The condition of your sewage system is extremely important and repairing or replacing it is usually an extremely expensive proposition. As a preventive measure, you should not neglect the inspection of the sewage system when hunting at home.
We have put together some tips that will come in handy when inspecting your future home's sewage system.
Check the sewer before you buy the house
A general house inspector hired by almost every buyer may not be able to properly inspect the sewage system. Therefore, a specialist must be hired to perform this task. A channel inspection camera is typically used because the images can reveal various relevant problems such as cracks, blocks, etc. Needless to say, better safe than sorry. So always have the sewer inspected before you decide to buy a house. Otherwise, you can later spot problems that can cut a hole in your pocket. In many cases, this one step can save thousands of dollars spent on repairing or replacing sewers.
Be smart when planting trees
Going green is the way of life, but it doesn't have to be at the cost of damaging your property. Therefore, always sow the seeds far away from your sewage pipes if you want to plant trees. If the tree that is planted too close to the sewers spreads its roots over a wide area, it can tear or break your pipes, which then need to be replaced or repaired.
Adequate research is instrumental in preventing this mishap. Get an accurate picture of the size of the tree you want to plant and its typical root growth. Roots that grow quickly over a wide area without penetrating deep into the country can cause problems for your sewage system. Trees such as silver maple and weeping willow trees are notorious for damaging sewage pipes. So don't plant them too close. You can always contact your utility company if you need help finding your sewage pipe. If you already have this information, you can proceed to the next step and decide where to plant your trees.
Keep trees watered in times of drought
If it hasn't rained in your area for months, your tree roots will continue to penetrate in search of water. Therefore, the drought increases the risk that your trees will break your sewage pipes. If the weather is dry, water your trees more often to avoid a home disaster.
Know the signs of channel support
Even if you do everything correctly, your sewer may malfunction and start backing up. If you know the indicators of channel support, you can identify this problem early and have enough time to prevent the situation from worsening. If you continue to ignore them, the problem can damage your house or your entire sewage system can burst and you can call the nearest emergency installer to save.
Warning signals for backups include:
- Your drains start to slow down, which is very noticeable with the lowest drains in your home
- Water flows to each of the faucets instead of flowing down the drain
- The pipes make noise
If your sewer has problems, it is best to contact a wastewater specialist immediately.