Sinkholes and Your Plumbing: What Lakeland Homeowners Should Know
Sinkholes and ground settling are part of life in Polk County. Plumbing can be both a victim and a cause, so it helps to know which signs point where.
Request a plumberWhy it matters here
Lakeland sits on limestone in the Central Florida Highlands. In July 2006 a cluster of sinkholes almost drained the city's Scott Lake. Most settling is far smaller, but even a few inches of movement can crack or sag a buried pipe.
How settling affects pipes
A sewer line that sags holds water and waste, which leads to repeat clogs. A cracked line leaks into the soil around it. Water lines can pull apart at joints. A camera inspection shows sags and breaks in drain lines.
When a leak is the cause
Water from a broken sewer or supply line washes sand away underground. That can leave a void that looks like a small sinkhole. Fixing the leak stops the washout, which is why a plumber is often the first visit.
Signs to watch
New cracks in floor tile or walls, doors that start sticking, a dip in the lawn, a patch that stays wet, a jump in the water bill, or drains that suddenly slow. One sign alone doesn't mean a sinkhole.
What a plumber can check
A plumber can pressure-test water lines, run a camera through the sewer and tell you whether pipes are leaking or broken. They can't certify whether the ground has a sinkhole; that is work for a geotechnical engineer, often arranged through your insurer.
What to do
Keep people and pets away from any depression, take photos, contact your insurer about sinkhole coverage and have the plumbing checked. See sewer and septic lines.
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