Every building in use today needs access to a water system to function. Not only is ensuring the sewers work correctly important to their ability to operate, but if malfunctions do occur in the pipes, they can be costly to repair as well as holding the potential to be hazardous to the health of those in the vicinity. Because of these risks, it’s important to keep an eye out for any indicators that may show a complication.
When a problem arises, it’s always important to act quickly with commercial plumbing repair services. The unfortunate truth is that often many of the problems that cause sewer line leaks and other damages are not openly visible. Fat and oil buildups are an extremely common problem that affect residential and commercial sewers. They account for about 47% of the estimated 36,000 sewer overflows that occur every year, and, for the most part, are only discovered once the problem has reached a severe level.
Trees also present a frequent issue that affects pipes deep underground after long periods of growth. Their root systems normally grow about 12 to 36 inches below the soil’s surface, but can then extend horizontally from about 2 to 3 times the diameter of the entire canopy, which can easily infiltrate sewer lines.
When a problem occurs in sewer systems, not only can the damage of repairing the pipes and any potential water damage to the structure, terribly expensive, but the sewage material that can seep throughout the ground can lead contamination of the soil, air, and even the drinking water supply, if not resolved in time by plumbing repair services. Unfortunately, unless your sewer pipe is around 40 years old and should be replaced anyway, these issues can easily go undetected if not actively listening for indicators such as strange sounds from pipes, the backing up of toilets or sinks, or unusual wet spots present around the yard.
Being on guard for any of these problems is a good habit to get into. And if you find potential indicators of problems, finding reliable plumbing repair services to inspect and potentially resolve the issues, can avoid the costs of repairing the pipes and the coinciding damage, as well as reduce the risk of health hazards.