Tacoma Homeowners See Uptick in Blocked Sewer Lines this Fall

Local plumbing company Harts Services sees correlation between rainfall and sewer line damage

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Oct 29, 2018, 07:13 ET

TACOMA, Wash., Oct. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Harts Services, a top-rated Tacoma plumbing company with a 4.9 review rating on Google, has been seeing an increase in the volume of calls related to damaged sewer lines over the past month.

Harts Services shares indicators of a blocked sewer line with Tacoma homeowners.

"What happens is that during the summer, trees have less access to water and therefore their roots don't grow as fast," Richard Hart, co-owner of Harts Services, said. "In the Puget Sound area, we get a lot of rain during the fall months, and those trees find the water and their roots begin growing as they seek to find more. If there happens to be a sewer line leaking water in front of that growing root, then the tree is going to cause damage and push through."

According to historic weather data, Tacoma receives an average of 0.82 and 1.29 inches of precipitation in the months of August and September, respectively. By contrast, October and November bring an average of 3.7 and 6.68 inches of precipitation. Hart says when rainfall increases, Harts Services gets more calls about sewer blockages.

One of the indicators of a blocked sewer line is when two plumbing fixtures affect each other. For instance, if flushing the toilet causes water to come out of the bathtub drain, it can signal a sewer blockage. This also applies to water-dependent appliances, such as dishwashers or washing machines.

"The water is trying to escape through the sewer, but if it's blocked, then it has to go somewhere," Hart said. "That 'somewhere' can be your toilet, shower drain, washing machine or any other place connected to the sewer system."

Hart says that concerned home or business owners who have mature trees (more than 30 years-old) on their property can have their sewer line scoped using a camera to determine any leaks. This could catch a small leak or blockage before it becomes a major one. Also, thanks to new, trenchless drain technology, a sewer line replacement doesn't always require a large excavation site in the yard or driveway like before.

"If you're doing some landscaping, be mindful of where you're planting trees in relation to the sewer line and to know the condition of your piping system," Hart said. "We have a lot of older homes in Tacoma that may have pipes more susceptible to root damage than newer ones."

Tacoma residents looking for more information about Harts Services can call 1-253-345-7222 or visit www.hartsservices.com.

About Harts Services

Harts Services was founded in Tacoma in 2013 by co-owners Richard Hart and Dan Hartsough. Harts Services offers plumbing to residential and commercial customers, and has a 4.9/5 rating on Google. Guided by its motto, We Care More, the company is committed to incorporating a caring attitude into every aspect of the business. For more information, call 1-253-345-7222 or visit www.hartsservices.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
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SOURCE Harts Services