Are Homeowners Responsible for Sewer Line Maintenance & Repair in PA?

Homeownership comes with many responsibilities and expenses, including home repairs and maintenance. Keeping your sewer and drain system healthy can be especially challenging since much of it is hidden in your walls, floors, and the ground beneath your home.

What may surprise many Pennsylvania residents is that a small portion of the main sewer line, known as the building sewer, is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain and repair as needed.

Schedule sewer and drain services with the professionals at Signature HVAC. Call us today.

What’s the Building Sewer?

The pipe that connects your home to the public sewer system is called the building sewer. It extends from your foundation or basement wall to the main sewer line at the street or easement.

Because building sewers are part of your property, it’s your responsibility as the homeowner to maintain and repair them.

Sewer Line Maintenance

Routine maintenance and preventative care are the best ways to protect your sewer line. This includes scheduling regular sewer line inspections and drain cleaning services to ensure your pipes are free of clogs and tree roots.

Building Sewer Repair

It’s common for building sewers to have cleanouts to allow the pipe to be cleared if clogged. However, a broken or damaged cleanout can allow water into the line in the event of heavy rain, which will bring debris that can create a clog.

A professional plumber like those at Signature HVAC can ensure your building sewer is cleared of any clogs and your cleanouts aren’t damaged.

Signs You Need a Sewer Line Repair

These are signs to look out for that mean something is wrong with your sewer line:

• Slow or clogged drains
• Strong smell of sewage around your home
• Drains often make gurgling noises
• Puddling, soft spots, or patches of lush grass in your yard
• Sudden increase in pests in or around your home

Do Home Insurance Policies Cover Sewer Line Repairs?

Whether you’re covered for sewer repairs depends on your specific homeowners policy and any additional home warranties you may have.

Typically, basic policies don’t cover repairs due to normal wear and tear or tree root infiltration, but they may be covered for sudden damage like that from a heavy object falling on the line. If you’re not sure what you’re covered for, we recommend reviewing your policy.

When To Schedule Sewer Line Maintenance, Repair, or Replacement

The best way to protect your sewer line from extensive damage is to stay on top of preventative maintenance. For optimal protection and to help extend the service life of your sewer line, we recommend scheduling maintenance every 18 to 24 months.

However, you may want to increase this frequency if there are known problems with your sewer line. Regular maintenance helps remove sludge, debris, and other buildup before it can cause clogs. It can also help identify any issues requiring minor repair.

Our licensed and insured plumbers use professional-grade snakes, hydro jetting equipment, and other tools and technologies to thoroughly clean the pipes and remove any obstructions that could restrict the flow of wastewater into the main sewer line or your septic system.

The tools our plumbers use are far superior and more effective than over-the-counter drain cleaners, which can remove shallow clogs but are entirely ineffective at removing the sludge, slime, and other debris that collects deep in your pipes. 

Sewer line maintenance can be done at any time of year. Spring and summer are the most popular seasons, so you should schedule an appointment well in advance. Fall and winter are less popular, which means scheduling is easier. However, because of the possibility of inclement weather, fall and winter pose additional challenges to the process.

Of course, issues with your sewer line can happen at any time of year. Leaves and other debris can clog the system in the fall, ice and freezing temperatures can cause pipes to burst in winter, and spring thaws and summer rains can bring shifting soils that cause pipes to shift out of position and break.

Regardless of the season and the cause of the damage, your sewer lines can be repaired or replaced throughout the year and in any weather conditions.

We have the specialized tools, training, and technologies that allow us to overcome the inherent challenges of each season to perform the required sewer line repair or sewer line replacement quickly, safely, and to the highest quality standard.  

Call Signature HVAC today to schedule sewer line maintenance, repair, or replacement in West Chester, PA.

Choose Signature HVAC

The professional plumbers at Signature HVAC are here for all your sewer and drain needs throughout West Chester. With our video line sewer inspections, we can identify the exact location and source of any clog.

We also offer drain cleaning services to keep your sewer line and drains flowing. Our team is available 24/7 for emergency repairs to ensure any problem is addressed quickly and effectively.

For sewer and drain services you can trust, choose Signature HVAC today. Call our team to get started.