Frozen Sewers

Cold Weather Sewer Repair

Sewers as well as pipes can freeze in the cold weather. Inside the pipe, frozen water sticks to the sides, narrowing the tube and causing clogs. When frozen water fills the diameter of the pipe it can expand and cause the sewer to rupture.

 Whether a sewer freezes up depends on how deep it's buried, how far down the frost line extends, whether the system is being flushed out regularly, whether the slope and therefore flow of the sewer is proper, and whether the sewer sags anywhere. The depth of the freeze line is determined in large part by the extent and extremity of cold temperatures. Snow covering insulates the ground and reduces the depth of the freeze line.

Continually flowing water lessens the effects of the cold, as water in the pipes is exposed to cold temperatures for less time. That's one reason why municipal regulations always require plumbers to lay sewer pipes that slope down to the city sewer line. Debris in the sewer may temporarily impede the flow of water; however, regular use of indoor appliances will flush out the standing water before it can freeze. But if the sewer sags anywhere, more water will collect than can be flushed out by regular use and after a while, if the temperatures are cold enough, it will freeze. As ice forms, it narrows the pipes, which can lead to blockages caused by trapped debris and or solid frozen ice filling the entire diameter of the pipe. During a cold winter, pipes that lay above the freeze line can totally freeze up with plugs of ice that extend for a long distance.

Should your sewer line freeze up, there are some steps you can take to thaw it out. You might be able to thaw small ice blockages by pouring boiling water down the drain. You can thaw more severely frozen pipes if you have the proper tools and know-how. For example, you might be able to thaw out a segment of ice by inserting heat tape on the end of an auger and gradually advancing it into the ice. Probably the best course of action is to call your plumber and let him drill through the ice with a blade attached to the end of his professional electric auger.

Sometimes the frozen pipe is caused by uneven slope or even a sag in the sewer line. In this case you'll have to make it through the winter as best you can and fix the sewer in the spring. You can also undertake sewer repair in the winter, although the cost goes up due to the time involved in clearing the snow and breaking through the frozen ground cover.  
+Pinchas Urszuy 

Resources: If you live in the greater Baltimore area, contact 1st Choice Plumbing for sewer repair. Call them at 410-967-6547 or visit their website at: http://1stchoiceplumbinginc.com/sewer-repair-baltimore; 3502 Taney Road' Baltimore, Md. 21215

Should You Buy Sewer Repair Insurance?

Sewer Line Repair

If you want sewer line and water line repair insurance you can get it from some municipalities or from insurance companies offering homeowners insurance either as an add on or separate policy. External line repairs can be expensive, with water lines running $2,223 and sewer lines $3697; yet, most homeowners have no insurance coverage for this problem. At the same time, North American sewer and water line repairs have been increasing both in number and frequency in recent years. 

The Civil Engineering Foundation indicates that the number of sewer backups has been steadily increasing at a rate of 3% per year. Furthermore, the age of the average sewer line is more than 30 years and more and more homes are connected to older sewers. As expected, older sewers are more prone to breakage because of corrosion and the ingress of roots from established trees on older properties.

Under current conditions, insurance companies and municipalities have been making a greater effort to provide sewer repair insurance. Some cities are now offering sewer insurance for an additional $1 a month on the utility bill. However, municipality sewer insurance may require the homeowner to pay a $250 deductible before receiving payment. (http://wnins.com/resources/personal/features/sewerbackup.shtml)

Private sewer insurance is generally running about $40-$50 a year. Extent of coverage and payout upper limits vary from policy to policy. One insurance website, insure.com indicates that $75-$150 annually will buy anywhere from $5,000-10,000 in coverage. 

One of the more active sewer repair insurers is HomeServe of Connecticut. HomeServe is known for their rapid payouts and dependable service and their reputation has won them marketing contracts with a number of North American cities. The arrangement they have with cities allows them to market to residents with a letter displaying the city logo. For their part, HomeServe agrees to pay back a percentage of the take to be used as a fund to pay sewer repairs for poor homeowners. The HomeServe policy only covers external water and sewer line repairs and not the cost of repairing damage to the basement.

As an example of HomeChoice Insurance, the Baltimore City HomeServe policy costs close to $9 a month, covers external water line and sewer repairs and comes with coverage up to $10,000 and no deductible. One local plumbing company, 1st Choice Plumbing Inc., has worked with HomeServe and said they are reliable when it comes to making provider payoffs. 1st Choice Plumbing management believes the repair policy is good for homeowners with older sewer lines or homeowners who have purchased an already built home and are unsure about the condition of the external lines. 

1st Choice Plumbing is a local Baltimore sewer contractor that has been selected to work for HomeServe because of their dependability and reliability.