Why Do Sewer Pipes Fail?
Nothing lasts forever, and sewer lines are no exceptions. The older the pipes are, the more likely you’re going to have problems with them. Although properly installed PVC pipes are supposed to have a lifespan of well over 100 years, older pipes are usually made from clay tile, steel, or some other material that may only last 50 or 60 years. If you have an older home that was built before the late 1980s, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with clay pipes. It’s common for tree roots to wedge their way into pipes. Trees love the moisture! After a while the roots grow so dense and matted that they plug up the pipe completely. Sewer pipes can also get clogged up with an accumulation of grease, muck, and other nasty stuff that gets washed down there day after day. And sometimes sewer lines just plain break, collapse, or rot away. Tree roots have a way of hastening this process. The bad news is that every time you run a snake through your pipes to clear out the tree roots, you damage the s
