DIY Vs. Professional: Choosing the Right Approach for Sewer Line Repairs
Handling a damaged sewer line is inconvenient. It can cause clogged drains, toilet water levels that rise and fall, and even sewage seepage. Property owners are responsible for repairing sewer lines that run through their land. However, responsibility for sewer lines that connect to the municipal system can fall on local governments.
Cost
Homeowners often try to save money by tackling DIY projects around the house. While this is an excellent way to learn new skills and fix minor problems, when you repair a sewer line, it’s best left to the professionals. Sewer line repair is one such project that requires specialized knowledge and experience. A single mistake could result in significant damage, costing you more than the initial repair bill. Sewer lines are essential for proper waste management, but they can become damaged for several reasons. A damaged line can cause clogged drains, foundation or wall cracks, soggy lawns, strange smells, or increased rodents and insects. You should contact a professional as soon as possible to have your sewer line inspected and repaired if you believe it is failing.
Numerous replacement or repair options are available from a licensed plumber, depending on the location and severity of the problem. Trenchless repairs can be less expensive than traditional methods but require extensive prep work and labor. The type of pipe used will also affect the cost. PVC is the most affordable option, while cast iron and copper are more expensive but offer superior durability. It’s also worth noting that there are additional costs for cleanup, equipment, and material disposal. Homeowners should also factor in the cost of obtaining necessary permits for their project.
Safety
Many things can go wrong with a sewer line project, from a small leak that turns into a big crack to sewage backing up in your home. Hiring only a professional plumber with the expertise and equipment needed to do the job right is essential. Sewer lines are home to dangerous bacteria, including methane gas, giardia, and E coli. These bacteria can pose health risks if not adequately handled by a professional plumber who understands the proper safety measures. Most plumbing companies offer repair services for clogged, damaged, or broken sewer lines. These can include sewer cleaning, pipe lining, and trenchless excavation methods like pipe bursting, to name just a few. A licensed and insured plumber should always use these services to ensure the repair is done correctly and safely.
Homeowners with DIY experience can do minor repairs independently, such as unclogging a toilet or drain with a drain snake. However, when it comes to sewer line repairs, a professional plumber is the only way to guarantee that the repair is done correctly and in compliance with local regulations. During the repair process, there will likely be a lot of noise and disruption to your home. For this reason, it’s a good idea to leave young children and pets with a babysitter or pet sitter while the work is being done.
Experience
Professional plumbers have extensive experience with sewer line repairs. Their knowledge and expertise are more likely to lead to a correct repair the first time, saving homeowners money in the long run. Professional plumbers also typically offer a warranty or guarantee for their work, which gives homeowners peace of mind. DIY efforts to fix damaged sewer lines can cause recurring problems and even more expensive repairs. With the proper tools and experience, homeowners can handle the line and use suitable materials to seal it, leading to further damage. They may also accidentally break the line or injure themselves during the project.
In some cases, replacing the entire pipe is better than trying to repair it. Sewer lines that are too damaged or old may need to be completely dug up and replaced with a new line. This process is more expensive than repairing an existing one, but it can save homeowners a lot of money and hassle in the long run. Total replacement is best if a tree’s roots infiltrate a sewer line. A professional plumber can assess the problem using a camera and recommend protective measures like pipe bursting to ensure that the root intrusion isn’t recurring in the future. Regular inspections and proper disposal of wipes, grease, and other items can also help prevent infiltration by tree roots.
Time
Regarding plumbing issues, some homeowners choose to fix their issues because they believe it will save them money. While this is true for some scenarios, it’s important to remember that a sewer line requires professional services to be fixed correctly. The lines are filled with sewage, which contains dangerous chemicals and bacteria. It is crucial to avoid making repairs with improper tools and knowledge.
Sometimes, a sewer line needs to be replaced rather than repaired. It can be a big job involving digging a large yard trench to find and replace the entire line. It is a costly project that can take several days to complete. The cost is further increased when homeowners remove any landscaping and hardscaping to complete the project.
It’s also important to consider that digging without proper knowledge can lead to more problems than just replacing a sewer line. If you dig too close to a gas line, you could cause an explosion. You may also accidentally hit a water or power line, which can be extremely expensive. These are just a few reasons why leaving these kinds of projects to professionals is best.
