Common Causes of Sewer Line Problems in Older Melbourne Homes
Tips provided by Melbourne Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
Melbourne, FL has some unique issues that tend to lead to more frequent sewer line problems than other regions. From outdated pipes to excessive flooding, there are all sorts of risk factors for sewer damage, and unfortunately, many homeowners are unaware of them. If you want to protect your Melbourne home, it’s important to understand and address the common causes of sewer issues.
Aging Sewer Pipes in Older Melbourne Homes
Melbourne is one of the older cities in Florida, so it has houses dating back to the 1800s. Unfortunately, this historic charm can lead to some plumbing issues. Many older houses use pipe materials like cast iron, clay, or Orangeburg, and these aren’t up to modern building standards. They can crack, bend, and corrode until you get leaks and clogs. Due to outdated materials, any home built before 1975 is likely to have sewer problems at some point. Even modern PVC pipes break down over time, so if your home was built in 2000 or earlier, it’s important to check your pipes for problems frequently.
Florida Soil and Ground Conditions
Another issue to consider is that Melbourne’s soil quality can be a little uneven. Since it’s situated close to the coast, sandy soil is very common. This type of ground shifts easily and makes it hard to keep things stable. Especially if your home is older, some settling is inevitable. Even subtle changes in the soil around your sewer pipes can put stress on them and cause cracks.
Tree Root Intrusion
Roots naturally seek out moisture underground, and they can be surprisingly persistent. Over time, they work their way into pipes and grow larger and larger. This leads to huge, tangled clumps of roots that end up forming large clogs in sewer lines. Any type of larger plant, such as palm trees, shrubs, or bamboo, can cause sewer line damage, but it’s particularly common for older homes with mature trees to deal with this problem.
Heavy Rain, Flooding, and Storm Impact
Unfortunately, the older sewer systems in Melbourne weren’t designed to take into account Florida’s storms. Frequent rain can overwhelm systems and make it harder for sewage to flow properly down drains. This increased pressure can further weaken old pipes and worsen cracks. Something else to consider is that heavy storms can worsen ground movement. When you have floods and rain-induced erosion, you can get more shifting that can result in sewer line failure.
Corrosion From Coastal and Humid Conditions
Melbourne’s coastal location can have some unintended effects on sewer lines. Both aboveground and underground plumbing are exposed to conditions that have more salt and moisture than average. If you have metal piping, this environment slowly damages pipes from the outside. It causes the metal to corrode and become more brittle, so it can break and crack more easily.
Outdated Installation Standards
Melbourne’s building codes have gone through many changes over the years. As plumbers discovered better ways to do things, they’ve realized some older practices didn’t work very well. In older homes, sewer lines often use inefficient methods for sealing joints and arranging pipework. This can increase the risk of cracks, clogs, breaks, and other issues. Especially in the case of old repairs, outdated standards can cause things to break more frequently.
Signs Sewer Line Problems Are Developing
Signs of a sewer line issue. How can you tell if your home is dealing with these problems?
Here are some of the sewer line warning signs:
- You frequently have drain clogs
- Your drains are always slow
- Sewage backs up in your home
- You notice bad odors in your home or yard
- Your lawn has sunken or soggy spots
- You have an abnormally green patch of lawn
Why Repairs May No Longer Be Enough
While a small crack or one-time clog can be easily repaired, many sewer issues in older homes require full sewer line replacements. Replacing your sewer line with an up-to-date system is the only way to truly solve issues like corroding materials and improper pipe slopes. By getting a new sewer line that’s fully up to code, you can avoid the hassle and expense of repeated repairs.
How Sewer Camera Inspections Identify the Root Cause
If you’re not sure whether you need a repair or replacement, it’s a good idea to have a thorough inspection. During a camera sewer line inspection, your plumber can identify the root cause of your issue. They’ll look for cracks, collapsed pipes, root intrusions, and other culprits of sewer problems. By seeing exactly what’s keeping your pipes from functioning, you can learn how to address the issue.
How Melbourne Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Helps Homeowners
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Melbourne, we have plenty of experience working in older neighborhoods. Our team can easily assess your sewer system and let you know how well your system is functioning. If we find any sewer line issues, we’ll go over your options for repair and replacement and provide honest recommendations on what you should do. No matter what sewer line fix you prefer, we have highly trained technicians who can get the job done properly. We’re always committed to providing the utmost customer service and reliability. In fact, we’re so confident in our service that if there’s any delay, it’s YOU we pay.
Call Melbourne Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
While it’s inevitable that older homes will have sewer problems, you aren’t stuck with a faulty sewer line. Prompt sewer service can keep small issues from snowballing into sewer line failure. Melbourne Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has all the skills and tools needed to upgrade your home. From small sewer line repairs to entire sewer line replacements, we’re here for you. Call or message us today to schedule a professional sewer inspection.