Bad Smells In The Yard, In-Home, Or Coming From Drains If you notice unpleasant odors coming from your drains, yard, or inside your home, it could be a sign that your sewer line needs replacement. Sewage leaks, often caused by a broken sewer line or sewer line backup, can cause these smells.
Generally speaking, you're going to find that most main sewer lines will only last somewhere between 50 and 100 years before you need to do a main sewer line replacement. You could very well have a broken sewer line on your hands right now and not even realize it.
Sewer line repair is recommended when there are cracks or holes in your sewer line. If damage is severe, replacement of the line is recommended. A pipe leak test must be performed, then there are two ways to proceed. The first is with trenchless repair.
Life Expectancy of a Sewer Pipe
Old homes, or homes built prior to 1980, will most likely have clay sewer pipes. Clay sewer pipe life expectancy is approximately 50 years. PVC pipe, which became more prominent after 1980, typically lasts longer – approximately 100 years.
This pipe, which lies buried under the soil of your yard, can last anywhere from 50-100 years or more, depending on the material from which the pipe is made and the conditions under which it is used.
Cost Estimates
As we mentioned earlier, in the state of California, the cost of sewer line replacement can amount to anywhere between $50-$250 per linear foot, with an average of around $150.
As we mentioned above, it's certainly possible for a homeowner to perform sewer line replacement or sewer line repair. However, it's definitely not an easy job. When you replace the sewer line yourself you run the risk of causing even more damage.
Expert Recommendations for Sewer Line Cleaning
We recommend homeowners schedule sewer line cleaning every 18 to 24 months to prevent buildup and clogs. Regular cleanings help avoid costly repairs and extend the life of your plumbing system.
If your sewer line is damaged, it could delay or even halt a possible sale. Even if you do sell the property, you could have to accept a lower price or make concessions. However, getting trenchless sewer line repair done can improve the value of your place.
There are many benefits to the trenchless method, most notably that it takes just 1 – 3 days to complete the job. You won't have a plumbing crew invading your home for weeks. Call Before You Dig Up That Concrete Slab!
Professional plumbers can use various camera styles to inspect the sewer line, such as: Remote-controlled crawler cameras. Pole or fixed zoom cameras. Push rod cameras.
Typically, to replace a sewer line it can take anywhere from 1 to 2 days, to 3 to 5 days. In some rare cases, it may even be as quick as one day. Generally, the estimated time frame will depend on the layout of your property, your home's piping system, and the depth required to excavate.
Does homeowners insurance cover your sewer line if it's damaged? Damage to your sewer line may be covered by your policy if it is caused by perils such as hail or windstorms, explosions, lightning or fire, damages caused by vehicles, vandalism or falling objects.
A sewer line should last a lifetime – Normal sewer line life is 50 to 100 years. Sewer line integrity depends on how the pipe was originally installed, what's happened to the ground over time, and what surrounds the sewer.
Sewer Line Repair and Replacement
If your sewer line springs a leak or breaks and needs to be repaired, you have two options: Dig a trench around the sewer pipe or use trenchless sewer line repairs. A trenchless sewer repair is time and cost-effective, requiring little to no digging.
For instance, residential sewer line depth ranges from 18 to 30 inches. However, city sewer line depths are different. Your city's sewer lines must always be deeper than the deepest residential pipe to allow waste to flow downhill. As such, these lines can go as deep as needed.
Most people should have their sewer lines cleaned every 18 to 22 months or every year and a half to two years.
Sewer work is expensive because of the labor-intensive process involved, which includes excavation, pipe removal, and installation of a new one. It requires significant manual labor and expertise, driving up the overall cost.
Occasionally the question arises as to how long concrete pipe will last. It is a generally accepted fact that concrete pipe will last at least 100 years and probably several centuries.