A broken sewer pipe isn’t always easy to spot. Because most sewer lines are underground, damage can develop for some time before the cause becomes obvious.
However, there are often warning signs. Recurring blockages, unusual smells and changes around your property can all indicate a problem below ground.
Knowing what to look for can help you investigate the issue early and potentially avoid more extensive damage.
1. Your Drains Keep Blocking
An occasional blocked drain doesn’t necessarily mean you have a damaged sewer pipe. However, a drain that keeps blocking after being cleared deserves further investigation.
Recurring blockages can be caused by tree roots, damaged pipework, displaced joints or other restrictions within the sewer line.
If clearing the drain only provides a temporary fix, there may be an underlying problem that needs to be identified.
2. Multiple Drains Are Running Slowly
One slow drain may simply indicate a local blockage. When several drains around the property become slow at the same time, the problem could be further along the drainage system.
You might notice slow drainage from toilets, showers, sinks or floor wastes.
If the problem affects multiple fixtures, it may indicate a restriction or damage within the main sewer line.
3. You Hear Gurgling From Your Drains
Strange gurgling noises from toilets, sinks or drains can be another warning sign.
These sounds can occur when air becomes trapped or displaced because wastewater isn’t flowing freely through the drainage system.
Gurgling doesn’t automatically mean you have a broken sewer pipe. However, if it happens regularly or alongside slow and blocked drains, it’s worth investigating.
4. You Notice Sewer Smells
A properly functioning sewer system should contain wastewater and sewer gases within the drainage network.
If you begin noticing persistent sewer smells around drains, bathrooms or outside areas, there could be a problem somewhere in the system.
There are several possible causes of sewer odours. However, cracks or damaged joints within underground pipework are among the issues that may need to be ruled out.
5. Parts of Your Yard Are Wet or Unusually Green
Changes in your yard can sometimes provide clues about what’s happening underground.
A leaking sewer pipe may cause areas of soil to remain unusually wet, even when there hasn’t been much rain. You may also notice particularly lush or green patches of grass around the affected area.
There can be many reasons for wet areas around a property. However, unexplained changes near underground drainage lines should not be ignored.
6. You Notice Ground Movement or Sinkage
Damage to an underground sewer pipe can sometimes allow wastewater to escape into the surrounding soil.
Over time, this may affect the ground around the damaged section. You might notice sinking soil, small depressions or changes to paved and landscaped areas.
Ground movement can have many different causes, so it doesn’t necessarily indicate sewer damage. However, combined with other drainage symptoms, it may warrant further investigation.
7. Tree Roots Keep Causing Problems
Tree roots are a common cause of problems in underground sewer pipes.
Roots naturally seek moisture and can enter through small cracks or gaps in pipe joints. Once inside, they can continue growing and restrict wastewater flow.
Simply removing the roots may restore flow temporarily. However, if the pipe itself remains damaged, roots may eventually return.
Recurring tree root problems can therefore be a sign that the sewer pipe needs more than another drain clean.
What Causes a Broken Sewer Pipe?
Sewer pipes can become damaged for a range of reasons.
Older pipe materials may deteriorate over time. Ground movement can cause pipes or joints to shift, while tree roots can enter existing cracks and make the damage worse.
Other possible causes include poor installation, heavy loads above underground pipes and accidental damage during construction or landscaping work.
Understanding the cause is important because it helps determine the most appropriate repair.
How Do You Confirm a Broken Sewer Pipe?
If you suspect a problem with your sewer line, it’s also important to establish whether the affected pipe is part of your private plumbing or the sewerage network. Urban Utilities provides guidance on sewer pipe responsibilities for property owners in Brisbane and surrounding areas.
Because sewer lines are underground, it’s difficult to accurately assess their condition from the surface.
A CCTV drain inspection provides a much clearer picture.
A specialised camera is inserted into the drainage system to inspect the inside of the pipe. This allows plumbers to look for issues such as cracks, tree root intrusion, displaced joints, obstructions and collapsed sections.
The inspection can also help identify the location and extent of the damage. This makes it easier to determine what needs to happen next without unnecessary excavation simply to find the problem.
Does a Broken Sewer Pipe Need to Be Replaced?
Finding damage doesn’t automatically mean the entire sewer pipe needs to be dug up and replaced.
Depending on the type, location and extent of the damage, pipe relining may be an option.
Pipe relining involves installing a specialised liner inside the existing damaged pipe. Once cured, the liner forms a strong new pipe within the old one.
Because the repair takes place inside the existing pipe, extensive digging can often be avoided. This can be particularly valuable when sewer pipes run underneath driveways, landscaping, buildings or other difficult-to-access areas.
However, not every damaged pipe can be relined. A CCTV inspection helps determine the condition of the pipe and whether relining is an appropriate solution.
Think You May Have a Broken Sewer Pipe?
Ignoring recurring drainage problems can allow underlying pipe damage to become worse over time.
If your drains keep blocking, you’re noticing unusual smells or something simply doesn’t seem right, it’s worth finding out what’s happening underground.
Emu Plumbing uses CCTV drain inspection technology to identify damage and other problems within sewer and stormwater pipes across Brisbane. Where suitable, we can also provide trenchless pipe relining solutions to repair damaged pipes with minimal excavation.
