Are Concrete Pipes Reliable?

Concrete waste piping has proved to be a long term product that was first installed (in the USA) in 1842 in Mohawk, New York. It has been used from that point on until the 1970’s when PVC became the go to material for residential sewer systems.

Concrete side sewers have dutifully served residential plumbing systems for many years. Due to water erosion and acidic materials, concrete side sewers are prone to washing out on the bottom of the pipe. This means the bottom of the pipe becomes so worn by water flowing over it, the pebbles and small rocks used to make the pipe become exposed. When this happens you begin to have clogs, and they wont go away until the pipe is repaired. If left alone, the risk of developing a hole in your sewer line becomes a high probability.

Another scenario that may cause an issue is the natural shifting of the earth. When the earth shifts the concrete pipes shift along with it, and the joints become dislodged and disrupt the flow of the sewer. In this instance a spot repair would most likely be able to be completed to temporarily repair the line. This is a very temporary fix however as the rest of the line is going to keep shifting and come apart. Even with a spot fix, a new side sewer will be required soon.