The quality of the installation of the sewer system directly affects its service life. But even an ideal assembly will not save you from the influence of external aggressive factors. Over time, situations arise in communications that require urgent intervention. Otherwise, expensive overhaul of sewer networks and water supply systems will be required.
Common sewer problems
The most common malfunctions:
- Blockages and plugs. This is evidenced by the stagnation of sewage in the toilet or the outlet of drains in other plumbing.
- Leaks at the joints.
- Cracking of pipe sections with a characteristic appearance of sewage odors.
Any of the situations requires immediate repair, otherwise it will lead to a serious accident.
Repair materials
For complex breakdowns, pipes will be required to replace the damaged areas. It can be metal products - cast iron and galvanized steel. But more often they use polymer models. Fittings, clamps and sealant are also required.
Materials should be selected only of high quality: all parts must withstand high pressure.
With simple blockages, special chemical solvents are acquired. But you can get by with home remedies.
Sewerage repair methods
The choice of method for eliminating the problem of internal sewerage depends on its nature. First of all, you need to identify why the collector is not functioning well.
Blockage
The blockage is easy to determine: the water stops going down the drain. a similar phenomenon is often observed in apartment buildings. There are three types of blockages:
- domestic;
- intra-house;
- yard.
In the first option, it is necessary to clean the pipeline inside the apartment, in the second - risers, in the third - sewer wells on the street.
Plugs in pipes occur due to the settling of grease or trapped debris, as well as improper placement of the pipeline. In the latter case, you may need to rebuild the entire system.
Organic blockages are removed with a simple and inexpensive method: with the help of soda and vinegar, or with a special tool purchased at a household chemicals store.
A plunger will help get rid of minor plugs. Cleaning is carried out in this way: the tool is installed above the drain hole and, with several up and down movements, forcibly force the created trash plug to move. After that, the emerging blockage is removed with a pressure of water.
If everything is fine with the installation of pipes, but neither soda nor chemicals work, you need to look for the cork deeper. To get rid of it, you will need to use a plumbing cable. It is fed into the inspection hatch or the place where the sink is connected to the drain.
A large blockage in the risers can lead to a system failure. Sewerage repair in an apartment building is performed only by network maintenance specialists.
Leaks at the joints
If there is dampness coupled with an unpleasant odor, look for the leak. Leakage can cause a loose connection of the siphon to the drain hole or a poor connection to the pipe inlet.
To fix the problem, inspect the place where the leak is noticed, check the gasket. If it is worn out, replace it.
It is more difficult to repair a sewer pipeline if a leak is noticed at the connection of cast iron pipes. Its elimination depends on the docking method. It can be lead or cement.
If cement was used for the connection, do the following:
- Remove the old grout with a hammer and chisel.
- Clean out the gap.
- Emboss a new layer of tarred linen fibers and cement.
If the joint is sealed with lead, clean the joint layer down to cast iron. Then a new lead seal is driven into the slots with a blunt chisel.
Cracks in pipes
During operation, a small crack grows. If found, it is advisable to make a major overhaul of the sewer system with the replacement of the pipe section. If this is not possible, a temporary patch is installed. The technology is selected depending on the material of the sewer pipeline.
For cast iron, the sequence of actions is as follows:
- Expand the gap and treat with a special degreaser.
- Mix copper oxide and phosphoric acid (1.5: 1).
- Cover the crack with this compound.
On plastic communications, the cracks are carefully sealed with silicone and the pipe is wrapped with tape. This eliminates sewer stench and leaks.
External sewerage faults
Repairing the external sewerage of a private house is more difficult. To remove blockages and plugs, you will have to call a professional team of plumbers who will fix the problem in one of the following ways:
- Electromechanical. A mobile electric installation is used that removes concrete and cement deposits, foreign objects. Used for pipelines of various cross-sections.
- Hydrodynamic. Deposits of fat and sludge are effectively removed by directing a water jet into the pipes under pressure, followed by pumping out.
- Mechanical. Pipelines, risers, well devices are cleaned with a steel cable. Removes dirt, debris plugs in areas with difficult access.
Self-cleaning is realistic in situations where there is a blockage inside the house: in the toilet bowl, apartment pipeline, siphons, weirs. If the problem is in the wear of the pipes of the external sewage system, the masters suggest that they be rehabilitated using a trenchless method. It avoids breaking up asphalt or soil. The essence of the method is that with the help of special tools, a new, polymer one is laid inside the old pipe. It is also used to renovate water mains.
Repair errors
If the slope is insignificant, it slows down the movement of wastewater through the pipeline, leads to siltation and the appearance of traffic jams. For pipes with a cross section of 100 mm, the slope is 20 mm per meter.
Other bugs causing problems include:
- insufficient sealing of joints;
- lack of revision units and ventilation of the riser;
- unnecessarily long pipe sections of pipes between plumbing fixtures and a riser;
- conducting pipes with a small cross-section.
Professionals do not recommend choosing flexible corrugated products for sewage. The imperfection lies in their high hydraulic resistance. In comparison with pipes of a rigid assembly, a corrugated product is more susceptible to blockages and dirt, it is poorly cleaned from the outside and spoils its appearance. This part is easily damaged. During long-term operation, the "corrugation" sags and forms an additional siphon that prevents normal drainage.
Preventive measures
In order not to lead to a major overhaul of the entire sewage system, follow the rules for using communications:
- Do not flush cement, stone, asbestos crumbs, sand down the toilet.
- Do not allow rags or personal hygiene items to enter the system.
- Equip kitchen sinks and dishwashers with grease traps under the drain.
It is useful to systematically clean the pipes with chemistry or just hot water. It is better to prevent leaks and blockages than to spend money on replacing the sewer pipeline in the future.
