The New York City sewage and water systems are extremely complex. Repairing or replacing part of one or the other isn’t to be taken lightly. In a worst-case scenario, both the sewer line and the water main need replacing at the same time. It’s difficult to tell when this is the case, but there are a few signs to look for. Keep reading so you know when to replace your sewer line and water main simultaneously.
Proximity of Sewer and Water Lines
One of the key signs you should replace your sewer line and water main at the same time is when there is a break in one line, but they share the same trench. A good rule of thumb is that if the water main and sewer line are within five feet of each other, you can work on them together because you only need to perform one excavation. This reduces the time and cost of finding the other pipeline to do repairs or replacements on it. However, in the case of a sewer line break, you only need to replace the water main if another factor is in play.
Old Water Main Piping Material
This other factor is the material that the water main is made of. Some examples of materials that professionals can no longer repair but must replace include lead and galvanized pipes. These kinds of pipes aren’t used anymore, and better alternatives are available. Common and much better alternatives in New York City include copper pipes as well as pipes made of ductile iron.
Multiple Drain Backups
If your building has regular drain backups in multiple places, there could be any number of problems in your piping system. The shifting of the earth around your pipes is just one way that the pipes can move out of place and start to accumulate blockages. This is a clear sign something is wrong with your sewer line, but we only need to consider replacing the water main along with it if they’re in close proximity. If the lines are close together, and the earth shifting caused a break in one of them, it’s not a bad idea to replace both just in case the other line was affected.
When you need a sewer and water main company to help repair or replace these different lines, Harris Main and Water Sewer Contractors is where you want to turn to. We know how to get these problems fixed quickly and efficiently with minimal interruptions to day-to-day activity.
