A broken or malfunctioning sewer pipe in your home is definitely one of the more unpleasant household problems to deal with. Alongside the mess, unpleasant smells and lengthy clean-up, it can also be difficult to find out exactly where and how the sewer pipe became damaged. Read on to find out how damage can occur to your sewer pipes and if there are steps you can take to prevent it.
Causes of damage to sewer pipes
There are a number of issues that can cause damage to the sewer pipes in your home:
Deteriorating Pipes
Sewer pipes are often made of cast iron or steel, which usually prevents them from rusting. However, magnesium and calcium deposits can build up in the pipes over time and that can then increase the risk of the pipes corroding. If this deterioration is left untreated, the sewer pipes could then split and leak. Lining your sewer pipes can resolve this issue. For sewer pipe lining Wolverhampton or elsewhere, specialists such as wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-wolverhampton can provide help and advice on all aspects of drain repair.
Blocked Pipes
Sewer pipes are only designed to take away human waste and toilet paper, not items such as sanitary products, paper towels or baby wipes. If these items enter your sewage pipes, they can cause blockages and damage. Furthermore, homeowners need to be careful what they pour into sinks as cooking fat can easily build up and cause problems. Signs of a blocked sewage pipe can include a water drainage issue, foul-smelling water appearing in your garden or signs of water damage appearing inside your home. If you have an issue with a blocked or damaged sewer pipe, it should be the responsibility of the local water company to fix it. If you are unsure who the sewer pipe belongs to, contact Water UK to find your water supplier.
Tree Roots
Invasive tree roots are a very common reason for sewer pipes becoming damaged. As a tree grows, the roots are always looking for a source of water so they can be attracted to an underground pipe, especially if it is already leaking. Tree roots can be damaging as they wrap themselves around the pipe, weakening, breaking or cracking the structure. To prevent this from happening, make sure that large trees are not allowed to grow in proximity to your pipes to minimise the risk of invasive tree roots.