There are few jobs that need to be done around your house that are less desirable for you to take on yourself than doing a sewer line repair, it can be a nasty and unhealthy experience to say the least. That is why most people leave this undertaking to professionals to do for them. Maybe you wonder how exactly they do a big job like this? Here is an overview of the broken sewer line repair process.
Sign You Need a Sewer Line Repair
There are a few telltale signs that you may have a problem with your sewer line and need to call a professional to come check it out. The first is sand, dirt, feces and other solids backing up into your bath or shower stall when using them. This can be a sign the pipe has been crushed or cracked enough that dirt may be clogging or partially blocking the line.
Another way to tell if you have a broken or crushed sewer line is by noticing a big wet spot in your yard. It may have an accompanying bad odor that goes along with it too. If it is a slow leak that has been there a long time you may actually see increased vegetation growth in the area due to fecal matter fertilizing the area more than those that are around it.
Leak or Break Detection
When you call a professional to come out to your house to check to see if you indeed are in need of a sewer line repair they will first verify there is a problem. They have several ways they can do this but the easiest is by using very sensitive electronic listening devices. When done right these can usually pinpoint the problem to within a meter or less of where the broken area of the sewer line is.
Excavation
Once the leak has been discovered and you and the company that are doing the repair have settled on a price, they will then return with the necessary equipment and supplies to do the sewer line repair. They will have marked the area they found the leak in with marking paint or a flag and that is where that will start digging to expose your broken pipe. This is normally done by machine but in some cases where they cannot get heavy equipment in they will be forced to have their crew dig by hand.
Repairing the Pipe
Once the broken area of the pipe has been exposed they will inspect it to see if just a small area need to be replaced or there is a problem with an entire section of line that needs to be removed and replaced. These professionals are very good at what they do and will be able to get your sewer line repair done quickly and in a manner that should last you a long time.
So if you notice any of the signs of a broken sewer line that were mentioned above, it is wise to get a sewer line repair specialist out to your home to check it out as soon as possible.