You might have heard about sewer lines. These lateral sewer lines connect the home plumbing system to the main sewer line. The main sewer line runs under the streets. This sewer line takes sewage and waste from your showers, toilets, and sinks. The lateral sewer line is an important part of the home’s functioning ad sewer system.

80% of the household are connected to the sewer system, while 20% are connected to septic tanks. You can call the city municipal department to know if the house connects to the tank or the sewer. The lateral sewer line divides into two important parts.

• Upper sewer lateral
• Lower sewer lateral

Upper sewer lateral

The upper sewer lateral is the section of the pipe. This section of the pipe is the closest pipe to your house. The upper sewer lateral starts from the place where the pipe leaves the house to the cleanout at the property line or sidewalk. The lines go through the foundation or the yard.

Lower sewer lateral

The lower sewer lateral starts from the place where the upper ends to the city mainline. This is usually present on the public road.

The lateral sewer line is not divided into upper and lower portions if there is no cleanout present where the lateral ends are.

Common problems affecting lateral sewer lines

There are certain problems that are associated with sewer lines. Some of the most common problems that affect the lateral sewer lines are as follows.

1.     Clogs and backups

Fats, grease, and oil are more likely to build inside the pipelines. This shrinks the area through which the waste can flow. There are certain things, such as flushable wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, and much more. These things can build in sections. They reduce the area through which waste moves. So you should not dump grease and bodily waste in the toilets.

2.     Tree roots

The old trees on the properties are more likely to have invasive and long roots. They get the sensing pipes with water and waste and get the nutrients. The roots are more likely to attack the joints in the pipes. When the roots are inside, they drink water, and they usually clog the pipes.

3.     Soil failure

Soil shifts in the houses and properties and causes huge pressure on the sewer lateral. They cause the sewer laterals to collapse, crack and leak the pipes. Soil can shift because of freezing temperatures, drought, floods, and rains. Soil failure can cause problems in the system.

4.     Old pipes

The old sewer lines are usually made up of terracotta and cast iron. These materials are more likely to leak and fall apart. The metal rust and corrode with time. However, terracotta pipes are more likely to have roots and leaks. Modern sewer pipes are made with PVC. However, old homes were built from an outdated materials. You can get the best sewer repair services.

A lot of people are interested in knowing how to know the problem as the lateral sewer line is beneath the ground. If you find that some trees are growing faster as compared to the rest of the trees or find that the grass is greener in certain areas, there is the possibility of sewer line issues. You can also feel a foul smell or bubbling in the toilet. The best you can do is to have a CCTV sewer inspection that can help to find the cause behind the problem.

What are the repair options for the damaged lateral sewer lines?

After you find that your lateral sewer line system is damaged, you need to find the possible suitable options to get the repair done. There are certain repair options that you can find. These include:

• Trenchless sewer repair
• Conventional repair

1.     Conventional repair

In addition to trenchless sewer repair, you can have conventional methods to find the problem. The conventional methods include trenching and digging. The repairing methods usually include trenching the yard, tearing the walls, ripping the flooring, chipping the concrete, and other processes. However, the conventional repair methods depend on the problem that comes. The conventional repair process can be time-taking. However, it all depends on the extent of the damage.

2.     Trenchless sewer repair

The trenchless sewer repair system does not involve digging or the use of trenches. The sewer lines are treated without damaging the yard. They only have to require access to the two points. Pipelining makes a new pipe in the old system with the help of the epoxy liner. Plumbers are more likely to line the whole sewer pipe and a small section from where the problem initiates. Pipe bursting is another step involved in the trenchless repair system.

The process is done by pushing the pipe through the old pipe and breaking it, and replacing another pipe. The pipe bursting is a useful replacement method and can give you the latest lateral sewer line.

What are the costs associated with a lateral sewer line?

People are interested in knowing the costs associated with repairing lateral sewer lines. The costs differ according to the method of repair.

1.     Costs for trenchless sewer repair

Pipelining: The trenchless repairing can take $80-250 per linear foot of the pipe. The cost depends on different factors, such as the amount of required cleaning, ease of navigation, and the condition of the pipes. The prices depend on the quantity of the replaced pipes.

Pipe bursting: trenchless repairing of a pipe bursting can take from $60-$200. The pipe bursting can replace up to 600ft of the pipe.

2.     Conventional sewer repair

The costs for conventional sewer repair are different. These costs include $50-$450. The price can be different because of installing new pipes throughout the yard or home.

The bottom line

These are the most significant things that you need to know about lateral sewer systems. These points are enough to conclude that you need to take care of the system as it can turn into a disaster situation. These are the reasons why sewer laterals fail. So you need to avoid these things and take care of the sewer system as much as you can. However, you need to get professional help if the situations turn into problems.