Terracotta pipes are a clay based piped make out of the same type of material as clay planting pots. If you are a gardener or a crafter you know just how easy it is to break these terracotta clay pots.
Terracotta sewer pipes where popular and used through the 60s and 70s.
The joints were rarely watertight - even from the first day they were installed. The narrow end of the pipe (called the spigot) was inserted into the larger end of the next section of pipe (called the bell). The pipe installer would take concrete or mortar and run a bead around the spigot and bell joint to ‘seal’ it. The process was repeated as often as necessary to get the sewer to the required length. These joints are not watertight, small amounts of water would immediately find its way out of the pipe, attracting tree roots.
Concrete and clay pipes were only in 3’ long sections. So, in a typical 100’ long sewer pipe, you will find roughly 33, more joints equal more opportunity for sewer problems to happen.
Concrete and clay pipes are also very heavy. As the ground moves and shifts over long periods of time, the heavy pipes can sink into the soil. This causes a miss alignment in the pipes and ultimately causes sewer pipe blockages and sewer pipe backups.
These types of pipes are brittle. As they settle, move and shift, they can crack and break creating more potential entry points for the roots.
Signs It May Be Time To Replace Your Clay Sewer Pipes
The problem with older pipes is that you’ll spend more if you neglect them and ignore the plumbing issues they present. The good thing is that there are noticeable signs you can keep an eye out for to determine the state of your sewer lines. You could be smelling foul sewer odors in the yard, the basement or in the bathroom sinks or toilets. When you use the drain or flush you may hear unusual gurgling sounds coming from the sewer line. The most obvious signs include constant backing up of raw sewage and a poor water flow. We here at Cullip Services can determine the condition with a Sewer camera inspection and give you an honest assessment and recommend the best option for a sewer repair.