Does Your Commercial Facility Need New Sewer Lines?

Sewer work is an expensive repair in any context, but sewer line work can also create a costly (and messy) disruption for commercial facilities. Unfortunately, ignoring sewer problems can lead to even more troublesome weeks, months, or years in the future. Just as with residential plumbing problems, the cheapest option is often to tackle any problem head-on.

Of course, business owners rarely make a conscious decision to pump money into a problem continuously. Instead, it's often challenging to recognize the signs of a sewer line that's beyond saving. This article will help you understand if your building's sewer system may be past the point of no return.

Understand Your Sewer Line Responsibilities

Before deciding if your plumbing problems require you to dig up and replace your sewer lines, it's first essential to understand your responsibilities as a property owner. In most areas, commercial property owners have the same general duties as residential property owners. You will be responsible for maintaining the sewer line portion (the lateral) that runs under your property.

The distinction between the upper and lower sewer lateral may be a cause for confusion, however. The lower lateral connects to the municipal line, while the upper lateral connects to your building. A cleanout will usually divide these two pipe sections. You may not be responsible for lower lateral maintenance, so be sure to confirm ownership before proceeding.

Consider Your Long-Term Maintenance Costs

Sewer laterals require periodic inspection and maintenance, but frequent repairs are a sign of trouble. Are you routinely calling in a plumber to snake or hydro-jet your sewer lines? Although blockages can occasionally be one-off events, repeated sewer cleanings usually indicate a deeper problem. In many cases, recurring clogs can result from root intrusion or pipe damage.

If you find that you are spending a significant portion of your maintenance budget on sewer cleaning, you should consult a professional for a full inspection. A commercial plumber can use a drain inspection camera to check for ongoing issues that may be causing your lateral to back up into the building too often.

Determine If You Need a New Lateral

Some problems, such as tree roots that have found their way into the pipes, may be repairable without replacing the existing sewer line. In other cases, collapsed pipes or severe cracks from tree damage may mean that some pipe segments are unsalvageable. Resolving the problem now will prevent future blockages and also avoid potentially expensive damage from leaking laterals.

Note that the severity of the problem will determine the approaches available to you. If some of your pipes remain intact, trenchless repair methods may be cheaper than digging up and replacing the old lateral. Partially or entirely collapsed pipe segments may require a complete replacement, however. Contact a commercial plumber for more information. 

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