While you can’t see your sewer lines, you know they are beneath your home. You have a good idea of what they do, as well as what they have to deal with in waste and other elements on a day to day basis. Even the most durable sewer system is going to become worn down with time and the elements. True, you can’t see this occurring, but it is nonetheless inevitable.

Again, this is where an inspection of your current sewer system is going to prove invaluable. You may have a backup occurring in your lowest open drain.

On the other hand, you might be dealing with more substantial damage to the pipes themselves. If you find yourself with frequent clogs and blockages, combined with a sewer gas odor, which follows even if no one has flushed, there is a good chance that something is wrong with the pipes themselves. This can be due to intrusions, such as tree branches, or it can be brought about from cracking in your pipes. This creates an opportunity for soil to get in, which can turn minor annoyances into costly damage very quickly.

Are you suddenly noticing the presence of mold? Cracked sewer pipes behind the walls can raise the humidity in your home ever so slightly. Unfortunately, that can be enough for certain types of molds to establish and flourish. You should also make it a point to keep an eye out for instances of your toilets, bathtubs, or sinks draining at a slower-than-normal pace.

Foundation settlement and foundation cracks are two more serious symptoms of damage to the sewer line. There are also certain outdoor indicators of a problem. This includes the presence of extra green and lush patches in your grass, as well as the presence of septic waste appearing in pools throughout your yard. You should also make sure to look for a heightened presence of not only rodents, including rats, but troublesome insects (such as German cockroaches), as well.