Why Schedule a Sewer Line Inspection at the End of Summer?
On a typical day, you probably aren’t thinking about your home’s sewer line. When it’s functioning like it’s supposed to, it’s out of sight and out of mind. However, a good working sewer line can only stay that way if it’s well maintained. For those in the Evansville, IN, region, the best time to schedule this annual inspection is toward the end of the summer months. Learn what issues this regular maintenance can help to catch and avoid.
Which Summer Problems Can Lead to Sewer Line Emergencies?
Tree Roots
Surrounding your home with trees has many benefits, including increasing shading to reduce energy costs. Unfortunately, foliage can also come with some drawbacks. Specifically, tree roots, which are always seeking out moisture, can be drawn to your plumbing like a magnet. If the sewer line has any minor cracks, tree roots can gradually make their way inside and cause more significant deterioration.
In many instances, this damage happens over a long period of time. At first, you probably won’t notice any issues. However, over time you may begin to experience slow drains, recurring clogs, and sewage backups.
In the summer months, tree roots typically become more problematic because the longer, hotter days leave them parched and searching for any solution to nourish the plant’s booming leaf production. This is why it’s not a bad idea to have an experienced plumber visit and ensure any encroaching roots are cut back and any damage they may have inflicted is repaired before it can spread.
Increased Usage
For most households, the summer often comes with increased plumbing demands. The kids are home from school, the weather is ideal for having neighbors over for cookouts, and you may be using more water for cooking and general outdoor water activities. This extra workload can put more strain on your sewer line. If you have old or compromised pipes, this can compound any issues.
An inspection towards the end of the season ensures any seasonal wear and tear is caught, and it helps you get a head start on preparing your plumbing system for the fall and winter months.
Problematic Weather
The end of summer is also a great time for sewer line inspections because the weather is still decent. This makes it easier to get a good video inspection of your plumbing system. If any issues are detected, this time of the year also makes repairing the damage easier on both the homeowner and plumber.
When it’s a particularly hot and dry summer, the soil under the sewer line can shrink and settle. Heavy downpours after a long period of drought, can cause the soil to shift and put stress on the pipe joints. An inspection can identify any misalignments or cracks and ensure the damaged is repaired before you begin to experience issues inside the home.