Is Your Home at Risk for Sewage Damage?
Every homeowner is likely to deal with sewer damage at least once in their lifetime. However, it often gets too late to uncover the issues and take care of them. Due to this delay, the damage gets too intensive and demands more repair and replacement, consuming extra time, money and effort. Moreover, you may not know that your home is at risk for sewer damage.
Below, we have listed the top ten signs of sewer damage that should alarm you.
1. Sewer gas odor- A sewer gas odor in your house is a clear sign of a crack somewhere in your sewage system. Remember your sewer should be airtight everywhere except the vent stacks on your roof, which allow the sewage to move downhill.
2. Mold problem- If you spot any mold growth in your house, there is likely a break in your sewer lines behind the walls. A cracked pipe can increase humidity levels to a point suitable for mold growth.
3. Slow drainage- Blockage can result in slow drainage, which will eventually cause sewage backup. If your bathtub, sink, or toilet is draining more slowly than usual, even after multiple attempts to clear the line, your sewage likely has issues like channeling, cracks, or tree root intrusion. However, do not use chemical drain cleaners to solve this problem as the chemicals will accumulate in the pipe and eat away the cast iron and PVC.
4. Extra green and lush patches in the grass- Extra green and lush patches of grass in your yard can result from a sewage leak underground. Sewage acts as a fertilizer for vegetation, and the drain leakage provides extra nutrients to the surrounding grass, leading to extra lush green grass patches.
5. Foundation cracks, settlement, and sinkholes- Some serious signs of sewer damage include foundation issues, like cracks in foundation slab, sinkholes, or foundation settlement.
If the mainline running under the slab experiences a leak that is left untreated for a long time, it will create a void in the yard or under the foundation. It can also lead to cracks in your foundation, house settlement, or sinkhole. Therefore, if you notice any of the above-mentioned things, there may be a broken or a leaking sewer pipe in your home. You must immediately call a professional for a thorough sewage inspection as soon as you notice it.
6. Rodents- Increasing rodent problems can be a sign of broken sewer lines. They can make their way from the main town line into the pipes behind your walls. Moreover, they can spread life-threatening diseases like Plague and Lassa Hemorrhagic fever.
