The majority of plumbing issues can be easily fixed without performing excavation. But there are instances in which excavation is needed to make sure that the plumbing problems won’t cause extensive and expensive damage.
Excavation refers to the process that involves digging the soil with high-pressure water in order to show the pipeline and carefully assess the situation. With the pressurized water, dirt will be eliminated from your pipeline, which will be moved into debris tanks. This process is effective when it comes to getting rid of blockages and wastes. It’ll also make sure the clog in your plumbing system is completely cleared out.
But are you wondering whether you need to consider excavation? If so, then keep on reading. As a piece of advice, if you notice any of these issues, make sure to consider an on demand excavation service so the problem will be solved in the fastest time possible.
Listed below are some of the plumbing issues that need excavation:
1. Clogged Drainage
One common plumbing problem for which homeowners call a professional plumber is slow drains. A lot of times, this problem takes place for the same reasons as a clogged toilet. Goodness knows what debris is clogged in the pipe.
As with a toilet, don’t put stuff down your drain that can cause clogs. The bad news is it’s not typically possible to plunge a bathroom or kitchen sink effectively. One more thing, it’s not sanitary, so trying it is a bad idea.
Slow drains may only require a drain cleaner, but most of the time, you’ll need help from professionals. The major issue with a clogged drain is your pipes that become clogged are concealed behind drywall or plaster. And in order to reach it, digging or excavation is necessary. Since such pipes are typically bent as well as curve around a load-bearing structural component of your home, they can be hard to reach and manage. So, it’s best to leave the job to professionals.
2. Leaking Pipeline
Most drainage fixes are due to leaky pipelines. But in cases where leakages take place underground, water can seep toward the ground and weaken the land’s integrity above the drainage system at the same time.
Aside from that, when turbulent flows occur, the water pressure pushing the foundation of drains can weaken its structure little by little too. Keep in mind that several leaks are signs of a busted drainage system that shouldn’t be ignored. Also, this plumbing issue will need excavation before you can replace the entire pipe section.
3. Cracks
When you notice cracks around your drains, know that these are some of the early signs of approaching collapses. As a homeowner, you shouldn’t disregard this indication as it may lead to severe plumbing issues underground.
The best term to describe this problem is the rusting of steel reinforcement because of water. So, before this problem is aggravated, excavating the area to assess the drain can offer you the best preventative measure.
4. Water Is Draining Slowly
If your drain isn’t totally blocked, then the toilets, sinks, and other systems may experience water to slowly drain. While the plumbing line might not be blocked, there could be some obstructions that limit the flow of water.
Having said that, if the block is big and can’t be eliminated through other blocked drain removal methods, then excavation is necessary. With excavation, you can directly assess the pipe that’ll help you or the plumber decide the best action to make.
5. Broken Main Water Line
Did you know that there are two kinds of water main breaks? First, the delivery line coming from the public main bringing water to your home might break. Second, the public delivery line alone might break. For the first type, you’re in charge of the water line repair. But for the latter, the municipality where you’re living is responsible for the repairs.
Nevertheless, water main breaks of any kind can be frightening and spectacular at the same time. In fact, they require serious repairs and heavy pieces of equipment in order to fix, usually requiring excavation. Meaning to say, they aren’t DIY jobs; instead, they demand a top expert professional.
Water main leakages, on the other hand, are just a little bit less serious, but they need immediate attention. Believe it or not, if you ignore them, they become water main breaks. What’s more, they also need heavy equipment and excavation.
6. Smelly Sewer
The presence of the smell of sewage close to your sinks and other drains could be a sign that your plumbing line is broken or cracked. Most of the time, plumbers will end up replacing or repairing your pipe. And note that excavation may be the only option to get the job done successfully.
7. Odd Healthy Grass Patches
Leakages in your underground piping systems may cause the grass in certain areas to become much greener compared to others. The water leaking and the waste fertilizing the soil and grass might be an indication that you need to seek help from a reliable plumber. The plumber will need to perform an excavation to ensure whether the problem roots underground, so it’ll be fixed properly.
8. Outdated Pipes
A sewer line is usually made of different materials such as clay, metal, concrete, or plastic. As years go by, the pipelines in your home age and corrosions are more likely to take place.
Thus, if your sewage pipes are outdated, you need to consider a plumbing excavation. This will help the plumber check the entire condition of the pipes and manage plumbing problems from the roots.
9. Indentations Or Sinkholes
If there are indentations or sinkholes around your property, there’s a huge possibility that your plumbing lines underneath might be leaking water. The soil will dispel whereas the vegetation, landscape, and other areas of your sags or sinkholes may take place. To stop the leaks, the plumber needs to access them, and this is possible by performing excavation.
10. Toilet Blockage
One of the common plumbing issues that homeowners are facing is a blocked toilet. If your toilet blocks, possibilities are you’ll be notified because when you’re trying to flush, your toilet is backing up. The same thing happens with other plumbing appliances. Most of the time, it’s pretty easy to identify where the source of the issue is and easy to find the clogged drain.
But are you aware that it’s not the case all the time? There are times you’ll run laundry and experience water gushing up into your shower downstairs or you’ll flush your toilet for another backing up.
When you encounter this, it’s likely to clog outside of your pipes in your property and might be as far as your main sewer line. For this problem, excavation is highly recommended as accessing the sewer line involves digging below, and you’ll need to seek help from plumbers to deal with this. Before excavating, the plumber will usually run a camera first and determine what the issue is.
11. Tree Roots In The Pipes
Since it’s difficult to figure out what’s happening under the ground as far as shrub roots and trees are concerned, it could be hard to know how far the roots reach and their effects under the soil. From time to time, the roots of trees work their way into your pipe joints, causing leakages and entire blockages in the sewer pipes. This may lead to sewage backup through floor drainages.
While an auger can chew tree roots in the pipe, keep in mind that the roots tend to grow back. Some plumbers are also using a chemical root killer. But if you’re dealing with a severe issue, the pipe needs to be replaced completely, and that needs digging up the yard.
Considerations When Looking For A Plumbing Excavation Company
Now that you have an idea about the plumbing issues that need excavation and you’re dealing with one of these problems, it’s time to hire a company that can give you the best service. To help you narrow down your options, here are some of the important things to take into account when deciding:
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Insurance And License
No one wants to work with an unlicensed company. So, to make sure they do the job well and on time, choose a service provider who’s both insured and licensed. You can trust an insured and licensed plumbing contractor to be responsible and professional.
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Trained Team
Aside from assessing the company itself, it’s also important that you check the plumbers’ profiles that’ll be appointed to fix your plumbing issue. Check if they’ve undergone training. It’s also crucial that they’re honest since you’re allowing these individuals into your home.
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Tools And Experience
Checking how long a company has been in the business is also recommended. Make sure they have a good reputation. One more thing, they should have the right equipment and tools.
Usually, the number of years a service provider operates will tell you whether they deserve your trust or not. Likewise, the equipment they’re using is also crucial since it’ll determine how effective and quick they can finish the job.
Conclusion
Nobody wants to excavate their property. But sometimes, it’s the only way to fix some plumbing issues like the above-mentioned. Nevertheless, when you’re experiencing such problems and decide to perform excavation, rest assured that once the plumber gets access to the problem, it’ll be fixed properly and effectively. But be sure to work with an experienced and reliable provider to reap such benefits.
