Tag: sewer repair

Using Trenchless Technology to Replace Your Orangeburg Pipes in Western Washington

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

What are Orangeburg Pipes?

Depending on your home’s age, there’s a chance your sewer line is made from a material called Orangeburg which was prevalent between 1945 and 1972.

This material doesn’t corrode because of its tar paper composition. However, it’s also extremely light and brittle, leading to premature deterioration. Homeowners should know that Orangeburg pipe absorbs moisture at a higher rate than clay or cast iron sewer pipes, too, which can lead to distortion or layers of the pipe bubbling and causing blockages.

Although manufacturers claimed Orangeburg had a 50-year lifespan, it starts breaking down at about 30 years. And since homebuilders stopped using the material about 50 years ago, you’re well overdue a new sewer line if you have this under your home.

If you believe you have Orangeburg sewer pipes, here’s what you should do.

How to Tell If Your Orangeburg Pipes Need Attention

Orangeburg was a popular building material until 1972 because it was easy to make. In short, it’s a bituminized fiber pipe made from wood pulp, a water-resistant adhesive, and hot pitch that gets its name because it was mass-produced in Orangeburg, New York.

So, how do you tell if your Orangeburg pipe is due for replacement?

The most obvious sign of a pipe problem is an indent in your front yard along your main sewer line’s path. You’ll clearly see an issue in your yard when this occurs, and you’ll want a plumbing technician to address the problem immediately.

You should also pay attention to what your neighbors are doing. If other houses in your neighborhood are running into issues with their Orangeburg pipes and replacing them, it’s probably only a matter of time until you experience similar problems.

Hunt’s Services can assist with a camera sewer inspection that allows us to see the condition of your Orangeburg pipes and make recommendations based on what we discover.

Why You Should Consider Replacing Your Orangeburg Pipes Soon

Naturally, minimizing your costs as a homeowner is a priority, but it’s essential to look at the big picture. Orangeburg pipes typically last for about 30 years, and since these products have been in circulation for 50 years, yours probably are getting close to the end of the line.

As your pipes approach the end of their lifespan, you might notice symptoms like:

  • Slow drains
  • Toilet back-ups
  • Mold
  • Indentations in your yard
  • Sinkholes in your foundation
  • Sewer odors inside your house

Proactively replacing your sewer line when you notice these symptoms, or at least calling the pros at Hunt’s Services to inspect your system, could save you significant cash in the long run.

How Your Trenchless Sewer Repair Will Work

As you research sewer line replacement options in Western Washington, you should know that traditional dig-and-replace methods are somewhat outdated. While they might be necessary for some scenarios, reinforcing or replacing your sewer line using trenchless technology is often possible.

Trenchless pipe repair can restore cracks and root damage to your pipes without digging up your yard. Technicians can typically complete these repairs in a few hours, and they are less expensive.

Perhaps the most efficient form of trenchless sewer repair is cured-in-place pipe lining. The gist is that the technician will access your sewer line through an existing access point, inserting a liner coated with epoxy into the pipe. The inside of the pipe is coated with resin, which hardens and reinforces your Orangeburg pipes.

It’s possible to get an extra 50 years from your Orangeburg pipes if you complete this repair early enough, although you should know that sometimes the damage is too extensive, and you’ll have to go in a different direction.

Your other trenchless sewer repair option is pipe busting, which is reserved for situations where there’s more extensive damage to the plumbing system.

In this scenario, your technician collapses the existing Orangeburg pipe into the soil without needing to dig it out using steel bursting heads. The new line is also attached to these heads, allowing it to replace the old pipe simultaneously.

The entire job is completed through a small entry point in your yard, so no trench is necessary, and there’s minimal displacement to your landscaping.

While pipe lining is the most economical option, it’s nice to know there’s another trenchless option for situations where your Orangeburg pipes are beyond repair.

Getting the Assistance You Need

If you have Orangeburg pipes in your home, you should know it’s only a matter of time before you experience issues. This material is prone to problems as it ages, and you’ll want to bring in a technician to complete a camera sewer inspection as soon as possible to check on its condition.

From there, your technician will develop a repair plan that works for you.

Contact Hunt’s Services at 253-533-7500 to learn more about our trenchless sewer repair options for Orangeburg pipes in Thurston, Pierce and King Counties.

Don’t Flush Your Wipes: Lessen The Impact of COVID-19

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, toilet paper is in low supply and high demand, forcing Puget Sound residents to turn to personal cleansing wipes.

We’re also seeing citizens use disinfectant wipes and paper towels to clean surfaces in their homes, hoping to stop the spread of this virus.

While all of this is fine, and even encouraged, as we fight a global pandemic, we do have to think of our local sewer systems and the effect these items can have on them.

The issue is that we’re seeing an abnormally large percentage of the population using these products, with many choosing to flush them down their toilets to dispose of them. Wipes and paper towels can quickly clog sewer lines, both personal and municipal, causing severe problems for sewer systems in Western Washington and around the country.

Do your part by throwing your wipes and paper towels in the garbage after use to help prevent even more local problems from arising as a result of the COVID-19 virus.

What’s Causing the Problem?

The reason why we’re seeing blockages in sewer lines is because of how these systems operate.

For the most part, our sewers use gravity and water to remove waste from homes and divert it to the main city sewers. From there, the sewage moves to a treatment plant, where it is cleaned before being released.

When many people flush wipes and paper towels in a short period, it clogs the lines and prevents the system from working as it should.

The reason?

Wipes and paper towels don’t break down as toilet paper does. Toilet paper’s construction allows it to dissolve very quickly, a feature these other products don’t have.

If you’ve ever experienced a clogged toilet due to using too much toilet paper, you know that it leads to wastewater coming back into your fixture, sometimes overflowing. The toilet paper quickly disintegrates, however, allowing you to use a plunger to remove the clog.

The same thing happens in a city sewer line, as they can get a little backed up from time to time, but the toilet paper breaks down quickly, so the issue can be solved.

When dealing with wipes, it takes far longer for them to dissolve. And once thousands of wipes clump together in the sewers, removing the clog takes significant intervention.

Even flushable wipes aren’t safe because they still take longer to decompose than toilet paper.

This sewer issue is happening in Seattle, Tacoma, and throughout Pierce and King counties right now, putting a strain on our sewer systems and pressure on city and state officials, in addition to our plumbers.

Seattle has about 1,421 miles of sewer pipe, while Tacoma has over 700 miles. This is a lot of line to keep clear, and flushing wipes makes the job exponentially more difficult.

Yes, throwing these items in the garbage is an inconvenience, but it’s necessary as we try to keep people safe during this global pandemic.

It Isn’t Just Wipes

In some places, even wipes are in short supply, so we’re seeing people turn to other alternatives.

T-shirts, newspapers, and napkins are also being used instead of toilet paper, all of which put unnecessary pressure on the sewer systems.

In fact, in Redding, California, one neighborhood saw sewage overflow into the streets because of a resident using a shredded t-shirt as toilet paper.

If you don’t have any alternative but to use a t-shirt, do so, but make sure you throw your waste in the garbage. Avoid flushing it down the toilet.

Safety First

We’re clearly living in a challenging time when some supplies are running low, and stress is running high. At the same time, let’s face it, people still need to use the bathroom and will need to wipe.

If you run out of toilet paper and must use an alternative product, make sure you throw it in the garbage when you’re done with it each and every time.

Everyone will have to do their part in the coming months if we have any chance at containing the COVID-19 virus, and by choosing to throw this waste in the garbage, you can protect your family, neighbors, local plumbers, and city workers from possible exposure.

What to Do About Your Clogged Toilet

Now you know not to flush anything but toilet paper, but what’s the protocol if you’ve already flushed some wipes and it’s leading to problems?

Well, the answer is to bring in a plumber, but at this time, you’ll have to be extremely careful about who you trust.

For starters, your plumbing technician should do everything possible to limit your potential exposure to COVID-19, including washing their hands regularly, avoiding shaking hands, using shoe covers and protective gloves, and keeping a safe distance from all residents in the home.

At Hunt’s Services, we’re following all of the advice put forth by the World Health Organization during this pandemic. We’re practicing social distancing and have compiled a list of safety measures for each of our technicians to follow while working on your home.

If you have any questions or are dealing with a plumbing emergency at this time, call Hunt’s Services at 253-533-7500 for assistance.

We’re all in this together, so do your part by not flushing anything but toilet paper and keeping your social distance, so that local service providers and healthcare workers have the resources needed to keep you safe.

Why Sewer Lines Fail in Seattle Tacoma

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

Your sewer line is an essential part of your plumbing system because it’s responsible for removing water waste from your home. You’ll quickly notice if your sewer pipe isn’t functioning as it should because you’ll run into issues flushing your toilets, draining your sinks, or running your washing machine. Hunt’s Services is standing by in the Seattle and Tacoma areas to assist with all of your sewer system needs.

So what causes these sewer line problems in the first place? The reality is that numerous things can go wrong with your sewer system, and in some cases, there isn’t much you can do to prevent the issues from occurring in the first place.

What you can do is be proactive when you realize that your sewer line isn’t functioning at its full capacity by getting Hunt’s Services on the job.

Our team of licensed, certified technicians have seen every plumbing problem imaginable in King County and Pierce County so that we can get to the bottom of your issue quickly and efficiently.

Give us a call at 253-533-7500 to start the process right away. From there, you won’t have to worry about your sewer system anymore because Hunt’s will take care of it.

Here are some common sewer line problems in the Tacoma and Seattle areas.

1) Tree Roots

One sewer line problem that we see with regularity in Seattle and Tacoma involves tree roots damaging the pipes in search of water. These roots extend for substantial distances underground, looking for moisture to keep the tree alive. Eventually, the roots can wrap around your sewer line and break through at the joints, causing your drains to slow.

As the roots continue to grow, they weaken the pipe’s joints even further, and wastewater can begin escaping into your yard. Eventually, the entire pipe will collapse, leaving you with a significant cleanup in your yard, and a pipe that needs a complete replacement.

Tree roots are a problematic issue to prevent because the plant doesn’t necessarily have to be on your property to cause problems in your yard. What you can do, however, is make sure the trees on your property have enough water, especially in a period with little rain.

When planting new trees in your yard, make sure you avoid water-loving species like silver maples and weeping willows. Trees that require more water tend to cause more problems with sewer lines. You should also be aware of the location of your sewer pipe and avoid planting new trees close to it.

2) Shifting Ground

Another common sewer line issue in Western Washington is pipe failure because of shifting ground. Your pipes are supported by the soil under your landscaping, and when tectonic activity occurs, the ground can shift.

Even a slight shift puts added pressure on your pipes and can lead to a complete failure over time, complete with wastewater leaking into your yard.

While you can’t prevent the ground from shifting, you can have your pipe repaired as soon as you notice an issue to, hopefully, prevent significant damage from being done to your property.

3) Orangeburg Pipe

Depending on the age of your home, you could run into plumbing problems based on the materials used in your sewer line. Before 1972, homes in this area would use Orangeburg pipe, which is made from wood pulp and asphalt. While these pipes are incredibly lightweight, the material is brittle and prone to breaking because it absorbs moisture.

If you believe that you have Orangeburg pipes in your home, the best thing you can do is have them replaced with PVC. That way, you won’t have to worry as much about breaks and will experience fewer plumbing issues in the future, as well.

Warning Signs of Sewer Problems

There are some warning signs to watch for that can help you call for the plumbing help you need before your property is extensively damaged.

  • Slow drains – When you notice that your drains are taking longer to empty than usual, it means that something is blocking your pipes. If only one drain is slow, there could be an isolated problem with that particular fixture. Multiple slow drains, on the other hand, could mean that you have a clog or break in your Seattle sewer line.
  • Clogged drains – If nothing is draining from your fixtures at all, you likely have a significant clog. There are a variety of underlying reasons for clogged drains, as anything from putting grease into your sink to having a broken sewer line could make it difficult for your pipes to drain. Hunt’s offers drain cleaning services, getting your system back on track quickly.
  • Sewer waste backing up into your home – Have you noticed waste coming back into your fixtures after you flush your toilet or drain your sinks? If so, you likely have a problem with your sewer line that you’ll want to address sooner rather than later. Hunt’s Services offers trenchless sewer repair options, including pipe bursting, which is a non-invasive pipe repair method.
  • Frequent service calls – When you find yourself making constant service calls, you likely have a severe plumbing problem that should be addressed. Hunt’s
    Services will conduct a camera inspection, which allows us to see inside your pipes and identify why you’re experiencing issues.

Call Hunt’s Services Today

If you believe you’re in need of plumbing assistance, give Hunt’s Services a call at 253-533-7500. Our team of certified plumbers is standing by to handle all of your sewer and pipe lining needs, so don’t hesitate to contact us.

We offer discounts to seniors and veterans, and can even deal with your septic to sewer conversion, if necessary.

For more information on our plumbing services, check out our Sewer Repair YouTube video.