A clogged sewer line is a major concern and an issue you definitely want to try and avoid. The main concern with a clogged sewer line is that it can make your entire plumbing system unusable. Luckily, there are a few obvious signs that can tell you if your sewer line is clogged or beginning to clog so you can easily know when you need to contact a professional sewer service. Find out more about those signs, and discover how to avoid sewer clogs.
1. Sewage Backing Up Inside Your Home
One sure sign that your sewer line is clogged is if it starts backing up. When a sewer line is clogged, all of the wastewater that goes down the drains can’t drain out into the municipal sewer system as it should. As a result, the line starts backing up and eventually results in the sewage and wastewater coming out of whichever drains in the house are at the lowest elevation. That typically means showers and floor drains in the basement or on the main level if you don’t have a basement.
Whenever backups start occurring, it’s essential that you don’t use your plumbing until you can get a sewer service out to clean and unclog your sewer line. Flushing the toilet likely won’t make the issue much worse since modern toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Taking a shower, running your dishwasher or doing laundry, on the other hand, can create a substantial backup and leave you with a large, seriously nasty mess to clean up.
2. Slow Drains
It’s common to experience an issue where the sink in your kitchen or bathroom gets partially clogged and starts draining slowly. This type of issue usually isn’t all that serious and is something a drain cleaning service can easily fix. In some cases, you may even be able to eliminate the problem yourself.
When you really need to be concerned is if you notice all of your sinks, showers and bathtubs are draining slowly. This type of problem indicates that your sewer line isn’t draining properly. It can also be a sign that there’s a problem with the plumbing vent pipe on your roof, but this happens more rarely.
3. Toilet Won’t Flush Properly
Another common issue you’ll occasionally encounter is that a toilet suddenly flushes slowly or frequently requires additional flushes to get everything to go down. This often happens because there’s a partial blockage within the toilet drain or the trap inside the toilet.
If you have multiple toilets with the same problem or also notice any of the other signs on this list, you can be certain it’s because of an issue with your sewer system. Most commonly, it means your sewer line is clogged, but it can also be a sign that the sewer line is broken or of an issue with the vent pipe on the roof.
4. Gurgling Drains and Toilets
Gurgling and glugging sounds when you use sinks, showers and toilets are another thing to watch for. As with the other issues we’ve discussed, hearing these noises from different plumbing fixtures around your house is a definite indication that your sewer line is clogging up. When a sewer system isn’t draining smoothly, it often causes pockets of air to get trapped in drainpipes. The gurgling sound is a result of these air pockets getting released and bubbling up through the water as they rise out of the drainpipe.
5. Smelly Drains
Smelly drains are another common issue that can occur for various reasons. For instance, it often happens because of rotting food inside the P-trap underneath the kitchen sink or rotting hair in the shower drain. It can also happen because the P-trap underneath a drain dries out. The bend in a P-trap is designed to constantly hold water, creating an airtight barrier that prevents sewer gases from rising out of the drain. If the trap is dry, the gases will then rise out of the drain unimpeded.
If you notice foul sewage odors throughout much of your house, it’s almost certainly coming from waste that’s trapped in your sewer line. A potentially even bigger concern is if you start smelling sewage when standing in your yard. In this case, it typically indicates your sewer line is leaking because it’s cracked or broken or it has tree roots growing into it.
6. Unusually Lush Spot in Your Lawn
This sort of issue is also another sign that your sewer line is leaking. As long as you water your lawn evenly, the grass should all grow and about the same rate and look mostly uniform. If your sewer line is leaking, the grass in the surrounding area will often start growing faster and looking lusher. That’s because the sewage leaking out of the line provides it with additional water and nourishment. You may also notice a soggy, sunken spot above where the sewer line is leaking or that the ground is soft and spongy when you walk on it.
What Causes Sewer Line Clogs?
Sewer line clogs most commonly happen as a result of improper plumbing use. By improper use, we mean things like frequently washing grease, oil, fat and food scraps down the kitchen sink and flushing items that are meant to go in the trash.
Fat, oil and grease are major concerns as they tend to adhere to the inside of pipes instead of getting washed away. This then creates a sticky coating on the interior of the pipe that can capture bits of food, toilet paper and other solid materials, leading to a blockage forming.
When it comes to toilets, the only things you should ever flush are urine, feces and toilet paper. One common issue plumbers encounter all too often is a sewer line that’s majorly clogged with items like wet wipes or feminine hygiene products. While these things may go down the toilet with no issue, they often don’t get washed all the way out of the sewer line. This then starts creating an obstruction that blocks other solids from draining away, eventually leading to the line fully clogging. Even wipes that are labelled as “flushable” aren’t safe to go down the toilet. That’s because they remain fully intact when flushed instead of breaking up into small pieces like toilet paper does.
Clogs can also happen simply due to the sewer line being old and having issues like rust, corrosion and mineral deposit buildup. Rust and corrosion are among the main reasons why homes with old cast-iron sewer lines tend to experience far more sewer issues.
How Can You Prevent Your Sewer Line From Clogging?
The first step in preventing your sewer line from clogging is just being extra careful about how you use your plumbing. That means watching what you flush and using a strainer in your kitchen sink to prevent food from going down the drain. If you have a garbage disposal, you need to be careful not to overload it and make sure you never try to run any starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, rice and other grains through it. Dumping coffee grounds down the drain or flushing cat litter also carries a major risk of drain and sewer clogs.
Having a professional plumbing service clean your sewer line at least once a year is another great way to prevent major issues from arising. Either running a sewer auger through the line or hydro jetting it is an effective way to remove any buildup and solids, ensuring everything continues to drain smoothly. We can also employ a camera inspection to enable us to see better inside your drains and clear out what’s causing any backups.
When you need help from a professional sewer service, Delta Mechanical is the one to call. We have locations in Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada and Florida and are ready to ensure your sewer system is in good condition. To get help with a clog or other sewer issue, contact us today.
