Integrate Sewer Lines So They Don’t Ruin Curb Appeal

Many sewer lines stay safely buried beneath the yard most of the time, so they don’t often interfere with a home’s curb appeal. A lot of sewer line problems can be taken care of by flushing out or even hydro-jetting clogs through the clean-out plug. On the other hand, problems such as bellying and bursting need to be fixed by handling the pipe itself. This may mean that the area needs to be dug up, and that can wreck your curb appeal if it’s in your front yard.

Some homeowners have a sewer pipe that hugs the foundation of their house from above ground, thus affecting curb appeal. Whether the pipe is buried and needs to be exposed or is above ground, there are ways to make it a little less noticeable to yourself and passersby.

Fake Rocks

Though they don’t need to be as obvious as the fake boulders on the original Star Trek, artificial rocks are one way to hide repairs done to your sewer line. After the trench is dug and the plumbing team goes home for the day, cover it with these rocks. Onlookers will be none the wiser, and when they return, the team can simply lift them off.

Consider Trenchless Repiping

If your sewer line needs repair, ask your plumber if trenchless repiping is possible. As the name suggests, your line can be repaired without having to dig a trench to access it. There are two main ways to do this. Your plumber can send a liner coated with resin into the pipe that eventually hardens into a new pipe. If the pipe has bellied or collapsed, the plumber can also pull a new pipe through it. This bursts the old pipe while sparing the soil around it.

Adjust the Clean-Out Pipe

Many homeowners have their clean-out pipe inside their basement or crawl space, but some clean-outs are outdoors and quite noticeable. One solution is to have your plumber saw the pipe down to the point where it can actually be capped just below the ground. The plumber can then hide it with a grass-colored cover.

Put Plants Around the Sewer Line

Hide an outdoor sewer line by planting ground covers such as aubrieta near it. You can also install a trellis in front of the line, and train climbers such as honeysuckle, Virginia creeper or even climbing roses to hide it. Just make sure to avoid planting trees and shrubs with invasive roots anywhere near your sewer line.

Repairing or replacing your sewer line doesn’t have to ruin your home’s curb appeal. Working with your plumber can help. If you live in Berkeley, CA or a surrounding area and need sewer line services, make your first call to LJ Kruse.