While most homeowners understand the main role a sewer pipe plays, there’s a lot they are unaware of. For instance, how deep are sewer lines buried? Does the depth of the sewer line matter?
This article answers these questions, highlighting how our company’s Edmond’s plumbing services – Home can help you address all your sewer line concerns.
What Are Sewer Lines?
A sewer line is a drain pipe plumbers install on your property to carry waste and water away from your home and into the city’s sewer system. The line runs from your home toward your septic tanks or the street’s city connections.
Once your sewer line deposits the waste into the sewer system, the system directs it to a wastewater treatment facility that removes the waste and sends the water back to your residential property for continuous usage.
Sewer lines come in two main types — residential and city — with each type having distinct depth requirements.
How Deep Are Sewer Lines Buried?
There is no definitive answer to the question, “How deep are sewer lines buried?” The depth of the sewer line will depend on several factors, including:
- The type of sewer line
- Your area’s climate
- Your area’s frost depth
For instance, residential sewer line depth ranges from 18 to 30 inches. However, city sewer line depths are different.
Your city’s sewer lines always have to be deeper than the deepest residential pipe to allow waste to flow downhill. As such, these lines can go as deep as needed.
Besides the type of sewer line, the area’s climate and frost depth will determine how deep you’ll bury your sewer pipes. Frost depth is the depth, in inches, at which groundwater freezes. The deeper the frost depth, the deeper you’ll need to bury your sewer line.
If you’re wondering how do I find sewer line on my property, it’s essential to consult with professionals who have the tools and expertise to locate and assess your sewer system accurately.
Burying Sewer Lines in Cold Regions
Homeowners in cold climates have to bury their sewer pipes much deeper because the ground freezes at a greater depth. Burying sewer lines under more inches of dirt will provide them with the additional protection they need.
For example, since Minnesota’s frost depth is 80 inches, homeowners must bury their sewer lines at least 80 inches deep.
Burying Sewer Lines in Warm Regions
Property owners in warm climates don’t need to bury their sewer lines as deep as those in a colder climates. For instance, Oklahoma’s frost line is just 20 inches, which is the guideline our team typically sticks to.
Why Is Sewer Line Depth Important?
Are you wondering why you need to know the answer to “How deep are sewer lines buried?”
For starters, knowing your sewer line’s depth helps you avoid accidentally damaging it when planting trees or digging a trench.
Here are some other reasons why knowing the depth of your sewer line is vital.
Prevents Damage from Freezing
Your sewer pipe will freeze and break if the trench isn’t deep enough below the area’s frost depth.
Fortunately, knowing how deep to bury the sewer lines will help those residing in cold-weather climates prevent this type of damage. To be safe, ensure that the trench is about two feet deeper than your area’s frost line.
Prevents Damage from Natural Disasters
As an Oklahoma resident, your property is prone to damage from tornadoes and strong winds. Knowing sewer line depth in areas where natural disasters abound is vital.
Strong winds can easily uproot trees, causing the root systems to break your sewer line, necessitating prompt sewer line repair to prevent further damage.
Helps You Avoid Penalty Fees
You could incur several penalty fees if you do not adhere to local, county, and state plumbing codes.
Though digging deep trenches can be costly, you could end up spending more on penalty fees if you fail to do so.
How to Determine Ideal Sewer Line Depth
Are you trying to determine how deep your sewer lines should be? You can do so using several means. For example, you could check your city’s frost depth, which the National Weather Service groups by ZIP code.
Besides checking your area’s frost depth, you could determine your area’s required sewer line depth by doing the following. However, if you’re facing issues such as a clog, you might be interested in learning how to unclog the main sewer line effectively and efficiently.
Contact Your City’s Engineering Department
Your city’s engineering department often handles sewer line issues in your area. You could also contact someone in your city’s zoning office.
In most cases, you’ll be able to know where your sewer line is and how deep it’s buried. Depending on the city you reside in, you could even get a copy of various helpful documents, like your property map.
Contact a Certified Plumber
Plumbing companies with excavators and drain specialists know the plumbing codes in your area and will be able to help. On top of that, many have access to specialized tools, such as sewer line cameras.
Plumbers can conduct inspections to help you locate your property’s main sewer line and determine how deep it is buried.
Addressing Sewer Line Damage in Edmond, OK
While burying your sewer lines at the recommended depth will protect them from damage, issues can still arise. Promptly resolving these issues will go a long way in limiting the extent of the damage.
Are you in need of sewer line repair services in Edmond, OK? Get in touch with Champion Plumbing.
We have a team of professional plumbers with the expertise and equipment needed to inspect your sewer line and identify the damage. After, our team will implement prompt, effective plumbing solutions, delivering favorable, long-lasting results.
If the damage is too extensive, we might recommend replacing your sewer line. We understand how daunting and costly sewer line replacements can be.
Fortunately, we are always willing to work within your budget, ensuring that we provide the services you need to get your property’s sewage system running in no time. Our team will guide you through everything, helping you determine the ideal sewer line pipe material for your needs.
Feel free to reach out to us, whether you need professional sewer line services or are looking for answers to questions like, “How deep are sewer lines buried?”
Contact Champion Plumbing at 405-889-1318 for all your Edmond, OK, sewer line needs.
