Five Causes of Problems with a Main Sewer Line

If you are experiencing problems with your main sewer line, there are a number of things that could be wrong with it. Companies such as Spartan Rooter commonly find problems such as the following:

· Tree roots that have grown in pipes

· Cracked or broken pipes

· Bellied pipes

· Deteriorating pipes

· Calcified pipes

Tree Roots

Tree roots in pipes are a major problem in the Tacoma area. If the pipe has, a small crack or seam that isn’t seal tightly, a very tiny tree root can work its way through the opening. Once inside the pipe, the tree root continues to grow. Eventually it can grow large enough that it will obstruct the flow of water and debris. When a rooting company comes, they can cut out the tree root with an auger. While this works for a while, it isn’t a permanent fix since the tree root will grow back again.

Cracked or Broken Pipes

Another problem with tree roots is that they can crack and break pipes as they continue to grow. Tree roots are not the only cause of broken pipes, though. When the ground shifts, it can leave pipes unsupported, which might cause them to break over time. Another cause is ground that washes away from underneath the pipes.

Bellied Pipes

A pipe doesn’t always break or crack when dirt erodes or the ground shifts. Sometimes the pipe gradually sinks with the dirt until there is a low point in the pipe. The low spot is known as a bellied pipe. When a pipe bellies, it creates a place where debris and waste can settle instead of flowing through the pipe.

Deteriorating Pipes

Many years ago, some pipes were made of an inferior quality, such as Orangeburg. Over time, these pipes deteriorate, leaving you with collapsed pipes that won’t allow water to pass through.

Calcified Pipes

Calcification is another problem that companies such as Spartan Rooter have found. Older pipes that are made out of cast iron are subject to this problem. Minerals from hard water can be deposit on the walls of the pipes. Over time, the minerals build up until they leave the pipes with an opening too small for debris and waste to travel through.