Looking for a gut check. We knew we likely had a clogged or leaky main sewage line, which runs under our deck. Crew tore up the deck and started trenching on the end closest to the house. Its PVC to cast iron, junction maybe 3 feet down. When they left yesterday it was clear there was a leak somewhere around that junction, as there was already some pooling. Woke up this AM to maybe a foot of liquid in that hole (and it didn't rain). So pretty clearly we have a leak in that spot (if not also further down). Here is the question: Now that the likely problem spot is exposed, is it a big job to fix it? Seems like it shouldn't be, but I'm not a plumber obviously. And until it is, not really clear we can use our plumbing. Thanks all!
Sewage--How big is this problem?
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Tuttles Revenge
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What type of "Crew" was working on the digging? Were they a sewer repair / plumbing contractor? Or just hired diggers?
If the repair is just that single connection, no its not difficult for a skilled pro and not unpossible for a handy person with some knowledge. But likely the rest of the line needs to be cleared and scoped with a camera to verify and identify all possible failure points.
At minimum, the old cast iron leaving the home connecting to the PVC to the city/septic needs to have a cleanout brought up to grade so that maintenance of the sewer is made easy from the exterior.
Whether or not to use the plumbing is a conversation between you and your contractor who has to be in the trench.
If the repair is just that single connection, no its not difficult for a skilled pro and not unpossible for a handy person with some knowledge. But likely the rest of the line needs to be cleared and scoped with a camera to verify and identify all possible failure points.
At minimum, the old cast iron leaving the home connecting to the PVC to the city/septic needs to have a cleanout brought up to grade so that maintenance of the sewer is made easy from the exterior.
Whether or not to use the plumbing is a conversation between you and your contractor who has to be in the trench.
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Thanks for the quick thoughts. General construction crew brought in by general contractor who is doing the overall project, and has plumbers. The guys who did the digging were not specialists. The guys coming today should be. Agree probably has to be dug out to property line (which is fortunately only about another 10 feet) to ID all possible problems, and probably will end up replacing all of it to be safe before building a new deck on top of it even if there is nothing else actually broken yet. But thinking hopefully they can replace whatever they can get exposed today with new PVC as a temporary fix, even if they end up re-doing it when its all exposed a few days late.
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In my jurisdiction, the piping under any structure, whether its the footprint of the house or even a deck, has to be approved for use inside of a building. IE.. it can not be piping that is rated only for sewer / exterior use.
Jeff H Young
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When I did a lot of home construction and pipe was cheap We ran SCH40 abs same as inside the house all the way to the curb didnt have to but the thin wall was just not common on city or suburban homes with sewers 50 ft max length.
But yes though outside building under the deck i belive in most if not all codes needs to be of approoved withen the building piping.
There could be reasons to replace or escavate and inspect or replace all the way to property line But it might be totally unnessesary to do so So I wont say its a good idea or not I assume cost is a factor and 10 more feet depending on situation could be substantial .
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