Fast Facts & FAQ: What To Know About Your Home’s Main Sewer Line
No matter when your house was built, home improvement is an ongoing process to make a house feel and function like a home. Maybe you’re considering a fresh coat of paint for your kitchen or perhaps adding carpet to your basement. But when’s the last time you thought about how your home’s main sewer line fits into the mix?
Sure, sewer line maintenance isn’t as glamorous as some of the other aesthetic updates on your to-do list. Out of sight and often out of mind, we get it if your home’s sewer system isn’t part of your vision for your home. Still, knowing how you can keep your home’s plumbing running is essential for your family’s comfort and health. Understanding the inner workings of your home can be overwhelming, so we’ve narrowed it down to the top four must-know facts to study up on your home’s sewer line. No, there won’t be a quiz later, but taking the time to learn the needs of your home’s sewer system may save you significant time and money down the line.
1. Your Home’s Main Sewer Line Runs From Your House To The Street
While individual pipes in your home carry wastewater from fixtures like sinks, toilets and tubs, ultimately when you flush a toilet or run water in your home, it all has the same end destination: your home’s main sewer line. Carrying wastewater from your house to the street, where the municipal sewer main begins, your sewer line plays a major role in your home’s plumbing system. And as a homeowner, you play an important role in maintaining this critical component to ensure uninterrupted plumbing for your home.
What Is A Sewer Line?
Also known as a sewer lateral, your home’s main sewer line is the portion of your sewer system connecting your home plumbing to the public sewer system. Every drain and pipe in your home flows through to the sewer lateral in your yard, running beneath your home and redirecting all wastewater to the municipal sewer main. The sewer main then carries wastewater to your local treatment plant to remove waste, restore water quality and recirculate clean water safely.
How Deep Are Sewer Lines?
To avoid freezing, sewer lines are typically buried between four and eight feet underground depending on frost conditions in the area. Local code also dictates how far sewer lines must be buried beneath residential properties for safety and functional concerns, so depths vary depending on a variety of factors. Because home sewer lines run from house to street, they’re difficult to disturb without also disrupting landscaping, driveways and even sidewalks. This is good news for homeowners when your sewer system is running smoothly because it’s easy for your sewer line to remain out of sight and out of mind.
However, if sewer line repair is required to resolve issues that arise, you can imagine the mess and literal money pit digging up the sewer line would create. Thankfully, no-dig repair solutions are available so long as you catch the issue early enough. But more on that later! First, discover what your responsibility is as a homeowner when your sewer system is on the fritz.
Who Is Responsible For Sewer Line Repair?
Since sewer laterals are primarily located on residential properties, homeowners are responsible for sewer line repair and maintenance for the length of the sewer line that extends from their house to the street. This includes sewer blockages or issues located under public property like the sidewalk or street. Anything up to where the lateral meets the municipal sewer main is your obligation.
When Is The City Responsible For Sewer Lines?
Public sewer line issues like a sewer main break are the city’s responsibility to repair, and the city is also responsible for maintaining all public wastewater infrastructure. If the municipal sewer system exceeds capacity or faces damage that causes wastewater to back up into your home, the city is responsible for resolving the issue. However, sewer blockages and backups are most often the result of issues in the sewer lateral, so problems like standing water, sewer odors and gurgling sounds at home are likely on you to get fixed.
2. Aging Pipes & Sewer Line Issues Wreak Havoc On Your Home’s Plumbing
Most homeowners don’t stop to think about their home’s main sewer line until an issue arises. And by the time you do notice a problem, it’s likely already progressed past the point of no return. Those living in an older home may already have years’ worth of gunk and debris blocking flow to contend with. Even if you live in a relatively newer home, problems like improper flushing habits or pesky tree roots can put your sewer line at risk all the same.
What Are Common Issues In Sewer Lines?
Sewer lines are susceptible to a whole host of issues, depending on factors like their age, pipe material, how well they’re maintained and environmental conditions. If your home displays warning signs like sewer odors permeating throughout, gurgling noises in your drains, standing water in showers or tubs and backups in multiple drains, your sewer line is likely to blame. The most common culprits causing sewer line issues include:
An important consideration to determine the severity of your sewer system issues is how widespread they are. If you’re only experiencing problems with one drain or plumbing fixture, like a slow shower or clogged toilet, the issue is likely localized to that specific pipe. When you notice impacts across all of your home’s plumbing, that’s when you know there’s a larger issue in your home’s sewer lateral.
Does Home Insurance Cover Sewer Line Issues?
Basic home insurance policies don’t typically cover damage caused by sewer line issues. However, your provider may allow you to purchase an add-on or endorsement like service line coverage or water backup coverage to protect your home and yard in the event of sewer damage. Be sure to know what’s covered on your home insurance policy and prioritize sewer line maintenance like routine inspections and cleaning to help promote longevity and limit potential liabilities to your home.
How Long Do Sewer Lines Last?
Sewer lines typically last up to 60 years if they’re well-maintained, but durability largely depends on the pipe material and environmental conditions. Homes built before 1972 often used Orangeburg pipes consisting of a paper and asphalt combination in their sewer systems. These paper pipes were meant to last for 50 years but often started causing trouble for homeowners in just 30 years. If you’re living in an old home with Orangeburg pipes composing your sewer system, you’re long overdue for structural pipe rehabilitation.
Clay and cast iron pipes were also popular solutions in the past, designed to last 50+ years but susceptible to wear and tear and corrosion over time. Homes built today are likely equipped with modern PVC pipes optimized for up to a century of performance for your home, but only if you practice proper sewer line maintenance to keep your sewer line flowing freely.
3. Sewer Inspections & Drain Cleaning Are Essential For Sewer Line Maintenance
If you’re purchasing a new home or unsure of the condition of your home’s sewer system, a sewer line camera inspection provides a detailed look at the pipe interior to pinpoint signs of damage. The earlier you catch an issue in your sewer line, the more options you have to efficiently and cost-effectively restore your pipe through convenient sewer and drain cleaning or rehabilitation methods.
What Is A Sewer Line Camera Inspection & How Do You Know If You Need One?
A sewer line camera inspection occurs with a certified technician who inserts a small camera into the sewer line via a flexible cable. The technician maneuvers the camera to collect footage in real-time, carefully monitoring progress on a nearby screen. Defects like cracks and corrosion and issues like clogs are revealed, allowing the technician to recommend sewer line maintenance or repairs as needed. Even if your main sewer line has no major issues present, you get peace of mind knowing your sewer line is doing its job well.
Purchasing a new home is prime time for a sewer inspection so you can negotiate potential repairs with the previous owner before it becomes your problem. As a homeowner, any time you suspect sewer line issues or grow concerned about your sewer line’s condition, that’s a valid reason to have your sewer line inspected. CME Sewer Repair offers a free sewer inspection for your convenience so nothing has to stand in the way of you gaining clarity on your main sewer line.
How Often Should A Sewer Line Be Cleaned Out?
Along with timely sewer inspections, sewer and drain cleaning is another critical maintenance component to keep your sewer line functional and flowing. Even if no immediate damage or issues are evident, annual cleaning proactively reduces buildup and promotes pipe longevity. Conscientious homeowners may opt to have their sewer line cleaned out at least once a year to stay ahead of blockages and debris, though more frequent cleaning may be required for older homes or homes with a lot of trees on the property.
Of course, if a sewer inspection reveals grime buildup, a blockage or invasive tree roots, your technician will recommend a sewer cleaning solution sooner rather than later. Minimally invasive and chemical-free, hydro jetting is a popular technique to blast away blockages using a powerful, pressurized water stream.
4. Trenchless Sewer Line Repair Saves Homeowners Time & Money
Even with regular sewer line maintenance, main sewer lines with recurring issues likely require more advanced rehabilitation to address underlying concerns like cracks or structural deficiencies. As you can imagine, digging up your home’s sewer line can be incredibly destructive and cost-prohibitive, making trenchless sewer line repair a preferred alternative to avoid destroying your yard. No-dig sewer repair ensures your sewer line remains firmly rooted from your house to the street, with no replacement necessary to restore full function.
What Is Trenchless Sewer Repair & How Does It Work?
Trenchless sewer repair is an innovative approach to sewer line rehabilitation, designed to restore structural integrity to a failing pipe without the burden of digging the pipe up to access or replace it. Instead, no-dig solutions like pipe lining allow sewer professionals to strengthen the pipe from within, using a minimally invasive access point to install a durable epoxy liner that molds to the pipe surface and hardens in place. The pipe liner essentially creates a new pipe inside the old one, sealing cracks and securing the foundation of the pipe for streamlined flow.
Is Trenchless Sewer Line Repair More Cost-Effective Than A Replacement?
Because a sewer line replacement requires heavy equipment, increased labor and restoration for dug-up yards and landscaping, trenchless sewer repair is a favorable and cost-effective solution for homeowners. In addition to being less disruptive, more cost-effective and more efficient, trenchless sewer line repair gives homeowners year-round flexibility. Since no digging is required, trenchless rehabilitation can take place even during cold spells when the ground is traditionally frozen.
However, trenchless sewer repair is only an option for sewer lines that remain intact. If a sewer line has collapsed or has advanced deterioration, trenchless methods are too little too late. Timely sewer line maintenance is a must for homeowners who want to avoid a costly replacement and position their sewer line to be structurally eligible for innovative trenchless solutions. At CME Sewer Repair, trenchless sewer rehabilitation is our specialty, from routine inspections and cleaning to advanced sewer pipe lining. We’re here to help you keep your main sewer line running for decades to come.
Like a full sewer line replacement, sewer lateral repair costs are typically charged per foot of whatever material is being used, whether that’s installing the epoxy pipe liner or performing pipe bursting to remove the broken pipe. On average, trenchless sewer repairs cost 25 - 30% less than a full sewer line replacement, depending on the location, length of pipe and extent of damage.
CME Sewer Repair Specializes In Trenchless Solutions For Your Main Sewer Line
Taking the time to learn about your home’s main sewer line and your responsibility as a homeowner is a great first step to ensure plumbing maintains consistent performance. To protect your home from major complications and ensure peace of mind, schedule your free sewer line camera inspection with CME. Our careful pipeline assessments save homeowners hundreds to thousands of dollars by detecting sewer line issues early. Contact us to get started today!
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