Cracks in a sewer pipe and leaks coming out of it is not much fun. It’s gross, bothersome, and may stop you from stepping into your residential or commercial property at all. But fear not! A skilled plumber can handle this repair task and put your mind at ease!
Symptoms of Broken Sewer Pipe
1. Foul Odors
The smell of sewer gas is really bad. If you notice it wafting from drains or around your property, it’s a red flag and means the sewer pipe is broken.
2. Slow Drains
If drains in your property (sinks, toilets, bathtubs) take forever to empty, or worse, refuse to drain at all, a cracked sewer line might be restricting the flow.
3. Unusual Sounds
The toilet sounding like a bubbling cauldron after flushing means the air is trapped in the pipes because of a crack in the sewer line.
4. Sogginess
If you see wet spots, puddles and appearance of green patches in your yard that you can’t explain, sewage coming out of a cracked pipe is surely to blame.
5. Foundation Cracks
A damaged sewer pipe might be causing the soil to shift underneath your property, and as a result, you may see cracks in the foundation or walls.
6. Rodent or Insect Infestation
If you see a lot of rodents or insects, like cockroaches, around your property, these beings are often attracted to the waste and moisture from a cracked sewer line.
7. Sewage Backups
Another symptom is sewage backing up into your residential or commercial space, usually in the lowest drains, like basement sinks or toilets.
8. Mold Growth
Mold on walls, floors, or ceilings is telltale sign of a cracked sewer pipe that is introducing a lot of moisture for their growth.
9. Sinkholes
In extreme cases, the ground around a broken sewer pipe may collapse and create sinkholes in your yard.
How To Repair a Broken Sewage Pipe?
Repairing a broken sewer pipe yourself is risky. Not only can it be dangerous due to exposure to harmful bacteria and gases, but it can also result in further damage and costly repairs in case of failure.
Sewer pipe repair is a job best left to professionals. They have the expertise, equipment, and experience to safely and effectively diagnose and fix the problem.
Trenching
Trenching is an affordable fix to repair your broken sewer pipe. In this method, the plumber will dig up your old sewage line to repair or replace leaking sections. Next, they will run a camera through the line to be sure that connections are secured. Finally, the plumber will cover the pipe with dirt and then grass.
The downside of this method is your yard won’t look nice. Although the plumber will try its best to restore everything, you may need to spend a few dollars to get it back to its glory.
Trenchless Epoxy
If you don’t want to make a mess of your lawn, trench-less epoxy is your best bet. The plumber detects and digs a hole to access the damaged pipe and then does these steps:
- Cut a measured cloth pipe liner and fill it with mixed epoxy resin.
- Push the liner into the sewer pipe with a machine.
- Cure the epoxy with hot water (1-2 hours), and then pull out the liner.
- Check with a camera to be absolutely sure all holes are totally sealed.
- Cover the access hole.
Trenchless Pipe Burst
This method is used on those sewer pipes that can’t be saved. Your plumber digs a hole and runs a particular drill tip, followed by the new swerve pipe through the old one. The damaged sewer line breaks apart from the inside out, and the new one takes its place.
Note: The pieces left of the old sewer line won’t interfere with the newly installed pipe.
How Long Does It Take To Fix a Cracked Sewer Pipe?
- Trenching: A minor crack in a shallow pipe (less than 3 feet deep) might take 1 to 2 days. For deeper pipes (up to 6 feet deep), the process might take 3 to 5 days. If the pipe is very deep, runs under a structure, or the soil conditions are difficult, it could take a week or more.
- Trenchless Epoxy: Inserting and curing the epoxy-coated liner generally takes a few hours; hardening it takes a full day.
- Trenchless Pipe Burst: It is finished within a day or two. This method is generally faster and less messy than trenching, especially for longer pipe sections.
Conclusion
Repairing a sewer line might not be the most glamorous of projects, but yeah, it needs to be done. Whether it’s trenchless, epoxy relining, or trenching—you can avoid costly damage and disruption down the road. Remember, a small investment in repair now can save you from a bigger hassle afterward. So, keep an eye out for warning signs, and don’t hesitate to call a professional if you suspect a problem.