Symptoms Of A Damaged Sewer Pipe

Damage to sewer pipes is not as common as it is with blocked drains. Wear and tear, ground movement and human activities are the main causes of damaged sewer pipes. 

How to Identify Damaged Sewer Pipes

There are different signs that can help you identify this problem. Here are the main symptoms of damaged sewer pipes:

Persistent Sewage Blockages And Backups

Sewer backups occur at the lowest open drain and are usually caused by a blockage in the sewer line. For a well-maintained sewer line, there should be no regular sewer backups. However, sometimes you can experience blockages even if you are cleaning your drainage system. This is a clear symptom of a damaged sewer line and should be attended to immediately. It could have been caused by tree root intrusion, misaligned pipe connections or cracks allowing an inflow of soil among other issues.

Sewer Odour

Bad smell around your home is a clear indication of a damaged pipe in the sewer line. This mainly occurs when a drainage pipe gets a crack and starts leaking. The sewer line should be tightly fixed except on the vent at your roof. It is used to allow the sewage to move downwards. Sewer odour from the drain should not mean that your sewer line is damaged, but it can be as a result of a blocked pipe. A funny taste or smell can also be caused by hard water – which we have highlighted how to diagnose in this post.

Mould Problem

Mould growth on the wall around where the drainage pipe is passing is a clear indication of a leakage. If it’s also accompanied by bad odour should confirm to you that there is a broken sewer pipe. The increase in the rate at which the growth of mould is growing compared to the surrounding vegetation should give you a hint of the kind of breakage in the pipe.

Slow Drain

In a typical sewer drainage system, the sewer should have a smooth flow without delay. However, you can notice the reduction in the speed at which your speed is flowing. This could be brought about by two reasons. The first is a blockage and the second is a damaged sewer line. In the case of normal obstruction, it is very easy to fix the problem, but in the event of pipe damage, you need to consult a plumber.

Lush Patches In Grass

As we all know, sewage acts as a fertilizer for any vegetation. Sometimes you might find some dense patches of grass or a fresh green grass around the area where the drainage pipe passes. With all other factors exempted this should be a clear indication of a leaking sewer line.

Indentation In Lawn Or Under Pavers

When a breakage occurs in a drainage pipe, the soil over it starts to get into it slowly. With time, you will find the lawn around the area where the broken pipe passes developing indentation.

Foundation Cracks

The sewer line is run under the slab and floors. Sometimes a leaking drainage pipe may go for a long time without being detected. This will lead to foundation problems like cracks on the floor and walls.