{"id":1512,"date":"2024-01-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-01T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/?p=1512"},"modified":"2024-01-10T15:14:47","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T21:14:47","slug":"sewer-line-materials-knowing-when-youve-got-an-outdated-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/drain-and-sewer-service\/sewer-line-materials-knowing-when-youve-got-an-outdated-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Sewer Line Materials: Knowing When You\u2019ve Got an Outdated Line"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"sewer-tunnel\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Sewer systems go back to ancient times: they\u2019re a necessary improvement that allowed cities to thrive in the first place. Today, most of us take the sewer systems that serve our communities for granted, as well as the sewer lines that connect our homes to the sewer system. But if you\u2019ve got an old sewer line made of outdated material, you may find yourself in a bad situation where you need either sewer line repair or replacement<\/a> right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can depend on us for these services in the Northshore and Northwest Chicagoland area. To help you know when it\u2019s time to schedule an inspection of your sewer line, we\u2019re going to look at the recent history of sewer line materials so you know what \u201coutdated\u201d means in this case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Clay <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Romans used this material in their massive civic sewer systems. Clay was used well into the 20th century for many homes. Chicago has homes old enough to have clay sewer lines, although they\u2019re less and less common. Clay has some advantages, like durability and the ability to resist root infiltration. However, clay breaks easily with shifting soil and easily cracks with age. If you\u2019ve got a vintage home with a clay sewer line, it\u2019s best to replace it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cast Iron<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cast iron sewer lines first became popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries because of their durability and extended lifespans. They didn\u2019t have the problem with cracking that clay lines have. Unfortunately, cast iron is prone to rust and corrosion over time, and specifically in reaction to chemicals in the water\u2014most won\u2019t last more than 50 years. Iron is also heavy and difficult to work with and has limited flexibility, so it\u2019s almost never used for homes today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galvanized Steel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seeking a less expensive and easier metal to work with than cast iron in the mid-20th century, the plumbing industry settled on galvanized steel, i.e. steel dipped in a zinc solution to help it avoid corrosion. Steel sewer lines are as durable as cast iron and cost less to install, but their corrosion-resistance wasn\u2019t perfect. They also have limited service lives as the zinc coating wears away. They also pick up scale build-up that can lead to blockages. We recommend replacing galvanized steel sewer lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Copper <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although copper is a metal used since the beginning of civilization, it only emerged as the modern choice for sewer lines around the 1970s, and it\u2019s remained the main type installed ever since. Copper improves on steel and iron with its superior corrosion- and rust-resistance, its lightweight and high durability, and its smooth interior that lowers the risks of clogs. The cost is higher than galvanized steel, but the advantages\u2014particularly the longevity\u2014make up for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schedule Sewer Line Inspection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if you have a copper sewer line, you may still need to have it replaced at some point. Chemical exposure leading to formicary corrosion can damage copper and lead to leaks. If you have a copper sewer line installed in the 1970s, we recommend having a professional inspection to check on its condition. Then you\u2019ll know if you need to have it replaced or relined. A relining can give it many more years of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For expert plumbing service, installations, or maintenance contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc.<\/strong><\/a> Our knowledgeable plumbers serve the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburbs. Rely on Reliance!<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re going to look at the recent history of sewer line materials so you know what \u201coutdated\u201d means in this case.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[72],"tags":[99,106,197],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1512"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1512"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1518,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1512\/revisions\/1518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}