The Gritty Truth - When to Consider Sewer Replacement

It usually takes a blockage or breakdown of a household's sewer system for most people to consider sewer replacement. On the other hand, most people would agree it would be better to know how to diagnose minor sewer problems before a blockage. The following is designed to teach how a sewer line backup/blockage can be avoided, first by diagnosing sewer issues, and knowing when it may be time to consider sewer replacement.

Signs of Trouble

Late warning signs, such as toilet overflow, may be effective at calling the household into immediate action, but it is certainly better to realize beforehand that a problem might occur! Here are the numerous symptoms that should send up red, septic flags:

• Drain noises

• Odors

• Slow drains

• Wet areas on property

• Blockages

If you notice any of these symptoms but would rather a plumber take the problem out of your hands, I have provided a link to a free estimate in the San Francisco Peninsula. For the do-it-yourselfers, please find more info below.

Diagnose the Cause of a Blockage – When Not To Consider Sewer Replacement

Knowing how to determine whether a sewer line may need replacement or whether the problem could be as simple as a child's toy stuck in the pipes can have a large impact on your course of action. Sometimes all it takes is a little problem-solving to figure out what the problem is, and what to expect.

If any drains or toilets are running slowly or are backed up, they could either be signs that the sewer system is on the verge of collapse... or merely a message that it is time to have your drains snaked

The easiest way to tell the difference is to diagnose the extent of the problem. Look at all the drains close to the malfunctioning one. Be sure to take into account the fact that toilets closer to the main sewer line (on the ground floor) will be the most prone to backing up. If a number of toilets or drains are flushing or running slowly, then the sewer line almost definitely has a significant problem, such as tree roots getting in the pipes  Click here to read: (Sewer Cleaning – Keep Roots from Becoming Pipe Blockage), there are resources on this blog regarding how to fix the problem yourself. Alternately, you can call a plumber to take care of it.

If, however, only one toilet is having trouble flushing, then the problem is most likely a single blocked drain, which can most likely be easily fixed. Check out this online how-to unclog blocked drains guide if wanting to do it yourself. 
If all this seems like too much work  Call a Professional Plumber