Usually, sewer and water lines are buried, which can make it difficult to see where the lines are located. When there is heavy yard work that needs to be done, it can be fairly easy to damage these lines. If damage does occur, the following process will get those lines replaced.
The first step is to shut off the main valves before the sewer and water line replacement. The water line’s main valve is usually located next to the city’s main water line. The sewer system is typically isolated from the septic tank and may also be isolated from the main sewer lines. This will depend on how the system is set up for the home.
After the piping is isolated, digging up of the piping begins, which requires using heavy equipment. The lines may also be marked to guide the digging process through the yard. Prepare for this operation by clearing out all of the plants in the potential pathway of this equipment. Check to make sure that fencing is also out of the pathway or move it before the digging begins. In some cases, it will be necessary to dig up concrete driveways and sidewalks.
Once the ditch has been dug for the sewer and water line replacement, the piping is pulled out of the ground. The sloping of the ditch is checked before the new pipes are laid into place. This slope is especially important for the sewer lines because the water in this system uses gravity to aid in drainage. The new piping may also have a base of rocks laid down to help support the pipe and keep it in place when the dirt is placed over it.
After the replacement lines have been installed, the system is tested. The dirt is placed back into the holes. If the path has gone through driveways or sidewalks, these will get filled in with temporary material until the holes can be repaired later on.
