Plumbing Express, Inc. is the system of pipes, fixtures and other components that conveys water and sewage throughout a building. Plumbers install and repair these systems to ensure they are functioning properly.
If you have a leaky pipe, try applying a push-fit coupling or a repair clamp to it. This will create a seal that stops the leak temporarily.
Many homeowners know that regular plumbing maintenance can help them avoid expensive water damage to their home. However, not everyone realizes that the same preventive steps can also help them avoid costly problems with their outdoor plumbing. Specifically, yearly sewer line inspections can often help them spot potential collapse before it becomes a major problem.
If you notice signs of a collapsed sewer line, it’s important to consult with an experienced plumber right away. This will help you save money on extensive repairs and protect your property from serious structural damage.
Some of the most common symptoms of a collapsed sewer line include frequent clogs or backups in your toilets, showers, and sinks. These problems are usually not localized to a single drain or fixture, so if you notice them in several places around your home, it’s likely that your sewer line has collapsed.
Another common sign of a collapsed sewer line is sewage puddles or pools in your yard. These puddles are caused by wastewater that can’t pass through your pipes and is left to pool in the area where the collapsed line was located. This puddle can be extremely hazardous to your health and the environment, so it’s important to call a professional plumber as soon as possible when you see one.
Other warning signs of a collapsed sewer line include strange noises coming from your drains or toilets. Bubbling drains or gurgling sounds can be a sign of a damaged pipe, as can a sudden increase in insects and rodents. These pests love to hide out in damp, stagnant areas like the ones created by a damaged sewer line.
A collapsed sewer line is most often the result of years of neglect. Traditional pipes made from materials like clay or cast iron can deteriorate over time due to normal wear and tear. They can also rust or corrode, especially if they’re exposed to harsh environmental conditions for long periods of time.
Additionally, soil can shift and settle over time. This can cause the ground to cave in and break or collapse the sewer lines that are below it. Fortunately, professional plumbers can often fix a collapsed sewer line by installing an underground support system. This method is called trenchless sewer repair and involves removing the old pipe and replacing it with a new, stronger one.
Clogged Sewer Lines
A clogged main sewer line is a serious issue. Most home drains converge on your main sewer line, so the entire plumbing system is affected when this line gets blocked. While a single slow-draining sink or toilet may indicate a small problem that you can tackle with at-home tools, you should call in a professional as soon as possible if you notice all of the drains in your house are backing up or draining slowly.
The most common cause of a main sewer line clog is foreign objects that make their way down the drains. To prevent this, have everyone in the household on the same page regarding what can and cannot be flushed down the toilets. This includes items such as paper towels, sanitary products and even children’s toys. Be sure to dispose of these items properly instead of throwing them in the garbage can.
Another cause of a clogged main sewer line is grease buildup. Grease is thick and sticky, so it can quickly line your pipes. To help prevent this, always run hot water after washing dishes and scraping food into the garbage bin. You can also install a water softener system to reduce the amount of minerals in your water, which can lead to clogs.
If your main sewer line becomes clogged, you’ll likely hear a gurgling sound when you flush the toilet or turn on the kitchen sink. This is because wastewater cannot get through the clog and backs up into the fixtures. A pro can use a special camera to inspect the clog and determine the best course of action.
Clogged sewer lines can be prevented with regular drain cleaning and a regularly scheduled maintenance inspection. This can catch problems like a broken pipe or misaligned joints before they become severe issues that require costly repairs or replacement.
Sewage Backups
A sewage backup is not only a huge mess and a major health hazard, but it can also cause serious damage to your home. It is essential to act quickly when you notice a sewage backup, and the first thing to do is to turn off your home’s water supply so that no more sewage can flow into your house. Then, evacuate the area and take precautions by wearing rubber gloves and washing your hands thoroughly after touching anything that has come into contact with raw sewage. It’s important to stay away from the contaminated area until it can be professionally cleaned, and you should also call your insurance company as soon as possible to find out what is covered under your policy.
Sewage backups can occur for a number of reasons, some of which you have no control over, such as heavy rains that overwhelm the sewer system or blockages from tree roots. However, there are some ways that you can reduce your risk of a sewage backup, such as having a plumber install a backwater valve. This device prevents sewage from backing up into your home by automatically lifting a flap when it senses that water is flowing backwards into the main sewer line.
If you have a blocked drain, it’s also crucial to act quickly and call a plumbing service to clear the blockage before the situation escalates. There are several different tools and methods a plumbing technician can use to unclog your drain, such as using a snake or hydro jetting. A plumbing professional can also use a drain camera inspection to see what is blocking your sewer lines and to look for other issues, such as cracks or holes in the line.
There are many causes of sewer line problems, including damage to pipes from tree roots, collapsing due to soil shifting, or clogs from debris that has been flushed down the drain. To help prevent future clogs, you can invest in a garbage disposal and be careful about what goes down your drains. For example, you should never flush sanitary products or wipes down the toilet, and it’s a good idea to have your plumbing professionals inspect your pipes periodically for wear and tear.
Pipe Replacement
Pipe replacement is a major repair that involves the complete removal of old pipes and installation of new ones. This process is a necessary measure when existing pipes are corroded or severely damaged beyond repair, and when piping needs to be upgraded to meet current building codes. However, like many plumbing tasks, it can be a time-consuming endeavor.
There are a number of elements that can impact the duration of a pipe replacement, including the type and location of the pipes, and how extensive the damage is. A professional plumber will use advanced tools to perform a thorough inspection of the pipes, pinpointing any that need replacing. This can involve a visual inspection, or a more in-depth video inspection that allows the plumber to view the condition of the pipes.
Once the pipes have been identified, the plumber can devise a strategy to remove the existing pipes and install the new ones. This may be a minimally invasive process if the pipes are in easily accessible locations, but it is often more involved if the pipes are located in walls, crawl spaces, or in concrete slabs. These situations typically require extra steps, such as wall cutting or concrete drilling, which can increase the overall timeline of a project.
The length of time it takes to replace pipes can also be impacted by the method chosen. Pipe relining is an alternative to traditional pipe replacement and can be completed more quickly, but it may not be appropriate for all cases. Pipe relining requires the insertion of a flexible tube coated in resin into the existing pipe, which will create a new pipe within the old one. This method is most effective on small sections of pipes that are in relatively good condition and that do not have significant damage or deterioration.
For large properties or buildings that require a full-scale pipe replacement, the process can take weeks to months, depending on the scope of the work and any unexpected complications that arise. However, experienced plumbers will be able to work efficiently and effectively, completing the task in a timely manner while ensuring that quality is maintained.