If you encounter a blocked drain in your home, the first thing that comes to mind is likely to go grab a plunger.
You might not know that there are situations where traditional plunging can be completely ineffective. For example, when your main sewer line is clogged. This can lead to flooding in your home through the floor drains.
Therefore, you must be able identify and handle clogged sewers to prevent any serious water damage.
Are your main sewer lines clogged?
Drain lines carry wastewater from your sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and other fixtures throughout the home. These lines all lead to your main sewer line. All the household waste is sent into this huge pipe via your sewer system or septic tank. A sewer drain clog can back up all the drains throughout your house, making it impossible for them to function properly.
There is no way to fix a main sewer line clog on your own. These drain lines are found deep beneath the earth and far from your house. These drain lines require special tools and expert knowledge.
Although you may not be able to fix it, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are powerless. You can still prevent the issue from becoming worse while you wait for a professional plumber to come deal with your sewer line repair.
Sewer line blockage causes
Because most sewer lines measure between 4 and 6 inches in width, a clog is actually quite rare. Most clogs are the result of some type of damage that has occurred to the pipe that has caused it to collapse.
A sewer line can be damaged by many things, such as:
- Transfer of soil around the pipe
- Pipe corrosion
- Construction close to the line
- Heavy car traffic above the line
- Pipe joints that become damaged
Sagging sewer lines
Another reason that sewer lines become clogged is because they sag with time. Sagging sewer lines makes it easier for debris to accumulate, ultimately leading to a sewer line clog.
Fats and oils
Fat is the most prevalent type of waste that can clog a sewer line. Fats and oils that have been poured down the sink will harden if they cool. To prevent this, you can run hot water to loosen the grease.
Non-flushable objects
Paper towels, baby wipes, sanitary products and other large items can cause clogs if flushed down the drain. It is best to only send liquids or toilet paper down the toilet.
Tree roots
Tree roots are another cause for clogged sewer lines. The power of trees is amazing. Over time, even tiny roots can get into pipes. The root can clog the pipe, so you may not be able to see a leak. The roots grow inside the pipes and create a blockage that makes it difficult for sewage to pass.
Warning signs that your sewer line may be clogged
Clogged sewers are usually gradual. It is important to recognize problems early so that you can fix them before they cause flooding within your whole house.
Below are the things to look for.
Dark Water
Water backing up from a shower or tub drain is one of the signs of a main drain clog. When water is blocked in the main drain, this will cause water to move backwards, looking for the lowest entry point. This will usually be the basement floor drain, bathtub, or shower drain.
The water won’t be clear, unlike flooding fixtures due to a leaky pipeline. It will often look dark and have a bad odor because it contains a lot waste materials. This water could contain raw sewage so be careful. When cleaning out drains that have dark water, use strong cleaners and protective gear.
Slow-Moving Drains
Observe you sink’s drainage pattern. Do they drain quickly or does water build up when you turn on the water supply? Because most sewer line obstructions don’t block all of the pipes, drains will slow down. Debris builds up over time and makes it more difficult for waste to flow through.
Clogged sewer lines are most likely the cause of slow drains throughout your house. The toilet drains are usually the first to slow down. The water from the toilet may appear to be hanging there until it sinks down. Because they are usually directly connected to the sewer line, toilets can often be the first drain to become blocked by mainline obstruction.
Gurgling Sounds
A mainline blockage can cause problems with your drainage system, causing you to experience strange noises to occur when you try to use it. Water and bubbles may form when you flush the toilet, run a washer, or wash your clothes. Noises can be caused by all the stuff that is rummaging in the pipes. Because sound travels in strange ways through pipes, noises may seem like they are coming from the walls, flooring or the ceiling.
People most often report hearing a loud gurgling sound when they use a drain. You may hear strange bubbling, hissing, or trickling sounds. It can take time for things to drain through a blocked main sewer.
Clogged plumbing fixtures
A clog will cause almost all wastewater to stop flowing throughout the pipes in your house.
Keep in mind that all the plumbing fixtures in your entire home are connected. A clogged drain will prevent the water from flowing throughout the house.
How to handle a blocked sewer line
Once you recognize that your sewer line is clogged, the two steps below can help to prevent the problem from getting worse.
1. Shut off the water supply
Turn off your water supply to the home. This will prevent the problem from getting worse. It is not a good idea to accidentally turn on a sink and flood your bathroom with raw sewage. This also prevents leaking pipes and automatic systems, such as a dishwasher with a timer, from trying to draw more water into the clogged pipe.
You will need to locate your water main in order to turn off the water supply. This is the water line that runs from your house. It is often located near the water meter of your home, but sometimes, it may be outside your home in a corner. You will find a handle, wheel or lever on the back.
2. Get in touch with a plumber
Although it is technically possible to clean some of the sewer line obstructions by yourself, you are going to need to contact a professional to do a complete cleaning. Broken pipes and tree roots are the most common causes of sewer line obstructions. Even those who are familiar with basic drainage issues are not going to have the tools necessary to deal with such obstructions.
Professionals also have the experience and knowledge to identify the root cause. You can’t just dump some drain cleaner down the toilet and expect for this issue to be resolved.
A professional can inspect your entire plumbing system to find the root cause of any problems.
You may have to completely replace your sewer pipes depending on the situation. This could involve digging in your yard.
What is the best way to unclog sewer lines?
At the end of the day, you will need to hire a plumber who can unclog your sewer lines. However, there are some things that you can try to reduce the severity of the problem before your plumber arrives.
Many homes have a sewer line cleanout. This is a long pipe that has a cap at the end that can be found either in the basement or along the side of the home. To access the main sewer line, take off the cap. If you are lucky, the clog may have been forced against the cleanout. If this is the case, you can just pull out the obstruction.
A plumbing auger can be used to run through your sewer lines. You may be able to clear some debris or break the clog. The problem with sewer line clogs is that they are often so severe that a drain auger cannot fix it alone.
Clogs are likely to continue until your sewer lines are cleaned thoroughly. To clear the main clog, you will need to contact a licensed plumber.
