A functional sewer system is an essential service that a home must provide its residents. But even the most well-maintained systems occasionally break down. When this happens, it’s crucial to find the source of the problem as quickly as possible to prevent further complications. Here are some of the common reasons why you need a sewer inspection.
Leave It to the Experts
One thing that’s incredibly important to understand is that only professionals should access the sewer system. This is because the system is often a labyrinth filled with many dangers, including dangerous gasses, flooding, the possibility of electrocution, and other risks. There’s a reason why there are special tools to access the sewers and specific protective equipment to prevent exposure to the dangerous substances inside them. If you think something is wrong with the system, the best thing to do is contact professionals to handle it.
Avoid Repairs
When flooding occurs, the worst thing that can happen is for raw sewage to mix with the water. Once this contamination occurs, it’s difficult and expensive to reverse its effects. Hiring a crew to perform a preemptive inspection can alert you to possible situations that may arrive in the future, providing you with an opportunity to fix any issues before they turn into real problems.
Making a Purchasing Decision
Another reason why you need a sewer inspection is to protect your investment when buying a house. Take advantage of a home inspection to scout the sewer system of a home that you’re considering to uncover signs of problems. Identifying the issue and fixing it before the sale is complete will save you money in the future.
Wear and Tear
Everything breaks down eventually, even the most well-kept systems. In particular, older systems have a higher probability of failure. There are many signs of a sewer line problem due to wear and tear, including a rotten egg smell or sewage smell, suddenly appearing sinkholes, and varying water levels in your toilets. All of these can be symptoms of a much larger problem.
Tree Roots
It’s easy to look outside and see that your trees and shrubs are growing taller and fuller. It’s similarly easy to forget that your plants have roots that continuously grow into the ground. Root growth is a significant cause of damage to sewer lines because the plants and trees may attempt to access the sewer’s moisture. If you have trees or plants that you suspect are growing into your sewer lines, the best thing you can do is to have professionals inspect the area.
