One of the most unpleasant problems you can come across in your home is a broken sewage line. In today’s world, the average person never intends to see sewage. When a sewage line breaks, you need to deal with it.
What do you do when your sewage lines break? Ideally, you can hire someone who will come immediately to fix it. But if you don’t have the cash available, it is not as easy to make the problem go away. Here are the steps you should take.
Call your insurer
Home repairs are not covered by insurance if the damage was due to maintenance issues. While some kinds of sewage line issues are included in typical homeowners insurance coverage, this only applies if your line broke because of a named peril or accident. In other words, if your line is broken in a fire, you will be covered, but if it breaks from wear and tear, you’ll need to pay.
If you’re unsure whether your sewage line is covered for the issue you are experiencing, call your insurer. Describe the situation to them and they will be able to advise you on whether you can file a claim.
Assess the extent of the problem
If you cannot claim for repairs, you may consider fixing the problem yourself. There are certain breaks that can be repaired fairly easily without involving professional plumbers. However, you need to assess how big the problem is. This is not always easy, as you may not know the root of the problem.
Let’s say you know your sewage line has broken because your drains are clogging up and you have located the break. You still cannot be certain that there are no other places where the sewage line is damaged or that it won’t happen again. You may spend hours fixing what you think is the problem, only to find that the root of the issue came about because of mold in the walls.
There’s no easy way of determining the extent of the problem. A professional can do so, but they will charge you a callout fee. Only if you’re confident that the sewage line is only broken in one place should you go ahead with the repairs.
Visit your local hardware store
The internet is a great source of information, especially if you want to learn how to fix something. You can find videos and tutorials explaining exactly how to repair your sewage line. It can be tempting to simply follow each step yourself.
However, many problems do not have one-size-fits-all solutions. Your pipes may be made from a different type of metal. The sewage system in your home may differ from that of the person giving the tutorial. There are so many circumstances which can throw a spanner in the works.
Consulting a professional is not always necessary. Sometimes it is good enough just to visit your local hardware store. While big hardware stores associated with various chains can be great for getting everything you need, a small local store provides a much better experience. You can speak to people who know what they’re talking about. They can advise you about exactly what you need.
This is not to say that they’ll guide you through the repairs. Rather, they will flag any issues you’ll come across if you simply follow a one-size-fits-all tutorial. You can show them what you’re working with and get advice which may save you hours (and a lot of money).
Call the pros when something goes wrong
Once you’ve started working on your sewage line, you may intend to see the repairs through no matter what. However, you can end up making the problem worse.
As soon as you realize that there is more to the problem, you should call the pros to come in and take care of it. You’ll spend a hefty sum of money, but at least it will be a once-off thing. You will also avoid spending a lot more due to any mistakes you could have made.
A broken sewage line is a horrible problem to have. While there are times you can fix it yourself, sometimes it is best to pay a professional.
