Most Common Sewer Problems in Homes and Their Solutions

Gunjan thakurFebruary 5, 2024

Your home sewer system is a crucial component of your plumbing system, as it is responsible for bringing safe potable water to your home and carrying the waste contaminants far away from your house.

As a property owner, you need to maintain your home’s sewer device. You need to understand how their sewer system works and the foremost common causes of its problems, so it needs backup.

You need to take proper care of your septic tank to avoid significant problems in the future. Sewer problems can be caused by many factors, including damaged sewer pipes, blocked or clogged pipes, and many others.

Here, we will walk through all the common sewer line problems that you may be facing if you don’t take proper care of your septic tank, and we will provide the best solution that can help to fix the issues effectively.

6 common sewer problems

Sewer problems can come in many different ways. Taking proper care of your sewer tank is peremptory to maintaining your property and ensuring the smooth running flow of water. Below are some of the common problems that homeowners may face when it comes to sewage lines.

Blockage

The most common issue homeowners face is the blockage and clogs of sewer pipes. The sewer blockage happens when you flush so many items like paper, towels, wipes, soap scum, or other hygienic items to the drain, and you are unable to maintain it properly.

The blockage can occur unexpectedly, and many symptoms you may notice before it happens like water drains turning slow when water goes, there is a sound of gurgling and strange noises, or water tends to back up to the lower house drains.

If you experience any of the problems, you need to contact the plumbing services as soon as possible because these are the signs that your septic tank is full and needs to be emptied quickly.

Brust pipes

Brust pipes are another problem that homeowners face when they are dealing with sewer problems. This typically happens when your pipes freeze, unfreeze, or are not installed properly, so pipes can easily crack and explode.

This can cause wastewater to back up in the sewer lines or other areas, leading to a pressure buildup and potential cracking. The brust problems are correlated with other issues like septic system smells,  terrible cracked walls, odd sounds, pests, and many other things. The worst thing about sewer lines is that people experience all these problems simultaneously.

Sewer backup

This is another worst plumbing problem that can cause a lot of consequences if you don’t control it on time. This sewer backup is inconvenient for people and is costly to repair.

Sewer backup occurs when wastewater comes up to the toilets, sinks, or drains, and the water can no longer move freely through the home’s main sewer line due to clogs, damage, or obstruction.

If you are facing any of these problems, like smelling a foul odor from your toilets, sink, and drains, it is a sign that there is a beginning of sewer backup. The backed-up sewage poses many health risks and needs attention to solve the problem promptly.

Tree Root Intrusion

Root intrusion or invasion is the primary cause of drainage and sewer problems. Many scientists have also studied why sewer pipelines attract the roots. The reason is that when the trees grow, their roots can infiltrate the pipes, seeking the water and tiny nutrients that may cause the pipes to block.

The tree roots can cause sewer system cracking, misalignment, and even breakage to the pipes. In this case, you may consult the expert, remove the tree roots, repair the pipelines, and ensure the system works correctly.

Pipe Corrosion

Old or metal pipes become corrupted with time when these pipes interact with elements like water and oxygen, thus weakening the pipe’s surface. In extreme conditions, this can result in pipe damage.

Many reasons may cause the corrosion of metal pipes, such as hard water, high oxygen levels, acidic water, or chemical reactions. Once the pipes corrode, they weaken the sewage system and even cause leakage due to the weakened areas of the pipelines.

Damaged sewer lines

The damaged sewer line is one of the biggest problems you can have. This is due to many external factors like construction and root intrusion or internal factors like corrosion.

You may notice unexpected and unappealing smells if your sewer lines are damaged. This is the issue that something is going wrong with your septic system.

It is crucial to contact professionals immediately if you are exposed to fumes or smells because these smells are dangerous for your health.

Sewer problems solutions:

Here are some of the solutions that may help to prevent sewer problems:

Properly dispose of grease

The first solution is properly disposing of grease things in a heat-resistant container. Flushing the grease items in the toilets or sinks can cause blockage and sewer clogs or may result in an expensive repair.

Properly dispose of paper products

Properly dispose of paper products like paper towels, tissues, diapers, wipes, and feminine products, as these products don’t deteriorate quickly and cause trouble in the central sewer system. Place the paper waste in the proper paper recycling bins.

Avoid household chemicals

Although household chemicals are a practical option when there is a blockage in the drainage pipes, unfortunately, using these chemicals can corrode the pipes and eventually cause weak spots on the pipes that can break and crack the pipes with time.

Replace the old pipes with new ones

If you face sewer problems, you can replace the old pipes with the new plastic pipes. The PVC Plastic pipe is the best solution for the sewer system. Moreover, the plastic pipes will prevent tree roots from entering your line. The PVC pipes are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and have a longer lifespan.

Schedule septic tank inspections

It is a good idea to schedule the septic tank inspection. Having the planned septic tank inspection will help the system to stay in good condition for a long time, which ensures the safety of your and your family’s health.

The septic tank owner schedules the inspection every 3-5 years. But if you have a large garbage disposal, you should plan the inspections more frequently.

Conclusion

As a responsible homeowner, you must be aware of the signs that need to be essential to protect your property and for the smooth running of the plumbing system.

Some common sewer signs include blockage of the pipes, sewer backup, sewer-damaged lines, and even pipe corrosion. Here, we provide all the solutions if your sewer system is infected with any of these problems.

If you notice any symptoms, you may contact the sewer services provider for sewer inspection, cleaning, sewer replacement, or any other services you want. We provide affordable and reliable plumbing services on your doorstep.