When Is The City Responsible For Sewer Lines

When sewer problems occur, they are more than just an inconvenience. In many cases, a sewage backup that occurs due to a clogged sewer line, a sewer line that breaks due to the infiltration of tree roots, and other related problems can cause significant property damage and even health hazards. While you may assume you will be responsible for all repair costs, that is not always true. In some situations, our team at Boss Plumbing knows the city may be responsible for shouldering some of the costs to fix your problem.

Is the City or Property Owner Responsible for Sewer Lines?

When this question arises, we at Boss Plumbing realize many factors will play into ultimately deciding who is responsible for sewer line repairs or replacement. One of the most common situations involves root infiltration by a tree that is city property. Since tree roots can travel a long way, it’s possible a tree that’s not near your home or business could damage your sewer lines.

When this is suspected, we at Boss Plumbing then contact the city about the issue. Afterward, root samples will be taken so that they can be identified and linked to a particular tree. If a city tree is found to be the culprit, the city pays the repair bill. In cases where city trees and trees on your property are to blame, repair and/or replacement costs are split evenly between you and the city.

How Does a City Sewer Line Get Clogged?

Should you flush certain items down your toilets such as disposable wipes, paper towels, baby diapers, or other types of hygiene products, you are virtually assuring a sewer line blockage will take place that will eventually impact your home or business. In some instances, sewer line clogs happen due to vandalism directed at the city’s system, where rocks, bricks, trash, and much more have been tossed into manholes.

While you may not be able to prevent acts of vandalism, you can make sure you only flush toilet paper down your toilet, since it’s made to be biodegradable and reduce the chances of clogs taking place.

Does Home Insurance Cover Sewer Lines?

Unfortunately, virtually all standard home insurance policies do not cover any damages sustained to a home due to sewage backup. However, some insurance companies do choose to offer sewer backup coverage as an add-on feature to a standard policy.

Since damage of this nature is not covered most of the time, you mustn’t ignore any warning signs that trouble of this nature may be brewing. Signs we at Boss Plumbing tell our customers to look out for include foul odors in the bathroom, difficulty flushing the toilet, or standing water that begins to happen frequently in their yard. By contacting us here at Boss Plumbing as soon as possible once these warning signs appear, we can tackle the problem and often save you time and money.

Should I Try Sewer Repair On My Own?

Even if it turns out the city is not responsible for the problems associated with your sewer lines, we at Boss Plumbing recommend you never attempt to repair sewer lines on your own. Unless you have extensive plumbing experience, chances are you will only make a bad situation much worse. In many instances, older homes may have cast-iron sewer pipes, which are difficult for even the most experienced plumbers to fix. Let us here at Boss Plumbing tackle these complex plumbing challenges rather than you take on a job that will lead to substantial problems and hefty repair bills.

Do Sewer Pipes Run Under Houses?

In some situations, our plumbers here at Boss Plumbing do find sewer pipes that run under houses. Should your home be on a raised foundation, it is likely your sewer pipes do indeed run underneath your home. Most often, a home’s main sewer line is installed underneath the slab foundation, then runs under the yard or the house.

Needless to say, trying to repair or replace sewer pipes under your home can result in extensive damage if you don’t have the proper training and experience for the job. By calling us at Boss Plumbing, you’ll always get experienced and knowledgeable plumbers who have the latest training and equipment to get the job done right the first time.

If you have questions about sewer line services and whether or not the city is responsible for paying the repair bill, contact us here at Boss Plumbing today.