Common Reasons for Sewer Line Problems

In Frisco, Plano, McKinney, and other surrounding communities, most homes are built using PVC pipe, with a much smaller percentage being cast iron.

The type of material used is the biggest variable in regard to potential problems. Below is a brief overview of the most common issues that we see (in some cases, one or more are combined):

Age of the Home

Homes built before 1980 (some areas 1985) where cast iron pipe was commonly allowed or frequently used often run into sewer line issues. Unfortunately, in the DFW area, if the house was built before 1980 and has cast iron pipe, there is no good repair option. Despite the expense, the only truly viable option is a total replacement, and anyone that tells you otherwise is not being forthright.

Foundation Settling

If the clay soil combined with inconsistent weather conditions over the years are causing the home’s foundation to settle, then the underground plumbing pipes will likely be settling as well.  To compound this effect, the slab has 18- to 24-inch deep support beams crisscrossing the slab for additional strength.

Your plumbing pipes—both sewer and water—run through these concrete supports at various points. This movement can often cause bellies (see above) but will also cause breaks at the weakest points, usually at a glued fitting(s).  PVC is somewhat flexible but cast iron is not, further compounding foundation problem effects.

Poor Construction Standards

In all honesty, if you have ever been on a construction site in Texas, you probably know that the expertise can be a little sketchy. And just because the home passed a city inspection does not always mean the work was done correctly. With the volume of homes built, inspectors miss things. Combine the lack of expertise, planning, and proper plumbing standards that will stand the test of time, and you are bound to have issues.

Foundation Repairs

When foundation repairs are required, the jacking, raising, or leveling process can often create breaks and separations in the plumbing system. It is always best to do a hydrostatic test after foundation work is performed. Most foundation companies require it. But take our advice and do NOT use the foundation company’s recommended plumber. We have seen some very unethical practices take place in that relationship. Use a trustworthy, reputable, local plumber that knows the area and has a history of verifiable reviews.

Bad Installation 

In plumbing, there are no plans to follow. The architect tells the plumber via the printed plans where each fixture is going to be. From there, using the forms and measuring to those points, the plumber onsite determines how to layout the entire plumbing system. The cheapest bid wins the contract, and with that comes limited knowledge and experience as well as spending as little as possible.

The cheapest plumber often equals bad outcomes. But the work will still pass the code because code is the minimum standard.  Using common sense, good techniques, and quality materials are key. But the cheapest plumber is often the least knowledgeable and skilled. Fittings are required throughout the system, but each fitting creates a stress point or weakened area. Using the fewest number of fittings possible is a learned and valuable skill.

Improper Fitting Installation 

As noted above, fittings are required throughout the system to junction lines and fixtures. But because these glued joints (technically called solvent welding) are the weaker points, vulnerabilities can be compounded if not installed correctly.

Proper installation includes clean straight cuts, reaming of each cut pipe, and proper priming. Then when gluing, the plumber must ensure that the pipe bottoms out all the way inside the properly prepared fitting. And then it must be held in place by hand for a certain period of time to properly set. You probably have seen how fast houses go up in Texas! Bad planning, poor technique, low skill level, and going too fast, amongst other things, can all lead to problems for the homeowner in future years.

Tree Roots or Landscaping 

Root infiltration in combination with bad landscape planning and layout is one of the biggest issues we see. The landscape guy comes in at the very end of the construction process. Often the plumbing is in the center of the yard and the landscaper installs a huge tree directly over the main sewer line.

As the tree matures, its root ball structure grows larger and the tree becomes heavier. Trees can often cause bellies in the line as they grow. There is also usually at least one or two couplings and/or other fittings in the sewer line leading to the street. This is a weak point, and as it is stressed by the forces around the pipe, the fitting can become separated, allowing tree roots to infiltrate.

Contact Earl’s Plumbing today for sewer line repair or replacement services.