Did you know that the two most important aspects of your plumbing system are the main water line and the main sewer line? The main water line provides a constant supply of water from either the city, county, or a private well. The main sewer line exits the home and carries waste to a sanitary sewer or septic tank system. Chances are unless you’ve had a plumbing problem or emergency, you’ve probably never given much thought to these critical parts of your plumbing system.
Water line leaks can result in low water pressure, water quality concerns, increased water bills, and damage to your home and the surrounding property. When a leak is located in the sewer line, the problem can affect the system’s ability to remove wastewater from your home. Backed up sewer lines are not only smelly and messy, but they can be a very inconvenient and costly sewer line repair.
Signs and Symptoms Indicating Water and Sewer Line Problems
Over time, things happen to your sewer pipe that can lead to poor drainage issues among many other plumbing-related problems. Fortunately, there are signs you can look for to spot problems lurking in your Residential sewer systems. Be aware of the following…
Soggy, foul-smelling patches in the lawn—Sewer lines run underneath your yard to the street or to another location where they connect to a main line. These spots signify waste water is leaking from the pipe and coming up to the surface.
Age of plumbing system—Even if your home is brand new, if it has old plumbing (rule of thumb is 40 years plus) it’s likely the plumbing lines are deteriorated, damaged or clogged. Mature sewer lines are highly susceptible to leaking due to corroded parts, or even worse, unexpected bursting.
Number and location of trees on the property—If you have trees on your property in close proximity to plumbing pipes, roots can curve their way in through cracks and joints in the pipe. This can cause the pipe to collapse, or develop a low spot, commonly referred to as a “belly”. Tree root intrusion is a serious problem if it goes on long enough before detected.
Slow drainage and clogs—Anywhere from the kitchen to the shower drain, poor drainage is a clear indicator of a backup somewhere in the sewer line. This means the sewer line is not properly or completely removing waste water from your home.
Even if you don’t notice any of these warning signs, don’t assume you’re safe from water and sewer line problems. Lines naturally collect waste and other substances, and eventually the amount of accumulation affects water flow. Proper drain maintenance is vital to ensuring your sewer line keeps everything flowing smoothly.
Trust the Plumbing Experts for Effective Solutions
White Glove Plumbing—Heating & Air uses advanced location and diagnostic tools to help you make an informed decision on water and sewer line repair. Our wireless, color DrainVision video inspection system, allows us to accurately assess, locate, and identify problems beyond reach, deep beneath the ground. Our drain clearing solution, BioSmart®, uses natural, safe bacteria to break down the gunk inside waste lines, and RootX, a patented formula that foams on contact, directly targets and kills roots in the sewer line.
To learn more about drain maintenance services or to schedule a water and sewer line repair or inspection, contact White Glove Plumbing—Heating & Air today at (804) 478-0543.
We’re proud to serve all of Chesterfield, Powhatan, Goochland, Hanover, and Henrico County, including Midlothian, Chester, Richmond, Mechanicsville, Glen Allen, Short Pump, and Mosley.
