer line interior. If that inspection reveals a sewer line break, the repair is accomplished using one of these methods.

Pipe Lining 

This is “trenchless” line repair, meaning no excavation is required. A modest crack or break requires treatment of only a section of the line. Your Summers technician will carefully insert an inflatable, epoxy-covered tube into the existing line. After inflation, the epoxy hardens, preventing future leaks.

Pipe Bursting

Pipe bursting is also a trenchless technique, but it requires a new pipe and is more complex, time-consuming, and expensive. The technician uses a tool to shatter the defective pipe, replacing it with a new section.

Traditional Excavation and Pipe Replacement

There are situations in which the damage requires traditional excavation to expose and replace the defective portion of the line.

Professional Sewer Line Replacement

If you need sewer line replacement service, Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling is proud to serve the Peru, IN area. We know that prompt and cost-effective plumbing service is important to you. Our friendly, professional technicians have seen it all, and have the experience and equipment to get the job done.

Schedule service online or call us today at 765.473.5435 to get the service you deserve at a reasonable price.