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<\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve started noticing signs of a cracked sewer pipe, you need to get it fixed sooner rather than later. While it is important to have a properly working sewer system, I say this more because there\u2019s no telling how long your sewer pipe has been damaged.<\/p>\n
Because by the time you start noticing the signs, it\u2019s likely your sewer pipe has been cracked for quite awhile now.<\/p>\n
As I\u2019ve talked about here on the blog before, unlike your fresh water lines that always have water in them, there is no water in your home\u2019s sewer lines unless you are running water somewhere in the house.<\/p>\n
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So when you flush the toilet, water and debris flush through your system out to the city line. You turn on the kitchen sink or run the washing machine and water drains down and out of your home\u2019s system.<\/p>\n
Because of this, water only leaks out of the crack when water is running through it. And depending on the severity of the crack, a very small amount could be leaking out every day which is what makes it so difficult to know right away that you have a crack.<\/p>\n
However, once the integrity of the pipe is compromised, it will most likely get worse which means more and more water will escape the pipe increasing the odds of greater damage not just to your sewer line but your home.<\/p>\n
And that is when you start to notice the signs of a possible crack in your sewer pipe.<\/p>\n
If water has been leaking out of a cracked line for long enough or the break is severe enough, you will start to notice some signs like:<\/p>\n
And because there\u2019s a crack in the line, backups can become a problem as well. Dirt can get into the line which can build up, and the leaking water attracts tree roots. The roots then eventually grow into the line causing a stoppage. So slow drains and recurring backups are other signs to look out for if you suspect a cracked sewer pipe.<\/p>\n
I wouldn\u2019t suggest replacing a sewer line yourself. First of all, it\u2019s unlikely you can even find the pipe with the crack much less get to it if you do.<\/p>\n
The sewer system in most homes in the Dallas area under a concrete slab. We do a series of tests to determine if it is a leak that you are dealing with (sewer leak test<\/a>), and where the leaks might be if you do have them (sewer leak isolation test<\/a>).<\/p>\n And even with the tests, we can\u2019t know 100% until we get under the actual slab either through punching a hole through it or tunneling to the cracked pipe.<\/p>\n As trained and licensed plumbers, we have the experience and the equipment to perform these tests and the necessary repairs and replacements. Also\u00a0tunneling<\/a>\u00a0is not a job for a layperson. It can be dangerous if you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n For the most part, sewer pipes are either PVC or cast iron. Cast iron was last used in DFW home construction around the mid-80s.<\/p>\n If you have PVC sewer pipes, we will most likely repair a cracked pipe. As I said before, this involves either tunneling to the damage or punching a hole through the slab to make the repair.<\/p>\n If, however, you have a cast iron system, we no longer make repairs on\u00a0cast iron sewer pipes<\/a>. In the last few years, we have discovered repairing cast iron is a waste of money for the homeowner.<\/p>\n Not to mention, because cast iron was designed to last for only 50 years maximum, every system we\u2019ve come across is in such bad shape, it is nearly impossible to repair. Because of this, we recommend replacing a cast iron system.<\/p>\n We are always researching, and when appropriate, testing new products and methods. If there\u2019s something that is going to be more cost-effective and less invasive for both us and our customers, it\u2019s in all of our best interests to do it.<\/p>\nPVC or Cast Iron?<\/h3>\n
What About Trenchless Sewer Pipe Repair?<\/h2>\n
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