Is there anything you can do about a leaking sewer pipe?

If it’s in the joints, those joints can be repacked with the material called oakum and that will stop the leak. But I will say that it’s very infrequent for those leaks to occur. KOI (sp): Yes, it’s a very old house; about in the 1920s, late 20s.

What happens if you have a sewer leak in your yard?

Leaking sewer water can also lead to a ponding condition in your yard, which is unsanitary. Repairing a sewer leak inside your home is easier if the pipes are above the ground floor or basement floor. It frequently means removing some sheet rock, and exposing the leaking pipes.

What makes a gasket on a sewer pipe look wet?

But that’s not a leak. What that is is a material called oakum which is oil-based that is used to make the gasket where these pipes come together. Sometimes that oil will leach out and make the pipe look wet but it’s not really a leak. KOI (sp): Well the ground underneath is wet under that spot.

Can a cast iron sewer pipe be repaired?

KOI (sp): Yes, it’s cast iron pipe. TOM: OK. Well, it doesn’t go bad when it’s cast iron. It just needs some maintenance. KOI (sp): OK, well I’ll run the water through there and check and see if I can determine where it’s coming out.

What should you do if you have a leak in a plumbing joint?

Normally, if the leak exists in a plumbing joint, the normal solution is to tighten that joint. But when the problem is found on the pipe itself, usually there is a need to remove the leaking section and replace it with a new one. However, the solution is not always as easy as this all the time. Take the case of copper pipes.

Is it easy to repair a sewer leak?

Repairing a sewer leak inside your home is easier if the pipes are above the ground floor or basement floor. It frequently means removing some sheet rock, and exposing the leaking pipes. This is a relatively easy job. Usually pipes leak from a lack of support.

Why does my sewer pipe look like it is leaking?

Now, having said that, many times around the joints, around the pipe joints, it looks wet; it looks leaky. But that’s not a leak. What that is is a material called oakum which is oil-based that is used to make the gasket where these pipes come together. Sometimes that oil will leach out and make the pipe look wet but it’s not really a leak.

What do Plumbers use to seal plumbing joints?

Careful plumbers use both pipe joint compound and teflon on every joint for extra security. They don’t want to come back. Start by wrapping the male threads with Teflon tape (Photo 1). With the end of the threaded pipe facing you as shown, wrap the plumbers tape clockwise.