People may not realize that their home sewer system consists of three parts. Being aware of these will assist when encountering issues with drains.
Every sink and appliance features drain pipes leading directly to the sewer line, with traps installed inside to keep wastewater and sewer gasses from entering your house.
Understanding the components of your home sewer system is crucial when dealing with drain problems. Click here to find out more about Full Speed Plumbing and its services.
Main line
The main line, commonly referred to as the sewer line, is where your home’s wastewater goes for disposal. It connects toilets, showers, and drains directly with city sewer systems or, if applicable, septic tanks.
Your home’s sewer line connects to the street, which joins a sewer main underneath the building. Typically four inches in diameter, its dimensions may differ in cities or homes with multiple plumbing lines.
Residential sewer lines may back up when there is damage or obstruction in their path, making diagnosis and fixing simple tasks impossible to accomplish on your own. Professional assistance may be required in these instances.
The main line also contains a drain trap, the curved section that sits beneath sinks and other fixtures and holds standing water to help prevent sewer gasses from entering the home and debris from clogging your pipes. Therefore, it is vitally important that this part of the mainline be regularly cleared out.
Branch drain lines
Every drain in your home – including toilets, sinks, and showers – starts with a branch drain line that connects fixture drain traps to soil stack pipes that lead to your main sewer line.
When experiencing a sewage backup in your home, the cause may lie within one of its main or branch drain lines. A blocked mainline could wreak havoc throughout your fixtures and become an urgent plumbing emergency.
Each fixture drain is fitted with a water seal called a drain trap (also referred to as a p-trap or s-trap). These drain traps fill your drains with water, keeping air and sewer gasses at bay.
At the end of their run, branch drain lines empty into soil stack pipes that transport waste toward municipal sewage lines or your septic system. In addition, these vent pipes help maintain an even air pressure within your drainage system to ensure optimal functioning and avoid unpleasant odors.
Soil stack pipes
Soil stack pipes, also called drain-waste vents or drainage vents, are an integral component of any plumbing system. Used to remove waste and prevent it from backflowing into toilets, bidets, and urinals in buildings, soil stack pipes are typically constructed out of uPVC and installed at an appropriate height above the highest fixture in a structure.
Soil stacks assist with wastewater management and are used to vent gasses produced when flushing toilets, helping eliminate foul odors and ensure the integrity of plumbing systems.
Though soil stacks require minimal maintenance, they may become clogged with solid waste flushed down toilets, necessitating professional repairs from an experienced plumber immediately.
Corrosion is another frequent threat to soil stacks that weakens and damages pipes, leading to leakage or other problems; regular cleaning and maintenance can help lower corrosion risks significantly.
Other issues that could impede their performance may include blockages, drainage issues, or improper ventilation – these problems will require professional intervention if present.
Sewer main
Your sewer line carries waste from your home’s drains to either city connection or septic tank for disposal, forming the main “sewer highway.” All smaller drains connect with it. If your home’s sewer line becomes clogged, all fixtures connected will be affected, as well as potential sewage backup and strong sewer odor.
Most modern residential sewer lines are made from PVC pipe, while older lines may contain clay or cast iron that is more prone to clogging and other problems. These lines transport wastewater directly from your building’s branch lines into the city sewer main buried under your street.
Your sewer system is essential in protecting the environment from pollution caused by sewage contamination, so understanding its components is paramount for safeguarding this vital resource.
Knowing that sewage and water lines are separate will allow you to avoid flushing items down toilets that don’t break down, which could clog lines over time.
Stormwater drains
Stormwater drains are underground systems designed to divert excess rainwater from residential areas and into local water bodies after heavy downpours.
These drains differ from sanitary sewer systems in that stormwater doesn’t undergo treatment before being released into local waterways, which could contain pollutants that pollute its contents significantly.
Stormwater drainage systems serve the primary function of diverting rainwater and snowmelt away from residential properties to prevent flooding, damage to grass, buildings, or foundations, standing water forming around houses and lawns or leaking into homes.
They also keep standing water from pooling around houses, which could otherwise cause leakage into these same properties.
Most communities utilize separate storm sewers designed solely to carry rainwater and snow melt. However, some communities still need to rely on outdated combined sewer systems that mix stormwater with sewage, potentially overloading them during heavy rainfall events and leading to an unsafe amount of untreated wastewater being discharged into public sewers.
