Sewer Repair Greenfield

In Greenfield, the decision to repair your sewer line often comes down to where the problem is located. For most homeowners, the city offers helpful advice when you call it with a sewer problem. It's usually the case, however, that whatever side of the sewer line that is under your home (the line itself is approximately 17 feet long) is your responsibility to maintain and repair. If you have a sewer problem, work with the following city departments to determine its location and who is responsible for repairs.

There are a number of ways to repair the sewer lines in Greenfield, depending on how far gone they are. The old-fashioned way involved digging up the area and replacing the pipe you could see was broken. That was not only a big mess but also, as you know, a big-time job. You don’t just have a train of workers come in and do the work over a day or two. You have to schedule it and notify, often not too cheerfully, the people who will be affected by the work. Then there’s the inconvenience of not having the sewer line working while it is being repaired and this unusual noise and vibration while workmen are digging. And how do you get rid of the dirt that’s been excavated?

Generally, homeowners insurance does not pay for repairs to the sewer line that are needed because of normal wear and tear or because the sewer line has not been properly maintained. On the other hand, if the sewer line is damaged in a way that is covered by the homeowner's insurance policy (for example, if it suddenly and accidentally collapses, or if a tree falls on it during a storm), then some portion of the repair costs might be covered. There are some insurance policies that offer additional endorsements or riders that provide for sewer line problems. So it is important for Greenfield homeowners to check with their specific policy or insurance provider about what is covered and what isn't.

There are several reasons why replacing a sewer line is so costly. The main reason is the labor. Skilled workers are needed to do the kind of dangerous and heavy work that sewer line replacement usually requires. While that labor is needed, there are two very good reasons to do the work safely and efficiently. The first is that "unsafe" can easily lead to "not sound for the long term." The second is that the more quickly the work can be done, the less risk there is that the living beings above ground will experience the "fragrance of a sewer line" for any longer than necessary. Then there is the bill for the materials. Pipes, especially good ones, are heavy and expensive. On top of that, you might need fittings or other parts that are either very specialized or that can't be easily and safely improvised. Finally, if the line being replaced is at all deep or under critical structures such as roads or driveways, the excavation needed can turn into a very large and very complex part of a time-consuming job.

Depending on the material of the sewer line, the environmental conditions, and the maintenance practices, the expected lifespan of a sewer line is around 50 to 100 years.

In Greenfield, it is not typical for local governments to pay for the repair of sewer lines that are on private property. More commonly, local governments send out work crews and pay for repairs to the public works sewer system. And in Greenfield, like most places, it is homeowners who are expected to pay for the maintenance and reconstruction of the portion of the sewer system that connects their home to the public works portion of the sewer system.

Sewage insurance, or sewer line insurance as it is sometimes called, generally costs from $10 to $20 each month in Greenfield. Of course, this cost can vary according to the specific terms of the policy, the coverage level, and which company you go with. It benefits the insurance shopper to compare companies and their offerings to zero in on the most appropriate and economical policy.

In Greenfield, several elements influence how long it takes to restore a broken main sewer line. If there's a significant split or collapse (and the sewer line was pre-1980 copper—it wasn't holding up well), the GSD crews could get in and fix it quickly. That was Day 1. Day 2 brought coordination with the Greenfield Electric Department, which had to prop up a pole nearby, along with the acquisition of several necessary permits. Day 3 was a likely open channel day. Most days after that point would be working to restore a trench dug in the street to normalcy.

Look for the following signs to see if your sewer line is broken: the line is clogged often and persistently, the drains are slow, and uncooperative, the toilets and drains make gurgling noises, the property smells unpleasant, the yard has wet, lush patches of grass, and backups are occurring in several plumbing fixtures. If those signs are present, have a professional inspect the line. A few other indications of line failure are an unexpected spike in the water bill and visible sinkholes in the yard.

Pingree Plumbing recommends that you flush your sewer line every 18 to 22 months as part of a routine to keep it functioning well and to minimize the chances of it clogging. However, this could vary among individual homes and situations in Greenfield, depending on factors like the age and condition of the pipes, how much and what kind of stuff gets put into the sewer system, and the history of the sewer line in question—e.g., has it had any serious problems before? Consult with a local plumbing professional for advice specific to your situation.