What is the Life Expectancy of a Sewer Line?
Your home’s sewer line is essential to its plumbing system, from foul odors and backups to clogs that negatively affect daily life. A damaged sewer line can have far-reaching implications that affect daily activities.
Depending on the material composition, your buried pipe could last 50 to 100 years. Read on to gain more insight into its longevity factors.
Ensuring the longevity of your home’s sewer line is crucial to avoid issues like foul odors, backups, and clogs; for expert insights and solutions, you can click here.
Cast iron pipes
Your home’s sewer line carries wastewater from drains, appliances, and fixtures into its main sewer line. Your sewer line can be made of different materials, but cast iron pipes tend to last 75-100 years with regular use compared to clay pipes or Orangeburg pipes, which typically only last 50-60 years and usually don’t hold up well against corrosion.
Regular maintenance is crucial to prolong the lifespan of your sewer pipe system, including having your septic tank pumped every three years and scheduling routine snaking services for your sewage system. A professional plumber can also help assess the condition of your sewer lines, and they can recommend any necessary repairs or replacements.
Clay pipes
One of the key considerations when determining whether or not to repair or replace a home’s sewer line is its type. Homes built before 1980 typically feature clay pipes, while those constructed after this date often utilize PVC pipes.
Clay pipes offer durability and corrosion protection yet can quickly develop leaks due to tree roots or be cumbersome for users due to their size and weight. Plastic piping offers better flexibility but requires additional manual effort due to its larger dimensions and weight requirements.
Over time, older clay pipes may develop what’s known as a “belly.” A belly stops wastewater and sewage from flowing freely, potentially leading to backups in your home. If you suspect this might happen to you, having your pipes video inspected by professionals can identify any issues and how best to solve them – though replacing sewer lines may save money in the long run.
PVC pipes
PVC pipes are sturdy and resilient against corrosion from hard water, bacteria or sewer gas; however, they are vulnerable to ground movement, which could cause them to crack, resulting in root intrusion issues and other issues in your sewage system.
When the time comes to replace your sewer line, you need a reliable plumber with the knowledge and tools to do it quickly and effectively.
Plumbing companies offer pipe bursting and CIPP (cured-in-place pipe). Pipe bursting is a process where they burst your old clay, metal, or PVC sewer pipes and replace them with new ones. At the same time, CIPP uses resin-permeated fiberglass cloth to form a long-term sewer line in your existing host pipe that prevents future issues while prolonging its lifespan.
Orangeburg pipes
If your home was constructed between 1940 and 1972, it likely contains Orangeburg sewer lines. Unfortunately, these pipes deteriorate quickly, often leading to frequent clogs and being vulnerable to tree roots that could eventually cause them to collapse completely.
Fiber conduit (commonly referred to as Bermico or fiber conduit) was utilized during World War II due to an iron and steel shortage. It was lined with wood pulp and hot pitch for insulation purposes.
Pipes can often leak and leach chemicals into the ground that seep into wells and aquifers, leading to potential contamination and aquifers. Replacing these pipes is costly and time-consuming; trenchless replacement is the ideal way to save repair costs and yard destruction.
Therefore, it is better to schedule regular HD sewer camera inspections every six months to track your status before replacement becomes necessary.
