Sewers and Drains

Clogged sewer lines are some of the most common, but most significant, challenges that homeowners suffer from.

Understanding Clogged Sewer Lines

Sewer lines, hidden beneath the ground, carry away all the wastewater generated from various activities in a building, including washing, flushing, and cooking. They connect to larger municipal sewer systems or septic tanks, ensuring that waste is processed, treated, and safely eliminated from the living environment.  Several factors can disrupt this flow, leading to clogs that impede or completely block a sewer line.

Common Causes of Clogs

1. Tree Roots: One of the most formidable adversaries of sewer lines is tree roots. Trees naturally seek water sources, and sewer lines offer a tempting supply. Tiny roots can infiltrate cracks or joints in pipes, eventually growing large enough to obstruct water flow or even cause significant damage.
2. Grease and Fat Buildup: Often underestimated, the accumulation of fats, oils, and grease from kitchen drains can solidify inside sewer lines, gradually reducing the pipe's diameter and eventually leading to a blockage.
3. Non-Flushable Items: Items that are not meant to be flushed, such as wipes, diapers, sanitary products, and even excessive toilet paper, can clog sewer lines. Unlike toilet paper, normal amounts of which is designed to disintegrate in water, these other items retain their shape and can create significant blockages.
4. Aging and Corrosion: Over time, pipes can corrode or deteriorate, leading to collapses or obstructions in the sewer line. Older homes with orangeburg, clay or cast-iron pipes are particularly susceptible to this type of clog.
5. Soil Settling: Drain pipes flow downhill by gravity, but if the soil under the pipes settles unevenly and section of the pipe can sink. This section might then be lower than the following section of piping resulting in an uphill direction of flow.  The resulting "belly" in the piping holds fluid and solids, preventing them from continuing the flow and causing a blockage.
6. Faulty Installation: Sadly, a poorly installed run of piping might work fine for years until a pipe separation suddenly causes a major problem.

ABLE's state-of-the-art equipment allows us to inspect your pipes with only having access through a normal clean-out access point.  We're more than happy to include you in the whole process so that you get the full picture of your sewer piping system.

We can even locate the path of the piping, the depth of the piping, and the location of any issues.  This allows us to provide guaranteed solutions with guaranteed pricing so that you understand your choices and have no worries about how much solutions will cost.  You make the best, fully informed choice for yourself and then we get it done!  No surprises, no hassles, just clean and complete solutions.

Click or Call now and we'll get an amazing inspection professional to your home when it's convenient for you.

Drain Lines: The Initial Pathway

Drain lines are the components of the plumbing system that are directly connected to various fixtures within a property, such as sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and showers. These pipes are responsible for carrying water and waste away from these fixtures and into the broader plumbing system. Each fixture has its own drain line, which then converges into larger pipes. The primary function of drain lines is to transport wastewater from the point of origin (the fixture) to the sewer line or septic system without direct exposure to the external environment.

Sewer Lines: The Main Conduit

Sewer lines, on the other hand, are the larger pipes that collect wastewater from the various drain lines of a building and transport it to municipal sewer systems or private septic tanks. Located underground, sewer lines serve as the main conduit for all the wastewater generated by a property, ensuring it is efficiently and safely removed from the premises. Sewer lines play a critical role in public sanitation and health by preventing the accumulation of wastewater, which could lead to contamination and disease.

Sewer leaks occur when wastewater escapes from the main sewer lines or lateral connections due to cracks, breaks, or joint failures. These issues can arise from various causes, including ground movement, root intrusion, aging infrastructure, or corrosion. Unlike leaks in water lines, sewer leaks release contaminated water, making early detection and resolution crucial. Warning signs may include unexplained odors, lush patches of grass, or the sound of running water under the property.

How Do I Identify If I Have a Sewer Leak?

Due to the complexity and potential hazards associated with sewer leaks, professional assessment and repair are highly recommended. Specialists in this field utilize advanced diagnostic tools, such as video inspection, to accurately locate and assess the severity of leaks. Professional plumbers can then provide effective solutions, ranging from trenchless sewer replacement to pipe section replacement to a spot repair, depending on the extent of the damage and the cause(s).

Several factors can contribute to the failure of sewer lines, including:

• Age and Condition of Material(s)- Older pipes made from clay, cast iron, or other materials susceptible to degradation over time can deteriorate over time, leading to failure(s).

• Tree Root Intrusion(s)- Tree roots seek moisture and can invade sewer lines, causing blockages or physical damage that compromises the pipe's integrity.

• Ground Movement- Earthquakes, soil settling, or heavy construction nearby can shift the ground, breaking or dislodging sewer pipes.

• Poor Maintenance- Lack of regular cleaning and inspection can lead to severe clogs or build-up, increasing the risk of pipe degradation, damage and even collapse under pressure.

Consequences of Sewer Line Failure:

• Environmental Contamination: Leakage of untreated wastewater into the soil and waterways can cause significant environmental damage and contaminate the water table.

• Health Risks: Exposure to sewage or consumption of contaminated water can pose serious health risks to humans and animals due to harmful bacteria and pathogens.

• Property Damage: Unaddressed sewer line failures can lead to water damage, foundation issues, and other structural problems in and around the property, costing much more than replacing the damaged or failed sewer line.

Trenchless sewer line replacement utilizes state-of-the-art technology to fix sewer lateral lines by eliminating the need for digging up long sections of property. The process generally involves the following steps:

1. Inspection: The first step is conducting a thorough camera inspection of the sewer line to identify the location and extent of the damage. This inspection provides precise diagnostics without any guesswork.
2. Access Points: Two access points are created at either end of the section being replaced. These points serve as entry and exit for the pipe and equipment, minimizing the disturbance to the surrounding landscape.
3. HDPE:  The replacement pipe is usually SDR-17 HDPE pipe that will be fused together, creating a more secure and smooth single length of pipe that will replace the existing pipe.  This method gives tree roots no room to find an entry point along the length of the pipe.
4. Pulling the Pipe:  The new pipe is then attached to a bursting head that will cut through and displace the existing pipe, pulling the new pipe through it to replace the old pipe.
5. Alternative: Lining is alternative to the pipe bursting method of trenchless pipe replacement.  It is a Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) lining- a flexible, resin-coated liner is inserted into the damaged pipe. Once in position, the liner is inflated to press against the pipe walls.   The resin is then cured, often using heat or UV light, forming a solid, durable new pipe within the old one. This new pipe is highly resistant to leaks, cracks, tree root intrusion, and other common pipe failures.
6. Testing:  Once the replacement is finished, the new sewer line will be tested for flow to make sure that the fixtures of the property will now efficiently remove wastewater to the adjoining City Sewer System or Septic System.
7. Final Inspection: A final camera inspection is conducted to ensure the repair has been successfully completed, with the new pipe fully functional and securely in place.  In a lot of cases, especially when connecting directly to the City Sewer Main, there will also be a local inspector from the City to finalize the inspection process to ensure all work was completed to standard safety codes.

When it comes to sewer line replacement or repair, traditional excavating involves a lot of physical labor and more time than a replacement system like trenchless.  But sometimes it is what is necessary if the situation makes sense.  This method has been the standard for thousands of years, known for its straightforward approach to accessing and replacing sewer pipes.

• Advantages:
• Accessibility: Trenching provides direct access to the sewer line, making it easier to identify and address issues.
• Cost: Initial costs can be lower than trenchless methods, primarily if the site is easily accessible and does not require extensive landscape restoration nor having to excavate in the City Street system.

• Considerations:
• Disruption: The process can be highly invasive to the landscaping, driveways, and other surface structures.
• Time and Labor: Trenching projects can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, often requiring more than a day to complete.
• Restoration Costs: The cost of restoring the excavated area can be substantial if it was previously a manicured landscaping.

• Expert Diagnosis:  RootX is a great option in some situations, but not in others.  As with all chemicals, it's important to fully understand the chemical and the entire situation to determine when it's the right solution - that's what ABLE's vast experience provides for you.

• Safety: Properly handled and applied, RootX is safe for your family and your home and the environment.  ABLE takes care to follow all the necessary safety protocols to provide protection that you can trust.

• Comprehensive Solutions: As noted, RootX is one of many tools that Able Technicians can draw upon to keep your drains flowing.  The best plumber, with the best plumbing tools is a great combination - having them served to you by really nice people who care is the ABLE way that we make lives better every day.