Older buildings tend to have aging components that need repair or are prone to damage. One of the problematic parts that you need to be aware of is your building’s sewer line. As a building manager, you don’t want to get to work and hear reports that your tenants are complaining about a clogged up or broken sewer line.
The trouble is that a broken sewer line is not often detected easily. It doesn’t help that when a sewer line does get broken, it becomes a potential health hazard to everyone in the building. If it does happen, you need to resolve it as quickly as possible. Here are a few things to bear in mind when repairing your sewer line:
Get Skilled Help
The first thing you need to realize is that a broken sewer line is not something you can repair on your own. You will need the help of professionals like those at Sexson Mechanical to fix it properly. Don’t just go for solo plumbers. Fixing a sewer line will require a team, so you will need to contact one of the established contractors for it. Repairing a sewer line is more like a construction project than a regular plumbing job.
Talk with your potential repair people and ask them about their experience and whether they know the relevant codes and permits that they need to obtain to start work on the sewer line.
Figure Out the Specifications of the Dig
Most sewer lines can be found under the ground, buried under several layers of soil. This is why most sewer line repairs often involve a level of excavation. However, you need to be sure where exactly there will be digging and make plans for it. Consult with the repair crew on what exactly needs to be done and be focused on the area that needs repairs.
Ensure a Full Repair
One of the things you need to work out is that you are getting a fully repaired sewer line. Your repair team might have replaced the sewer line, but if they did not remove the cause of it, this might happen again. This means if it is a tree root that caused the initial break, they need to have completely removed it. If it was a clog from accumulated solid sewage, they also need to have removed it.
Ask for Other Options
Note that in the past the only option for a sewer line repair was a complete replacement of the original sewer line. There might be other cost-effective options. For example, laying down a new sewer line sounds expensive, but if your old one was severely damaged and seems to be on its last legs, it might be better to opt for a new one that incorporates modern materials and will cost you less in the long run.
Sewer lines are what connects your building to the sewer system, which means all the dirty water and sewage of your building flows through them. Broken lines can result in floods and water damage. The tips above should be a big help in resolving this matter quickly.
