Water & Sewer Line Repair in Jupiter

The sewer pipe connects the drainage system in your home to the main sewer drain running underneath your lawn. It won’t always run on a straight path. Depending on the configuration of your lawn and where the main sewer is, it could take a more convoluted path. You’ll usually find it in the basement or garage, perhaps in a crawl space. It’s about four inches around. 

The average sewer pipe lasts anywhere from 50 to 100 years, but if your pipe’s time has come, here will be the telltale signs of trouble:

• Bathroom Problems: Your sewer system is responsible for keeping the toilets in the house running smoothly. Do you hear a “gurgling” that happens even when no one has flushed the toilet? What’s happening is that the water ran into a clog on the way out and was forced back up into the toilet. It’s also possible that, after a flush, the water will back up. This includes raw sewage from the system making its way back into your toilet. 
• The House Starts to Smell: This is not limited to problems in the bathroom. We trust that you know sewage can be pungent. When it is consistently backed up into your house, the aroma can be more than a little unpleasant. This includes not just the smell of the bathroom, but that of mildew. A good pipe contains those smells. A damaged sewer pipe lets them loose.
• The Grass Gets Too Green: That beautiful, lush lawn you’ve been admiring might be too good to be true. The lawn might be getting extra green–at least in certain areas–because the sewer pipe running underneath it is leaking and giving the lawn extra water. If too much water leaks, you won’t even get the green lawn–puddles will start to form. 
• Moldy Walls: The increase in moisture that will come from a damaged sewer pipe means higher humidity inside the house and can lead to mold growth. You’re likely to notice strange colors on the walls and at the base of the toilet. 
• Pest Control Problem: Mice and rats love the sewer. They love it so much they may well follow it right to your home if the sewer pipe is damaged. So, if you see the furry critters around more than normal, it’s at least possible that a sewer pipe problem is the cause. 
• Sewer Line Stomach: If your sewer pipe has a sag in the middle, it’s referred to as a “stomach,” which is something you don’t want in your pipe system. At best, the sag can lead to blockages and standing water. At worst, it can end up simply bursting. 

Symptoms of Water Pipe Repair Problems

The warning signs with water piping bear some similarities to their sewer pipe cousins, but the difference in the piping system makes them manifest a bit differently. 

Clues that your water pipes are a problem:

• Water Pressure Fluctuates: Do you get in the shower to a nice steady stream of hot water, then see it slow to a drizzle? That’s a good indicator that the water pipes are not allowing a free flow.
• Changes in the Water’s Color: Are you starting to see rusty water come out of your tap? It not only looks a little gross, but it is also a potential health hazard. Bacteria is coming into your sink. If the water is giving off the distinct odor of rotten eggs, call us right away.
• The Walls Are Talking: When you can literally hear the sound of water behind the walls, there may be a pipe problem.
• Puddles Under the Sink: If you find yourself going for a towel every time you go underneath the sink for dish soap because a puddle is accumulating, it means you may have a drain piping problem.
• Wall Markings: Those sounds you were hearing behind the walls? If the leak gets more severe, the interior of the wall will start to gather water, which in turn will result in an ugly water stain that will make itself visible to you on the other side.

There are more symptoms that can indicate problems with either your water pipe or sewer pipe. The increased presence of mold in your house is usually due to leaky pipes. A diagnosis can pinpoint where the leaks are coming from.

The same goes for water bills that are soaring, seemingly without reason. We know you’re going to notice paying more for your water. If you haven’t changed your usage in any significant way, your first thought should be to get a diagnosis of the plumbing.

The Risks of DIY on a Sewer Pipe System

It’s important to contact a licensed plumber to work on diagnosis and repair. We know a lot of people want to try and DIY. This is especially true because sewer pipe repairs are typically not covered in your standard homeowners’ policy. 

Sewer pipes are simply too dangerous to be worked on as a DIY project. It might also cost a lot more than you might think. Sewer pipe repair must be done in compliance with building codes. You could do a lot of work and then be told by a building inspector that you have to start over. 

The financial risk pales in comparison to the safety risk.  Simply being exposed to sewage can be a health hazard. You run the risk of hitting a gas line and starting a fire. It’s not just your own home you have to worry about with sewer pipe repair, it’s those of your neighbors as well. 

Let a professional from our office, licensed and trained to do this work, help you out. Call us at (561) 933-5212 or contact us online.