How Often Should You Have Your Sewer Line Inspected in Older Sonoma Homes?

Historic Sonoma County homes are stunning properties that deserve the utmost care and attention in order to continue flourishing. One vital aspect of this is something homeowners don’t often think about: the sewer line. More specifically, how often to get a sewer inspection in Sonoma County.

Every home’s sewer line should be maintained on a regular basis, but older homes in Sonoma County require a more tailored solution. Regular inspections are mandatory, especially so in areas with concerns like heavy tree roots. Ignoring these maintenance tasks can result in massive damage to your sewer lateral without you knowing until it’s too late and you’re having to deal with the heavy costs of large repairs and replacements.

To get ahead of this, we’ll work through how older homes should go about regular sewer maintenance, the specific problems to be aware of, red flags to watch out for, how professional plumbers will go about the sewer inspection process, and what parts of sewer maintenance you can and can’t DIY.

When Should Homeowners Get a Sewer Inspection in Sonoma County?

Older Sonoma County homes (30+ years) with similarly aged sewer lines should be inspected once or twice a year at least to continue to stay ahead of sewer line damage. If your home is closer to the 20 year age mark, then 2-3 times a year is optimal, while anything under 20 years can survive with an inspection only every 4-5 years, depending on your pipe material. What’s important is that you establish a routine and keep a record of each inspection so that you are able to keep track of the condition of your pipes and any new developments that begin to arise.

If You Are Buying Or Selling a Sonoma County Home

Before you sell or purchase a Sonoma County home, a sewer inspection should absolutely be performed. You want to be sure that the sewer line is functioning normally before you buy a brand new home, and you will of course want to reassure your potential buyers that they are not being handed a faulty sewer line if you are selling a historic Sonoma County property. This is also why keeping up on inspections is so important, so that if you do decide to sell your house in the future, you won’t have to deal with a surprise sewer issue that you’ll have to repair.

Areas With Large Amounts of Trees

If your home is in an area with a large amount of trees, this means there is a higher danger of tree root intrusion in the sewer pipes. The roots of trees are drawn to the moisture in the pipes, and can commonly wrap themselves around the pipe and even break through the material, causing problematic drain clogs as well as pipe damage that will need to be addressed right away. Regular inspections can stay ahead of this issue, giving you a chance to come up with solutions, such as installing barriers if roots are becoming a threat.

Recent Sewer Problems

If you’ve had issues with your sewer recently (blockages, repairs, etc.) it’s very important to keep a close eye and make sure problems don’t begin repeating themselves. Once you’re aware that your pipes can run into specific problems, you want to always stay ahead of them from now on.

What Problems Do Sonoma County Sewer Lines Face?

Tree Root Danger

As stated, tree roots can be a common issue in Sonoma County sewer systems. The roots from trees like oaks and poplars are easily attracted to the water flowing through your sewer pipes. If the material is aged enough, they can sometimes break straight through and cause a massive clog, or they can wrap themselves tightly around the pipe until it becomes damaged. On top of annoying drain clogs in your plumbing, you’ll be dealing with damaged water lines.

Soil Movement

Seismic activity is a typical occurrence in Sonoma County, and it has a serious effect on sewer lines. Earthquake movement can cause pipes to shift and crack. This is why it is important to know if you are in a high risk area, because your sewer may be more affected. The clay and adobe soils in Sonoma properties also swell and contract as the seasons change, putting pressure on pipes, particularly if the material is weaker. Soil can even erode pipes over time, causing them to become weaker.

Aging Sewer Pipes

The absence of strong, modern piping is a big issue when it comes to older Sonoma homes. Clay and cast iron pipes easily rust, flake, and crack. This leads to higher risks of leaks, root intrusion, and heavy damage from soil shifts. It is important to know the kind of pipes you have and how old they are so that you can look out for these specific issues.

What are the Warning Signs of a Sewer Problem?

Aside from learning the specifics of your sewer line and what surrounds it as well as how often you should get a sewer camera inspection, it is also important to keep an eye out for red flags within your plumbing that suggest a sewer problem. This way, in addition to your routine inspections, you can know the signs to watch out for that will help identify a problem even earlier.

Slow Drainage

One of the most obvious signs of a sewer issue is slow-moving or clogged drains. If you have a recurring drain clog that reappears even after multiple uncloggings or you are noticing multiple drains are flowing much slower than they should, you could have a larger clog deep in the system that needs to be cleared by a professional.

Foul Odors

Sewage-like smells coming from drains are another sign of a larger sewer clog or a possible backup. You want to take care of this problem quickly before any sewage begins flooding back out of your drains.

Gurgling Noises

Gurgling or bubbling noises coming from places like the toilet or shower drain can indicate a blockage or even a damaged pipe. It is also important to pay attention to low hissing noises that can point to a water leak.

Water Bill Jumps

If you’ve noticed an unexplained uptick in your monthly water bill, this is a big indicator of a possible hidden leak somewhere in your pipes. Noticing unexplained wet patches or mold growth around your house can also point to a plumbing leak. Professional leak detection can help pinpoint where a hidden leak is coming from.

Yard Wet Spots

Your yard can be an important spot to monitor for sewer problems. Wet watches in the grass or overly muddy areas can be a sign that there is a leak in the underground pipes. Any sort of difference you notice in your yard can be a red flag, even a patch of green that typically isn’t there. It is a good idea to consult a plumber if you notice any unusual signs in the yard.

How Do Plumbers Inspect a Sewer Pipe?

But what do the plumbing professionals actually do when they inspect your sewer line? A standard inspection can take around half an hour or longer depending on the size and complexity of the system in older Sonoma homes. Again, this is an inspection that should happen every 1-2 years in a Sonoma home that is over 30 years old. These inspections exist to identify issues such as root intrusion and pipe corrosion before they grow out of hand.

Camera Inspection

A full inspection of a sewer line will involve a high-resolution sewer camera that the plumber will insert into the sewer lateral from an access point. The camera will go through the entirety of the sewer line, looking for any signs of pipe damage, root intrusion, or early signs of corrosion. It can even identify hidden leaks. After this, you will receive a report of the inspection with details on the condition of your sewer line. You can receive the camera footage as well.

Drain Cleaning Solutions

If there is a clog in the drain, plumbers can use tools like flex-shaft sewer machines or rooter machines to chop away clumps of tree roots and eradicate the issue. One common method is hydrojetting, which involves a hose slid into the pipe that blasts a strong jet of water to clear away the blockage as well as clean the sides of the pipe from further buildup.

Pipe Repair

If there is any damage to the pipes, you will need to have a repair or replacement done. The good news is, there are useful, non-intrusive methods to doing this. One option is trenchless sewer repair, which is the process of inserting a new pipe through one access end and pulling it through another access end, until it is slid all the way through the pipe, essentially replacing the old one with a new, stronger material. The newer pipe is lined with a sticky material to bind to the older pipe and then blown up with air or water to create a seal. There is a similar method with pipe bursting, where the old pipe is broken apart the rest of the way as the new one is pulled through.

Both of these options are ideal because they avoid digging trenches in your yard to replace the sewer line.

DIY Do’s and Don’t’s

Camera Inspections

When it comes to sewer maintenance, there are certain tasks that are best left to the professionals. The inspection is one of them. This is because plumbers possess the best equipment and training to perform the job safely and accurately. You don’t want to accidentally damage your sewer line while trying to inspect it and you want to be sure you are getting all of the information you can about the state of your pipes. This is best left in the experts’ hands.

Drain Work

Another task you should leave to a licensed drain professional is any type of major sewer backup or pipe repair. Again, the experts have the proper tools and training for this work, whereas you could risk causing further damage to your system when attempting to resolve damaged pipes or large sewer blockages yourself. It will cost much more to repair a damaged sewer line than to hire a plumber to clear a drain cog.

Good Drain Habits

One maintenance task you should take on yourself regularly is practicing healthy drain care. This means making sure things that don’t belong in your drains stay out of them, such as paper towels, grease, feminine products, pet hair, dirt, etc. This will significantly reduce the risk of regular drain clogs. Use things like drain screens to catch large amounts of hair so that they don’t build up within the drain.

DIY Drain Cleaning

Another healthy maintenance practice is regularly washing out your drains with a combination of hot water, baking soda, and vinegar. Pouring boiling water down your drain along with a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar can dissolve clogs and clean away natural debris buildup before it gets out of hand. It is helpful to do this when you notice a plumbing fixture draining slower than usually, or just as part of our regular maintenance routine.

Routine Inspections

Of course, the best thing that Sonoma County homeowners can do to take care of their sewer line is to keep up with regular inspections and keep a record of every detail. This is a guaranteed way you can know exactly what is going on inside your sewer and can stay ahead of any potential problems that would otherwise grow out of control without your knowledge.

A Trusted Sonoma County Drain Cleaning Plumber

You will need a local plumber you can trust with keeping your sewer line intact. John Owens Services has provided the Sonoma County area with drain and sewer services since 1986. We are beyond experienced in the unique needs of historic Sonoma homes, from the pipe material and soil, to the tree root problems specific to the region. You can schedule any sewer inspection, drain cleaning, or pipe repair job with us and our trained technicians will make sure your sewer line is left working flawlessly for years to come.

Key Takeaways

• Homes older than 30 years should receive a sewer inspection 1-2 times a year. Homes that are 20+ years old should aim for 2 or 3 inspections per year, and newer homes can get away with an inspection once every 4 or 5 years.
• Whether you are buying or selling a historic Sonoma County home, have many trees around your property, or have experienced recent sewer issues all play a part in the urgency of sewer line care.
• Seismic activity, Sonoma soils, tree roots, and aging pipe materials are all classic contributing factors to sewer line damage to watch out for.
• Keep an eye out for red flags indicating a sewer problem including multiple slow drains, increases in your water bill, strange noises and smells coming from drains, and unexplained alterations in your yard.
• Leaving sewer work to the professionals is important since they use precise tools like sewer cameras, hydrojetters, and modern pipe materials for inspections, drain cleaning, and sewer repair.
• Keep up with good drain habits, like using drain screens and keeping certain objects out of the sewer, and maintain your drains with regular baking soda and vinegar cleanings, as well as sewer inspection schedules.