While it’s easy to miss any signs of a clogged sewer line, the damage could be devastating if left untreated. Homeowners are probably aware that sewer lines transport each household’s wastewater to underground sewers. Despite this, most homeowners don’t give their sewer lines much thought until they experience clogs.
A simple clog can lead to sewage backup from drains, which, in turn, can cause significant damage to one’s home and requires costly sewer line replacement or repair.
With this, it’s easy to understand why responding to the early warning signs can significantly stave off plumbing issues and severe sewer problems.
Here are the things you should closely monitor.
A clogged toilet or clogged drain
If you hear a bubble-like sound from your drain, or if you notice water backing out the toilet plumbing or the sewer, you must be concerned. This calls for drain cleaning and more.
The moment you notice your toilet percolating or when you find water on the floor drain in your basement, that’s the first classic sign of clogging. It can occur in your house’s primary or secondary sewer lines.
To be sure, check the following fixtures thoroughly-
- Sinks
- Bathtubs
- Showers
Think of your house like a tree. Just like a tree, your home has a single trunk line that crawls out of your home, and you have small branches from the main trunk. If the mainline is clogged, that automatically means you’ll have a problem with the water running in the entire house.
In this case, you need to call your friendly neighborhood handyman to do some drain cleaning and other sewer maintenance duties.
Tree roots
Another leading cause of sewer line clogging is tree roots. This is particularly true in older houses. Older houses have older pipes, and trees in the yard easily crush these pipes. In newer homes, the more common causes of clogging are thick toilet paper, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products.
Gurgling toilet bowl noises and slower flowing drains are signs that your sewer is affected by crawling tree roots. If you disregard the problem now, your entire sewer line might be blocked.
Floor Drain Sewage
If the main sewer is clogged, the wastewater and sewage sitting in water pipes have nowhere to go. This means they will eventually leak into a secondary drain. If this happens, sewage will be directed back up from your floor drains.
Releasing the pressure
The first thing you should do when you suspect a blocked sewer line is to shut the water off from the primary source. If you have access to your sewer’s main cleanout line, remove the cap during water backup to unload and release the built-up pressure and to send water out of the house.
The cleanout line is a round, short, white pipe covered with a rubber cap and is usually located in the yard or in the basement.
After that, fill your sink with water and drain them twice or thrice a month. This will make sure that water flows properly through the pipes and clears the lines of any water waste.
Takeaway
Allocating a portion of your budget for sewer maintenance may put a strain on your funds, especially if you’ll be doing it for the first time. But then again, if you think about the foul smell, the overflowing wastewater, and other damage caused by a clogged sewer line, you’ll realize that the benefits outweigh the cost.
For plumbing and other household construction needs, Payless 4 Plumbing is the answer. Request an appointment today and get efficient, timely, and courteous services.
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