Most homeowners know that their residential sewer line transports waste water from their home to a main sewer line but give it little thought. That is until it they have sewage coming up out of their drains!
A clogged sewer line could cause significant damage to your family’s belongings and may lead to expensive repairs and replacements. Even having just one clogged shower or sink drain can be inconvenient… especially when it happens while you have company over!
Is there a way to tell the difference between a secondary drain problem and a main sewer drain problem? And is there a way to prevent severe drain and sewer problems? Absolutely! If you pay attention to these warning signs you could take care of a small problem before it becomes a much larger, and more urgent, one.
- The most common warning sign of a sewer line problem is a gurgling toilet. If you notice your toilet gurgling after using any water in the house, particularly after doing laundry or using the dishwasher, you have a sewer line problem.
- If you use any water in the house and it not only causes the toilet to gurgle but water comes up the bathtub and/or floor drain, it is a clogged sewer line.
- If your kitchen or vanity sink is clogged but you can still flush all toilets without water coming up the bathtub and/or floor drain, it is likely that only the kitchen drain is clogged.
- If any one drain is slow, it is probably only that drain that is affected. If all your drains seem to be slower AND your toilets gurgle, it is a clogged sewer line, usually from a build up of grease or roots.
- If the water level in the toilet rises higher and/or drops lower, it indicates a problem in the system. It may only be that one toilet or it may be the beginning of a clogged sewer line.
If you have any of the above symptoms, call a plumber to prevent possible damage to floors, walls, ceilings or personal belongings.
If you have established it is a clogged main sewer line, do not use any water as the waste water cannot leave your home and will only back up, causing a mess and possible damage.
If you have a bad smell coming from any sink or from the basement, call a professional as soon as possible as it may not just be a clogged drain, it could be an indication of a more serious problem such as methane/sewer gas coming back into your home.
If you have dirt coming up any drain, in particular the floor drain, it may be caused by a break in your sewer line, possibly by roots. Call a professional immediately.
For tips on how to prevent drain problems, please click here. To listen to our radio ad on MyFM about the warning signs of a clog, click below:
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Professional Plumber’s Tip: A reputable plumber will clear your drain or sewer with the right equipment for the job. If they suspect a problem with your drain while clearing it, they will recommend a camera inspection to determine the cause of the problem (like a broken line, illegal plumbing, backfall, severe blockage due to roots, grease, etc.) so they can offer the correct solution. Watch out for companies that suggest a camera inspection before even trying to clear the clogged drain/sewer. A camera inspection performed before clearing the drain will only reveal that there is a clog of some sort. The camera cannot see through that clog if there is any problem with the piping itself. Why spend money unnecessarily?
