As a homeowner, you may not be aware that the sewer line running from your home to the city sewer system is your responsibility. If anything happens to it, you are responsible for excavating and performing the repair. While many new homes will use a PVC pipe for the run from the home to the sewer system, many older homes use drain tiles, which are easily susceptible to damage. Here is how to tell if you have a sewer line issue that needs to be repaired.

Odor in Your Drains

If you smell a foul odor from just one drain in your home, this isn't usually a reason to be concerned. There may be something stuck near the top of the drain that is causing the odor, and you need to use a plunger to get rid of it or a snake to break it up.

However, you should be concerned if you have a foul odor coming out from every drain inside your home. This means that the pipe leading to your sewer has broken, and the sewage is not making it all the way out.

Tree Roots in the Pipe

Old drain tiles can be problematic if you have large trees growing in your backyard. Chances are that the roots will eventually find its way into the pipe by breaking through it, which will gradually cause a clog with sewage trying to get to the sewer system.

You may notice this problem due to slow moving drains in your home. You can confirm the problem by having a plumber stick a camera into the sewer cleanout and find out exactly what is happening inside the pipes. If they see tree roots, they can cut through them with a sewer snake and get the water flowing again. There will still be time to save the pipe from collapsing due to tree roots.

Backyard That's Wet

Any problem where the yard is wet above your sewer pipe should be a big reason to be concerned. It means that the sewer line has collapsed, and sewage is going into the ground and causing the soil to be wet. You will need to dig up the old sewer so that it can be removed and replaced with a new pipe made out of PVC, which should prevent this issue from happening again. Thankfully, a plumber can handle the entire replacement process for you.

To learn more, talk to companies like Best Choice Plumbing, Inc.