Suggestion on avoiding future sewage replacement?

[Jahbari McLennan]

Jut talked with my Plumber and let me know we will have to replace the sewage. He believe it was pre condition but hard to tell. Anyone had a similar fix? Curious to know how to avoid In the future

[Marcia Maynard]

Sewage is what runs through the drains and pipes in a sewer system. He was most likely talking about drain lines in the sewer system. What part of the sewer system is in trouble? To get deep into it, you may need to hire a company to inspect the system with a sewer scope. It's amazing what those cameras can reveal.

We had a plumber come out for repeated issues with a clogged sewer line. We finally had the sewer line scoped. The scope revealed that our sewer pipe had collapsed in several places between our building and the public sewer pipe under the alley. The portion that collapsed was made of clay and was close to the surface. Over time, its age (50+ years), the weight of trucks running above it, and earth movement, caused it to fail.  We simply hired a company to dig up that portion of the sewer line and replace it. It cost a lot of money, and required a city permit, but was worth it. It was replaced with black ABS, so we anticipate it will be fine for the next 100 years.

If you are facing a problem with your sewer line, understanding the cause is essential for applying the right remedy. The most common cause is root invasion. Sometimes the problem is caused by earth movement. Sometimes it is caused by the wrong items being flushed down the drains. Sometimes the pipes simply wear out. Remedies include snaking, water blast, mechanically chewing up the clog, chemically dissolving the clog, replacing pipes that are too small to handle the volume of sewage, replacing pipes that have collapsed, or relining an intact sewer pipe that leaks.

If your plumber didn't share with you more about what you are facing, enlist the services of someone who can diagnose the problem more accurately. Your post here is very vague so it's hard to know what your plumber was talking about. 

Regular maintenance of your drain lines is key to longevity of the system. Be wary of trees growing too close to your sewer lines, the roots will naturally try to fine a crack in the line and invade. We once had a tenant who planted an apple tree, without our permission, right above where the sewer line runs from our building to the public sewer system. Needless to say, we had the tree removed as soon as we realized this.

Sewer lines can be composed of a variety of materials and some wear out faster than others. Also, certain conditions can cause sewer lines to fail prematurely. Under the right conditions, clay pipes will most likely last 50 - 60 years and PVC pipes about 100 years. How old is your building? If prior to 1980, you most likely have some clay pipe. From 1980 onward, most likely PVC or ABS. Also does your sewage flow into a public sewer system or into your own septic tank? You need to know the age of your sewer system, the components, what they are made of and where they are located. Then you can better know how to take care of your property and anticipate when things will need to be replaced.