For the average household, plumbers recommend scheduling sewer line inspection and maintenance services every 18 to 22 months. During these appointments, plumbers check sewer lines for cracks, blockages, tree root intrusion, and more. With hydro-jetting, hydro-steaming, or rooter machines, they also clean sewer lines from end to end. These services extend the lifespans of sewer pipes. They also protect home values. Read on to find out how.
Stave Off Whole-House Backups
Every drain in your home connects to your sewer line. All outgoing waste flows through your sewer line to the municipal sewer system. When sewer lines have heavy buildups or blockages, outgoing waste has nowhere to go but back indoors. Known as a whole-house backup, this raw sewage can come up through all drains and plumbing-connected appliances.
By some estimates, whole-house backups can decrease home values by as much as 20%. These events set the stage for widespread mold infestation. They undermine the integrity of building foundations, contaminate soil, and cause significant water damage. Backups can destroy:
- Flooring and sub-floors
- Drywall
- Baseboards
- Plumbing-connected appliances
Whole-house backups also make homes less marketable and more difficult to sell.
Protect Your Foundation
Part of your sewer line travels beneath your home’s concrete slab. If this portion of your sewer pipe has cracks, offset sections, or obstructions, your foundation can suffer. Foundations with cracked sewer pipes can develop cracks of their own. White, powdery coatings on slabs, wet crawlspaces, and rising indoor humidity are several common signs of slab leaks.
Unchecked slab leaks can affect homes from their foundations to their roofs. Leaking water creates soil shifting and soil voids that cause settlement cracks in drywall, warped flooring, and loose or torn roof flashing.
Prevent Mold Infestation
Slab leaks and whole-house backups can lead to mold formation within just 24 to 48 hours. Mold diminishes indoor air quality (IAQ), damages wood elements, and breaks down concrete masonry. If left unchecked, mold infestation could render a home uninhabitable.
Catch Minor Problems Early On
Regular sewer line maintenance allows plumbers to catch and correct developing issues before they escalate. Plumbers can identify tree or weed root intrusion before these growths block sewer lines completely. They can address offset or cracked sewer pipes before these issues cause soil and groundwater contamination, foundation damage, and more. Early detection and intervention limit repair costs and value losses.
Avoid Landscaping Damage
Cracked sewer lines create soggy, unusable terrain. With soil and groundwater contamination, they destroy edible gardens and other landscaping elements. A leaky sewer line might make your lawn appear especially verdant and healthy. But high concentrations of salt and nitrates will eventually lead to growth issues. Unchecked sewer line leaks can also cause significant soil erosion and adverse changes in property grading.
Sewer line maintenance is key to maintaining healthy, hygienic homes and preserving property values. For expert sewer services in Morehead City, NC, contact Coastal Home Services.
