All of the drains and wastewater pipes throughout your home converge into your sewer line, which routes all wastewater and solid waste away from the building. If your sewer line ever develops a leak, clog, or offset section, it could leach pathogenic waste into your yard or send wastewater rushing back into your home. Thus, one very important part of keeping your household safe is making sure that your sewer line is in good working order.
Sewer Line Encroachment
Residential sewer lines are often buried just 18 to 30 inches deep. Although this puts them relatively close to surface soils, they’re deep enough for tree root encroachment. If you have trees in your yard, they should be at least 10 to 15 feet away from your sewer line. Aggressive tree roots that are too near these structures constantly seek entrance to access the water and nutrient-dense materials they contain.
When tree roots or other underground root systems gain purchase, they can cause major obstructions inside sewer lines. These growths can prevent wastewater and solid waste from traveling to the municipal sewer main.
Heavy, Hard Water Minerals
Hard water has high concentrations of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. If you have hard water in your home, you likely have heavy, hard water deposits throughout all your plumbing system’s pipes. These build-ups can weigh down your water supply lines and wastewater pipes. They can also cause corrosion and accelerate wear within your sewer line.
One easy way to prevent sediment-related pipe damage is by scheduling regular drain and sewer line cleaning. Treatments like hydro jetting can slough off hard water buildup and flush it toward the sewer main. Hydro jetting is also powerful enough to break up invasive root systems.
Flushable Wipes and Other Non-Flushable Items
It’s important to avoid putting any slow-degrading items into your plumbing system. For instance, although “flushable” wipes are marketed as being safe for toilets, these products can take months to break down following submersion. Although largely comprised of wood pulp, “flushable” wipes are reinforced with durable polymers.
Once in plumbing systems, these wipes tend to absorb grease and other fats. This makes them sticky and tacky and causes them to adhere to one another. Over time, grease-laden wipes can create hard and fairly large obstructions that block the movement of waste and wastewater and set the stage for whole-house backups. To avoid problems like these, flush nothing but human waste and toilet paper.
Cracked and Offset Sewer Pipes
With 30 inches of soil coverage or less, your sewer pipe is also vulnerable to pressure-related damage. Setting heavy equipment up on top of your sewer line could crush this pipe or offset its sections. Cracked, crushed, and offset sewer pipes deposit raw sewage in yards. Not only is this effluence stinky, but it’s also rife with illness-causing pathogens. If you rent a stump grinder, wood chipper, or other heavy equipment, set it up at least 5 to 10 feet away from your underground sewer pipe.
For more information on maintaining safe and high-functioning sewer lines in Laurel, MD, or to schedule sewer line service, get in touch with our team at All Clear Plumbing & Drain today.
