If you’re already using it the sewer system of your city is a comfort that’s taken for as a given. Try your first experience but you’ll realize that there’s more to it than switching an on.
If you require an aerator for your new home or simply because you’re fed up with the septic tank in your home, knowing how these fittings work will make a difference in time and stress.
The Sewer Tap’s role
An sewer pipe is the link to your home’s sewer lateral (waste water pipe) as well as the sewer line of your municipal system. The pipe fitting that makes this connection lets the waste water from your house flow through the system, which means there’s no need for an septic tank in order to hold it. The fitting also creates an envelop that stops the waste water from getting to the ground.
If you’re planning to build a new home or changing your current home from a septic tank into the city system it’s necessary to apply for permits and engage an engineer to get your house hooked up to a sewer faucet.
How to Get the Sewer Tap Installed
Connecting to a sewer system in a municipality isn’t cheap or a quick project. The costs of permits and labor varies depending on the location, but generally range from $3,000 to $10,000.
Most likely, the water line on your property has been constructed by the city and is now capped off, waiting to be used by someone else. In this instance you’ll have to get permits to connect the tap. Then, you’ll need to hire an engineer to install the connection.
If there’s no sewer line in place, the water utility in your city or your contractor could put one in place for you. There’s a limit to amount of taps that the city sewer line will allow it’s likely that you’ll be unable to connect to your city’s water system. This is among the primary reasons why many houses end up having an sewer tank.
Before you decide to hook your home to sewer service, contact the local water utility and inquire whether a sewer tap is available for your home and where it’s located and the price of the tap cost.
If you’re certain that you’ll be able use the city’s water system then you should begin looking for plumbing companies that are certified to work on sewer faucets. The water utility in your city may even be able to provide you a list with licensed contractors. While certain contractors manage all permits Others require you to complete the paperwork yourself.
If you’re planning to get the permits on your own, usually you’ll have to apply for an approval for a sewer tap and then wait for the city’s approval to carry out an inspection. The contractor may also ask that you obtain a right of way permit prior to beginning construction.
After all documents are in order and your contractor is ready, he will with a sewer lateral that connects your home until the main municipal sewer. The task will require the contractor to dig trenches for the pipe, and be prepared for some damages on your grass.
If the sewer lateral is already installed and is in good condition, the contractor will attempt to make it aligned with the tap in order so that they don’t have the lateral moved.
If you own an septic system and the contractor is able to close it by filling it up with gravel or sand. Most all work could be completed within a single day, but it could take more than 8 hours.
When the work is complete and the tap is installed, it must be examined by the city’s health department or other appropriate authority to make sure that your home’s sewer lateral as well as the sewer taps are installed correctly and the septic system, in the event that it is one, is shut.
Maintaining the Sewer Tap
The sewer line is part of the sewer lateral in your home which means it’s up to you, and not the city, to care for it. Most of the time however the tap itself will require minimal maintenance. The protection it requires from damage is generally the matter of making sure your lateral is free of clogs.
In time, even the best cleaned sewer faucet fittings begin to wear down or become loose and will require replacement. If it happens to you, may not be aware of the issue until you receive a notice by the inspector of your city.
In other situations plumbing professionals clearing an obstruction or repairing an issue with the sewer lateral could reveal an issue with your tap. This is why the annual inspection of your plumbing is extremely valuable.
The plumber you hire can utilize video inspection equipment to look the plumbing system and notify you of any issues that are developing with the sewer line or other components that make up the plumbing system. So you’ll be able to plan repairs. The plumber will also be able to tell you the reason for the damage so that you can stop it from occurring again.
If the fitting for your sewer requires replacement an authorized contractor will perform the work, then you can arrange for city inspectors to visit and verify that everything is to standards.
Infiltrating the city’s sewer system could make it easier for you to avoid managing a Septic tank. While the procedure itself takes about a day however, it could take some time to work through the bureaucracy required.
If you’re thinking about installing a sewer line begin by speaking with your local water provider to determine whether it’s feasible and what permits you’ll require.
