Main Sewer Line: What Would You Do?

Question

Greetings Everyone,

I wanted to post about a recent challenge I had with a main sewer line – 100 year old house, PVC pipes inside -> terra cotta outside.  The tenants notified me that an overflow occurred at the outside vent when they ran the washing machine.  I opened the cleanout and the house was backed up, so I had a plumber snake it.  He was able to get the line partially flowing again, but his snake pulled out some pieces of rock or concrete downstream from the house.  I imagined the worst.

The plumber recommended jetting the line.  I did some research and decided I wanted to run a camera through to see what was down there and determine the right solution to the problem.  I met with a different plumber with a camera.  When we opened the cleanout it was ¾ full, but it still flowed out when we ran the faucets or flushed toilets.  He ran the camera all the way through and there weren’t any obstructions.  He said there was a belly in the line just outside the house wherethe pipe had settled, and that’s why there was standing sewage.  He recommended digging it out and replacing the line, and I agree that would be a permanent solution.

However:

• Right now everything is flowing.
• There weren’t any obstructions in the line, so the rocks the first plumber removed may have caused the clog. If that’s the case, now that the rocks are gone I’m thinking there shouldn’t be additional clogs.  I realize that the belly is a potential problem area for clogs to settle, especially from grease.
• Temperatures were in the 20’s when this occurred, and the belly in the line is outside – maybe the standing water froze and caused the problem.

I’m leaning towards leaving this be for now.  I’ll keep an eye on it, and if additional problems occur I can replace the whole line.

What would you do?

Matthew Paul · Answer

You cant lay a sewer line by using a trencher , you have to set the fall of the pipe ,You need a backhoe and a level

James Wise · Answer

Account Closed Get the job done right once & move on with your life.

John Underwood · Answer

Account Closed

I had a similar issue last year.

I had roots growing into the sewer line. I was paying over a $100 to have the line cleaned out and it would be fine for 10 months or so. I had this done a second (maybe 3rd) time. I have a great tenant and am getting $1000/month rent so I didn't want to upset the apple cart. And I don't want to keep getting calls on the same issue. This makes me look like I'm not taking care of my investment and my tenant. I finally paid my Handyman $1000 to dig up and replace the line from the house to the street.

A ditch Witch can be rented from Home Depot tool rentals that makes trenching pretty easy.

You'll sleep easier knowing that you wont be getting any more calls on the sewer line backing up.

Account Closed · Answer

Thank you all for the suggestions! Looks like I'll put this on my list of things to fix.

Michael Gessner · Answer

Depending on your local laws, dont screw around with it and hope it fixes it self, get someone in with a mini and dig it up  lay new pipe and be done with it. If a plumbing license is not required and you have an idea on how to pitch pipe find a guy who owns a machine theirs plenty of them around, have him dig it up. If you don't have experience in excavating I suggest you NOT start digging it up your self, if your on city water your water main could be some wheres in the vicinity, if your on gas that could be there as well. Make sure you call 811 get your mark outs and get it done with. Newbies at excavation work stay to the back of the house to learn not the front where your bound to run in to something, fyi by me you pull a water line or a sewer line out of the main in the street guess whos paying the bill to have them come in and make the repair.

Matthew Paul · Answer

If the pipe is trapped , paper and solids will settle there . In the mean time , have the tenants pour a 5 gallon bucket of water down the toilet every other day , a large volume of water will move the deposits . Tell them to flush 2 times when there is paper in the toilet .

To fix I would rent a mini ex  and replace the pipe on a weekend and hope nobody calls the permit office .

Pat L. · Answer

Had a similar problem for years. Tree roots (don't touch city trees) & no matter what we did it was an annual 'rent a rota rooter' job. The City wanted licensed plumbers to lay new sewer lines with permits & heavy equipment & it was going to be very expensive. Then several years later as the city was upgrading the sewer pipes on the street the contractors heavy equipment literally crushed our old ceramic sewer lines & the basement became a septic tank. They paid for everything & on the recommendation of the contractor I threw in $575 to have a basement sewer check valve installed. Several months later it paid off when the 'new' sewer system on the street backed up & neighbors had sewage in their basements. That check valve was the best investment I ever made. The insurance carriers we have carry coverage for underground utilities & sewer lines.

Main Sewer Line: What Would You Do?

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