Sewer line repair is one of the biggest issues that commercial plumbers have to deal with. Sewer lines can be easily damaged in a variety of ways including age, crushing, and tree roots. The result of sewer line damage can be tremendous and very expensive to repair. Catching sewer line problems early is essential.
First, it is important to understand that there are two types of sewer systems; storm water systems, which carry away rain water and sanitary systems, which carry away waste water. When storm water systems leak or break they can cause flooding, water back up, and sink holes among other problems. When sanitary systems leak or break, they can cause waste water backing up or leaching into the ground among other problems.
Regardless of the type of sewer system you are dealing with it is essential to have commercial plumbers available to maintain, repair, and address problems. Ideally, scheduling regular inspections and maintenance can prevent major problems. However, many businesses and cities don?t realize there is a problem until it is too late and they are dealing with the consequences of a leak or collapse.
If a sewer is 40 years old or older, it needs to be inspected and possibly replaced. Before the 1980s, sewer pipes were made from clay, which breaks down with age. It can also be easily cracked, crushed, or infiltrated by tree roots. Even if the sewer pipes aren?t 40 years old, if they are clay pipes, they should be regularly inspected by commercial plumbers. Plumbing maintenance will be a lot cheaper than a major plumbing repair.
Pipes can get cracked or crushed when there is construction going on. Large construction vehicles are often heavy enough to break pipe buried in the ground. This is especially true if the pipe is already vulnerable due to age and material construction. Clay pipes can also be cracked or crushed as a result of ground resettling. Although this isn?t something that will happen overnight, it can happen over time.
The largest threat to sewer systems and the leading cause for plumbing repairs is tree roots. Tree roots have the ability to grow out two to three times the diameter of the tree?s canopy. Depending on the size of the tree that can be several yards beyond the tree in all directions. Unless your building is in the middle of a field, your sewer pipes are at risk from invading tree roots.
A tree root can cause pipes to leak, crack, and even collapse. A tree root can grow through a pipe causing back up, flooding, and dirt blocking the pipe. A plumbing repair company will have to dig up the damaged area of the pipe, remove the pipe and the tree roots and replace the missing pipe. However, unless the tree has been removed, the roots will continue to grow and continue to pose a threat to our sewer lines.
For property managers and owners, this can become a constant and frustrating problem. The best defense is to schedule regular inspections and maintenance with a commercial plumbing company. They can help to identify problem areas. They will be able to detect the early warning signs of a sewer line problem, and they will be able to advise you accordingly.
