What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Root Intrusion- Unlike PVC and other forms of plastic, clay sewer pipes aren’t able to fit flush together. No matter how well they were laid, there will always be little gaps between the sections of piping. These gaps are all that root ends need to infiltrate a sewer pipe system that is made of clay.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Once inside, thirsty tree roots have found an environment where they can thrive. Over time, these roots will grow and embed themselves into the clay, causing them to break.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Even if a clay pipe doesn’t necessarily break as a result of unwanted roots, the roots could still grow to the point where it is hard for water (Check out How To Get Rid Of Toilet Ring? Fast Results) to travel through the pipe.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
This blocking process is called tree root ingress and it is bad news for a sewer system. If your home’s clay pipes didn’t have a proper root barrier installed around them when they were laid, this gives rise to the potential of tree root ingress.Large trees that surround a home create a private sanctuary of green foliage that is oh-so desirable.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Though they can handle serious amounts of pressure and last for over 100 years, once a clay pipe is compromised, it will quickly crumble.Clay pipes are susceptible to collapse even from the smallest stress fracture or crack.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Tensile Strength-A stress fracture in your clay sewer pipes can be brought on by a blunt impact or something more severe like an earthquake or severe flooding event.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Once a clay pipe has been damaged in this way, it will need to be replaced. If left unattended, your home’s waste won’t be able to properly make its way to the main sewer line and you will have a potential neighborhood bio-hazard on your hands.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Clay Flaking- Clay flaking occurs on the inside of a clay pipe. Slowly but surely, a few flakes will turn into a few more flakes, and before you know it, your clay sewer pipes will be compromised. Clay pipes that are essentially being eroded from the inside out, one flake at a time, are prone to catching and trapping sewer sediment.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Clay Flaking- Flaking can be caused simply by clay pipes being old in age. Over the years, clay pipes can become a little softer and a little weaker as a result. Once flaking starts it is very hard to fix.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
For this reason, after it is identified by a professional plumber who has undertaken a drain inspection, they will suggest that you replace your clay pipes. There is the option to fix clay flaking, but it typically costs a lot of money because it entails serious work.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Misaligned Pipes- Whether clay sewer pipes were ever-so-slightly misaligned from the offset or from ground movement matters little, what does matter is that they are misaligned.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
Misaligned clay pipes are a major cause of disruption to the natural flow of your sewer drainage system. In a similar light to flaking, misaligned pipes create a trap for debris and sediment to get stuck on.
What Are The Causes For Damaged Clay Pipes That Need Replacing?
This can happen very quickly if the pipes have shifted all of a sudden, or it can happen slowly over time. Another not-so-fun fact about misaligned pipes is that where there is one, there is usually another. Once one section of clay pipe is out of whack it can create a domino effect for the next section, and so on and so forth.