How to Know If You Have a Leaking Sewer Pipe

Sewer Pipes

The chances are your house is connected to a sewer. All of the pipes from your sinks, showers, baths and toilets link to one large private pipe under your home, which travels to the street and sewer systems of Melbourne. Sometimes the sewer pipe from your house can crack or collapse, leading to severe consequences. There are many signs of a collapsed sewer line. These can be as simple as foul odour or as serious as structural damage to your home.

Common Symptoms of a Damaged Sewer Line

Regular Blockages

When experiencing blockages from a single drain in your house, it may be best to get a drain cleaning. If the issue persists, or you start experiencing blockages from multiple drains, it is likely a sign of issues with the sewer pipe. In addition to regular blockages, if your drains become slow, this can be a symptom of a more dire problem. Drain inspections can help you determine how serious the issue is.

Smell

An obvious sign of sewer pipe leaking is a foul smell in or around your home. Sewage odour is one of the first noticeable collapsed sewer pipe symptoms. Having your drains and pipes cleaned may solve the problem for a short time, but if there is any damage along the sewer pipe, the smell will quickly return. There is no reason for a sewer pipe to be emitting odour. If you can smell sewage near your house, there is likely damage to the main pipe.

Rodent and Insect Infestation

It can be easy to assume a rodent and insect infestation is unrelated to your sewage issues, but they often are related. Rats and insects thrive in the sewers and can crawl through tiny spaces to invade your home. If you have a collapsed sewer line, infestations will often follow. Rats and cockroaches can lead to several health issues and you may need more than a pest control company to get rid of them permanently.

Damp or Mould

If you notice mould growing in your house, this can be another collapsed sewer pipe symptom. Having a damaged pipe can cause water to leak out, resulting in higher humidity levels in the walls of your house, which encourages mould growth and structural dampness. Mould and damp alone is not always a sign of a leaking sewer pipe, but it can be a significant health issue, particularly for young children, and it is best to find the source as soon as possible.

Lawn Inconsistencies

If your lawn has inconsistencies, such as patches that are more lush than others or sinking ground, you may have a leaking sewer pipe. Lush patches might not seem like an issue, but they can be a sign of water seeping out of a pipe, acting as a fertiliser to your grass or plants. Similarly, if tree roots seem to thrive around your sewer pipe, it could be receiving extra nutrients from the leaking water. Because of this leakage, the dirt can also become softer, leading to indents in the ground or under pavers.

Foundation Cracks

One of the most severe signs of sewer pipe damage is structural damage in your home. In most cases, you will be able to detect the issue before these symptoms occur. If the problem becomes extreme, you may begin to notice cracks in your foundation or even sinkholes. It is best to call professional help immediately to resolve the sewage issue, and you may have to pay for foundation repair as well.

Collapsed Sewer Detection

At Drainpro we specialise in CCTV pipe inspections in order to give you the whole picture. Through our camera inspections, our drain plumbers are able to determine the best course of action going forward. If you have any questions or want to request a CCTV drain inspection, get in contact with us on 1300 620 273 or fill out our content form.