The quality of the installation of the sewer system directly affects its life. But even an ideal assembly will not save from the influence of external aggressive factors. Over time, situations arise in communications that require immediate intervention. Otherwise, you will need expensive overhaul of sewer networks and water supply.
Common sewer problems
The most common malfunctions:
- Blockages and plugs. This is evidenced by stagnation of sewage in the toilet or the outlet of drains in other plumbing.
- Leaks at joints.
- Cracking of pipe segments 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 failures, pipes will be required to replace damaged areas. It can be metal products - cast iron and steel galvanized. But more often use polymer models. Fittings, clamps and sealant are also needed.
Materials should be selected only high-quality: all parts must withstand high pressure.
With simple blockages, they acquire special chemical solvents. But you can do it with home remedies.
Ways to repair sewers
The choice of method for eliminating the problem of internal sewage depends on its nature. First of all, it is necessary to identify, because of which the collector does not function well.
Clogging
The blockage is easy to determine: the water stops flowing down the drain. a similar phenomenon is often observed in apartment buildings. Blockages are divided into three types:
- domestic;
- house building;
- yard.
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- Siphon blockage
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- Clogged riser
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- Backyard blockage
In the first option, it is necessary to clean the pipeline inside the apartment, in the second - risers, in the third - sewage wells on the street.
Traffic jams in the pipes occur due to the subsidence of fat or stuck debris, as well as improper location of the pipeline. In the latter case, you may need to reassemble the entire system.
Organic blockages are eliminated by a simple and inexpensive method: using soda and vinegar or a special tool purchased in a household chemical store.
A plunger will help get rid of minor traffic jams. Perform the cleaning in this way: install the tool over the drain hole and several movements up and down forcibly force the created garbage cork to move. After that, the outgoing blockage is removed by the pressure of water.
If everything is fine with the installation of the pipes, but neither soda nor chemistry works, you need to look for a cork deeper. To get rid of it, you will need to use a plumbing cable. It starts up in the inspection hatch or at the point of attachment of the sink to the drain.
A large blockage in the risers can lead to a system crash. Sewer repair in an apartment building is carried out only by network service specialists.
Leaks at the junction
If there is dampness coupled with an unpleasant odor, look for a leak. Leaking can cause a loose connection of the siphon with the drain hole or poor connection to the pipe inlet.
To fix the problem, inspect the place where leaks are noticed, check the gasket. If it is worn - replace.
Repairing the sewer pipeline is more difficult 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 old cement mass with a hammer and a chisel.
- Clean out the gap.
- Chop a new layer of tarred flaxseed and cement.
If the joint is sealed with lead, clean the docking layer to cast iron. A new lead seal is then driven into the gap with a blunt chisel.
Pipe cracks
During operation, a small crack grows. If detected, it is advisable to overhaul the sewer system with the replacement of the pipe section. If this is not possible, establish a temporary patch. 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 degreasing compound.
- Combine copper oxide and phosphoric acid (1.5: 1).
- Coat the crack with this compound.
On plastic communications, the cracks are carefully sealed with silicone and tape wrapped around the pipe. This eliminates the stench of sewage and leakage.
Malfunctions of the external sewage system
Repairing the outdoor sewer of a private house is more difficult. To remove clogs and jams, you will have to call a professional plumber team that will fix the problem in one of the following ways:
- Electromechanical. A mobile electrical installation is used, removing concrete and cement deposits, foreign objects. It is used for pipelines of various sections.
- Hydrodynamic. Deposits of fat and sludge are effectively removed by directing a water jet into the pipes under pressure, followed by pumping.
- Mechanical. Pipes, risers, well devices are cleaned with a steel cable. Dirt, garbage jams in areas with difficult access are removed.
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- Electromechanical device
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- Hydrodynamic cleaning
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- Clogging with a plumbing cable
Self-cleaning is feasible in situations where there is a blockage inside the house: in the toilet, apartment piping, siphons, weirs. If the problem is in the wear of the external sewage pipes, the masters propose to reorganize them in a trenchless manner. It avoids opening asphalt or soil. The essence of the method is that, using special tools, a new, polymer one is laid inside the old pipe. It is also used to upgrade water mains.
Repair errors
The main error during installation or subsequent repair replacement of pipe sections is incorrect slope. If it is made at a large angle, then the water stream does not have time to wash off the solid particles of sewage. They stick to the inner surface of the communications, leading to siltation. Instantly draining the water flow from the pipes leads to the emptying of the siphon, which will allow the stench from the sewer to freely enter the house.
If the slope is slight, it slows down the movement of sewage through the pipeline, leading to siltation and the appearance of plugs. For pipes with a cross section of 100 mm, the slope is 20 mm per meter.
Other errors that cause problems include:
- insufficient sealing of joints;
- lack of revision nodes and riser ventilation;
- excessively long pipe sections between plumbing fixtures and riser;
- holding pipes with a small cross section.
Professionals do not recommend choosing flexible corrugated products for sewage. Imperfection lies in their high hydraulic resistance. In comparison with pipes of rigid assembly, the corrugated product is more susceptible to blockages and pollution, poorly cleaned from the outside and spoils the appearance. This part is easy to damage. With prolonged use, the “corrugation” sags and forms an additional siphon that prevents normal drainage.
Preventive measures
In order not to overhaul the entire sewage system, follow the rules for using communications:
- Do not flush cement, stone, asbestos crumbs, sand into the toilet.
- Do not allow rags or personal care products to enter the system.
- Equip the kitchen sinks and dishwashing machines with grease traps under the drain.
It is useful to systematically clean the pipes with chemicals or just hot water. Leaks and blockages are better to prevent than to spend money on replacing the sewer pipeline.
