Sewers are a vital component of your home’s infrastructure because it protects your property from flooding and waterborne diseases caused by microorganisms. These include cholera, typhoid, malaria, Hepatitis A, Amoebiasis, and Shigellosis.

A sewer system transports wastewater to the treatment plant and reduces the social, environmental, and financial consequences that result from damage to properties caused by standing water and flooding.

Standing water can cause significant damages, including infectious diseases, property damage, and chemical hazards, impacting your home’s structural integrity and reducing its overall value.

Most homeowners in the United States ignore sewer repair or maintenance, leading to harsh consequences. The question is: What standing water in your sewer line means? Today’s article will answer this question by highlighting the causes of standing water in your sewer line. Read on!

Causes of Standing Water in Your Sewer Line

Although a small amount of standing water in the sewer line does not cause damage to your property, when you notice water backups in unexpected places, it means the standing water has clogged the main sewer line.

For example, flushing the toilet will result in water backups in the shower or sink. Likewise, toilets and sinks overflow when running a washing machine. These are the common signs of a blocked sewer line due to standing water.

Standing water blocks the system due to sewer bellies, disrupting the overall waterflow and creating a backup. A belly refers to a bend or break that prevents water from proper flow by clogging dirt, debris, and waste at the break. Let us discuss the factors that lead to sewer bellies.

Inadequate Installation or Maintenance

Although most sewer bellies occur due to natural causes, inadequate installation or poor maintenance is the culprit behind the problem. Installation requires careful planning and preparation, including soil compaction, before the process.

Compaction is one of the leading causes of changing soil densities, deteriorating the support for the pipe. Professional contractors use innovative approaches, such as placing a bedding material before installing the sewer pipes or lines. Sand and gravel are the most popular bedding because they do not compact over time.

That’s why the sewer pipe’s base remains firm and provides essential support to the system. In addition, proper maintenance is vital to preventing standing water, clogs, and sewer bellies.

Homeowners who hire a professional plumbing service prevent these problems and keep the sewer line up and running throughout the year. On the other hand, people who fail to perform preventative maintenance experience the hassle.

Hiring an experienced plumbing service can put an end to constant clogs. However, you must follow routine maintenance after the experts have performed their work. For example, you can prevent standing water and bellies in the sewer line by:

  • Limiting food down the drain line
  • Not flushing wet wipes down the toilet
  • Disposing of non-food items properly
  • Flushing the entire plumbing system
  • Using natural solutions to clean the plumbing system

Disruption in Proper Waste Flow

Disrupting waste flow is a significant cause of clogs, standing water, and bellies in your sewer line. A residential plumbing system does not have pumps to push waste out of your home. Gravity is responsible for the proper flow of waste out of your home’s sewer line.

That’s why contractors install sewer pipes at a sloping angle to maintain proper flow. A sewer belly occurs when part of your sewer line sags downward and takes a curved shape. As a result, it prevents the natural waste flow. Similarly, debris accumulates along the sewer belly’s base, disrupting the waste from moving through the line.

So, you may experience sewage backups in your home. Hiring a professional, experienced, skilled plumbing service can fix the issue. A Professional plumber has cutting-edge tools and uses their extensive knowledge to get the job done adequately. A DIY approach, in this case, may not work.

Shifting Soil

Although most sewer lines in residential properties start with a correct angle, shifting soil causes sewer bellies over time. For example, when dirt, dust, soil, or debris compact beneath your home’s sewer line, it sags downward and prevents waste flow.

When you flush water into the sink or toilet, it does go through the sewer line and stays there as standing water. Tree root growth, soil hydration, temperature fluctuations, earthquakes, microbial accumulation, pests, etc., can also cause sewer bellies, leading to standing water in the sewer line.

Final Words

Standing water becomes a breeding ground for disease-causing bacteria, viruses, fungus, and other microbes. Therefore, homeowners mustavoid leaving the standing water undrained.

Otherwise, standing water or sewer bellies will negatively impact the entire plumbing system and compromise your home’s structural integrity. Hiring a professional plumbing service is vital to solving any plumbing issue. Contact us today for sewer repair and maintenance services at the most affordable prices.

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