If you even think you might have a clogged or broken sewer pipe beneath your house, you need to take the idea very seriously. Broken sewage pipes will quickly create health hazards, potentially even contaminating your home. You need trained professionals who will be able to deal with the situation.
Here’s what do…
What Should Happen If You Suspect A Broken Sewer Pipe
- Verify it’s not a simple pipe clog
If you have a broken sewage pipe, it can seem a lot like a standard clog – toilets not flushing, water backing up into a sink, etc. So, it’s a good idea to start by treating this like a clog and trying to clear it out. Use a plunger or a plumber’s snake, if you happen to have one.
However, if you’re trying to clear the drain and it’s not working, the problem is probably deeper than that.
- Locate the pipe
Hopefully, the paperwork that came with your property included some indication of where the subterranean pipes are. Obviously, they’ll be buried, but it’s useful to find the spot where the pipe should be. You may be able to see or smell evidence of a break, which would confirm the matter.
- Call in a professional
Never attempt to do your own repairs to sewer pipes! The wastewater they contain can easily be contaminated, to the point that merely touching the water could transmit diseases or worse. This is absolutely 100% a job that needs to be done by trained sewer repair professionals, utilizing serious safety gear along with professional-grade tools.
They’ll help you verify which pipe is broken and start exploring ways to deal with the problem.
- Discuss your options
Fixing a broken sewer pipe will be costly, but it’s not as bad as it used to be. There are numerous new techniques for exploring sewer pipes remotely (using fiber optics, or even drones) to identify the source of the problem. In many cases, it’s possible to repair broken sewer lines with a minimum of digging! Often, the problem can be fixed in a single day.
That’s not always the case, but it’s definitely a possibility.
Roto-Rooter Are Your Plumbing Experts
From simple clogs to major sewer line repair jobs, Roto-Rooter has the tools and the expertise to tackle any plumbing-related problem. If you have a broken sewer pipe, don’t wait – contact us to schedule your service now!
