Americans don’t think very often about the sewer lines under their homes. If your home is connected to a larger sewer system, the sewer line is what connects your home’s drains to that sewer system. In many homes, these pipes are old and have a high chance of failure. When they fail, you must replace them.

Causes of Sewer Line Failure

Many sewer lines used by homes are quite old and are prone to failure. However, this failure may have a specific origin. Knowing the root cause can help you prevent another failure in the future. Possible sources of sewer line failure often include:

• Tree root intrusion
• Chemical corrosion
• Obstruction from sludge, grease or other debris
• Soil shifting
• Too much weight being placed over the line
• General wear and tear from decades of use

The Benefits of Concrete Sewer Lines

One option you may choose for a new sewer line is concrete. This is a popular choice for good reason. Concrete pipes can be beneficial because:

• Concrete does not rust like metal.
• Concrete pipes are the strongest pipes available.
• Concrete does not burn.
• Concrete is resistant to chemicals.
• Concrete pipes will not tear, buckle or bend.
• Concrete lasts longer than other sewer line choices.
• Concrete is stronger than other options.
• Concrete is an efficient conduit for moving fluid.

The Downsides of Concrete Sewer Lines

Of course, these pros come with some cons. The downsides of using concrete pipe in your sewer lines include these:

• The initial cost will be higher than other options.
• Installation is more difficult and requires more skill and planning.
• Concrete is less flexible with regard to design options compared with other materials.
• The outside of concrete pipe can corrode over time due to exposure to the elements.
• Joint integrity may be lessened due to the use of other materials like rubber for joints.

While concrete may be the strongest choice in many regards, the cautions above should certainly factor into your choice.

Other Options for Sewer Lines

While concrete sewer lines are a good choice for a multitude of different reasons, there are other choices on the market. This includes options like PVC, ABS, clay, cast iron and Orangeburg wood-fiber pipes. While some of these materials may be more flexible than concrete, they are certainly not as strong for sewer lines as concrete sewer pipes are. They may also have other flaws such as being more susceptible to chemicals and fire than concrete. Still, most of these options will come with a lower fixed expense for the initial investment. Whether they will be a better investment in the long run, however, may be up for debate.

One thing you will not be able to do yourself is repair or replace your own sewer lines. It’s a job that requires professionals. If you live in Fountain Valley, CA or nearby, contact our team at Carlson Plumbers, which includes some of the best plumbers you can hire for sewer line replacement or repair.