Most Common Causes Of Sewer Damages

Lets talk about the most common causes of sewer damages.

Sewer systems form complex networks with underground pipes. These systems carry wastewater and sewage from homes and businesses to different treatment plants. They play a major role behind public health and sanitation. However, there is a high possibility for the sewer systems to get clogged without proper maintenance. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most common causes behind sewer damages.

Tree Roots

Tree roots are one of the leading causes of sewer line breaks and blockages. Roots from trees and shrubs that grow near sewer lines can snake their way through small cracks and joints in the pipes. Over time, the roots grow larger, invading and crushing old clay or concrete sewer pipes. Tree roots love the moist, nutrient-rich environment inside sewers. 

As the roots proliferate, they can amass into large root balls that obstruct the wastewater flow. This leads to sewage backups and sewer overflows. Regularly trimming problem trees and using root killer chemicals can help prevent invasive root damage.

Ground Shifts and Settling

The soil surrounding underground sewer pipes naturally settles over time. Ground settling causes pipes to bend, sag, become misaligned, or pull apart at joints. If the ground underneath the sewer line erodes severely due to excessive rain or runoff, it can cause depressions and sinkholes that rupture pipes. 

Older sewers are especially vulnerable since they were often laid on unstable soil without proper bedding materials. Ground shifts put extreme stress on rigid pipes like clay and concrete sewers. Regular video inspections and repairs can detect settling damage before pipe failures occur.

Corrosion and Deterioration

Sewer systems endure highly corrosive conditions. Sewage and effluent gases slowly eat away at the insides of pipes, while groundwater and soils degrade the pipe exteriors. Concrete and clay pipes crack and spall over decades of use. Older metal pipes corrode and rust through. PVC, polyethylene and other plastic pipes become brittle and develop fractures as they age. 

Lack of maintenance and inspection allows this gradual deterioration to progress unseen until pipes finally fail. Regular internal video inspections help diagnose pipe corrosion and deterioration issues.

Contracting and Freezing Soils

Clay soils are common in many regions. When clay soil gets wet, it swells, putting outward pressure on pipes. In very dry conditions, clay soils shrink and contract. This cycle of shrinking and swelling strains and eventually cracks rigid sewer pipes. In cold climates, the soil around shallowly buried sewer lines can freeze during extreme cold spells. 

Expanding ice causes pipes to bend, split open, or pull apart at joints. When the frozen ground begins to thaw, it turns muddy and unstable, causing pipes to sag and fracture. Properly insulating vulnerable sewer pipes can help prevent freeze damage.

Construction Accidents

Sewer lines often get damaged during construction or excavation work. Backhoes and excavators can easily crack, or crush buried pipes. Workers may inadvertently drive heavy vehicles over unseen sewer lines next to the work site, causing pipe failures. Plumbers working on nearby water or sewer systems may accidentally break an existing line. 

Natural gas service technicians have been known to rupture sewer pipes while boring new gas line tunnels underground. Effective marking of sewer line locations prior to any digging work can help eliminate accidental construction damage.

Improper Installation Issues

Mistakes made when initially laying and joining new sewer pipe sections can come back to haunt homeowners years later. Pipes that are sloped too flat, laid in substandard trench backfill material or set on unstable soil foundations frequently settle, shift and leak over time. Misaligned or poorly fitted pipe joints allow tree roots to infiltrate. 

Undersized pipes restrict wastewater flow. Sections of flexible pipe that lack proper structural support sag over time. Careless construction methods often don’t manifest into major problems until decades after installation.

Make sure that you don’t neglect home maintenance. It will help you to ensure the proper functionality of your sewer system in the long run. 

Sewer repair services in Sunrise and other cities of Broward County.