The Dangerous Consequences
of Untreated Sewer Line Problem
- The only thing worse than a bad sewer is a bad decision to delay the problem. Sewer problems are no joke. All plumbing fixtures, drains and pipes are connected to the sewer, so we can easily see eye to eye that this system is the most important piece of plumbing in your home and necessary sewer repairs should not, under any circumstances, be put to the last minute.
- Before learning the dangerous consequences of an untreated sewer line problem, let us walk you through some signs of a bad sewer that will help you understand more later.
Signs of a Bad Sewer Line: The obvious, the not so obvious and the unexpected
- The obvious (Clogged drain/slow drain and water discolouration)
- There are many reasons why your drains are giving you a taste of bad luck. Many of which are too obvious to go under the radar like the overflowing sink, toilets backing up, and bathroom not draining at all. Common culprits of these problems are tree roots that have found their way to the sewer pipe through leaks and gaps, or huge clogs caused by buildups. If the problem appears only in a single fixture, most likely the problem is just within the local pipe where the fixture is connected. However, where multiple drains are just refusing to let the wastewater clear away, a problem down the line is likely causing it. Whilst, some clogs are manageable with just a plunger, most of the time it requires an expert’s hands.
- The not so obvious (Sewer smell)
- Some sewer problems come into light before any visual signs like a whiff of a rotten egg coming from the drains. Rotten eggs are nature’s stink bombs – just one whiff should be enough to get someone into action, but unfortunately, it’s not always the case. When clogs are large enough to thwart water from getting through, the result is always a dried out drain. Dried out drain pipes lose their moisture to absorb smells caused by waste; hence offensive smell enters your homes. If the vent in your home has a crack, sewer smell can also pass through it. Vents are designed to route sewer smell directly out to the roof, while drain traps block sewer smell from entering the sink drain. Vents and drains usually work together to provide healthy plumbing, but clogs can get in the way.
- The unexpected (Rattling noise and Water discolouration)
- Did you just out of the blue hear sounds coming from your pipes or notice an unusual colour on the water? Unpleasant smells and clogged drains are hints that are easy to tell, but rattling sounds from drains, toilet flushes, and pipes are also early warning signs of a bad sewer that you need to look out for. Noisy pipes imply a leak, which often is caused by loose-fitting, a restricted vent pipe or high water pressure. Under good conditions, it is natural for pipings to make some noise at times, but if it also shakes and rattles you have a problem at hand.
- Water discolouration is also another sign that usually happens out of nowhere. High levels of rust in the water make the colour turn to red, yellow or orange over time. The colour of the water will give you a hunch about the oxidation level of rust or minerals in the water. If the colour only appears when using cold water, there is likely a chance that the rust came from the local pipings or the mains, and it will resolve itself. But if the colour continues for a long time, it is time for you to call the drain pipe relining of sewer pipe relining experts as is usually the case of pipe corrosion.
The Dangerous Consequences of Untreated Sewer Line Problem
Flaking paint – Paint flaking happens when paint loses its ability to stick to the surface of the walls or ceilings in your home. Leakings on the pipe behind the walls are one of the causes of flaking paints. The water seeping through the surface increases moisture and humidity on the walls and ceilings until paints flake and comes off.
- The bad news about undetected leaks is they typically become so obvious when they have already caused a considerable amount of damage. Waiting to fix a leak when they become worse also gives mould an opportunity to develop. Mould thrives in a warm and moist area and is particularly attracted to porous materials like drywall, wood and carpet. If the mould gets out of hand, it can create more property damage. To prevent this, regularly check your plumbings for leaks.
Sinkhole in the yard – When it rains, it pours, and when it happens, it is not a surprise to see standing water around your house. But standing water even when it didn’t rain recently is another story. Standing water is another sign of a sewer leak. It is not only unhealthy, but it also comes with danger in your yard. By default, the ground is hard and stands against different ground conditions. However, when standing water is left unrepaired, the surface will weaken, become unstable and can sink several meters into the ground. Sinkholes can be very tricky as the ground can stay intact for quite some time until the ground loses enough support and all of a sudden collapse, resulting in sinkholes.
- Whether a small sinkhole has created a minimal or severe structural damage it requires a significant amount of work to repair and can add up to the cost of fixing the leaks.
Health risk – Strange as it may seem but when you start seeing roaches and other insects in your property, you are at risk for having a broken sewer line. Broken sewer lines cause water to escape from the leak and provide a perfect spot for swarm insects to reproduce. Roaches, sewer flies, palmetto bugs have natural skills to squeeze through the tiniest sewer cracks. If you start noticing them around, take immediate steps to contact the sewer relining contractors right away. Water from sewer leaks in your yard can easily become a hotbed of these insect-carrying diseases and can raise health concerns. Sewer leaks can be relined to restore the pipe’s structural integrity and eliminate these insects before it can cause health issues in your home and the people around you.
Skyrocketing water bill – In most cases, it takes a very serious leak before it can make an impact on the water bill. However, an undetected leak and a continuously running toilet can take account for an immediate increase in your water bill. A good practice to prevent coming face to face with this problem is to have regular plumbing check-ups. Alternatively, you can also regularly monitor your water meter for unusual fluctuation. If you’re better off not wasting a good amount of money, report this issue with a plumber right away and get them to fix the problem once and for all. An undetected leak not only causes severe water damage but as well as property damage.
Sewer Pipe Relining: Permanent and Long-lasting Sewer Solution
In summary, the decision to avoid being impacted by the consequences of an untreated sewer line problem is all in your hands. You can choose to hire a plumber every time early warnings come to light, or you can decide to take steps right away by hiring a sewer expert like the Sewer Pipe Relining in Sydney professionals to fix the problem once and for all. Keep in mind, not all plumbers specialised in drains and sewer. Only common problems are fixed by common plumbers.
If you’re better off paying for sewer relining costs to make your plumbing work in the best condition at all times, go for the experts. Sewer pipe relining professional’s service guarantees a permanent and long-lasting solution for all types of sewer problems.