6 Ways to know if you have a main sewer line clog… And when to call the experts
All houses have a main sewer line that runs from the street to the house. This is essentially like a trunk of a tree. Like branches, smaller pipes run from the main sewer line to different areas in your home.
Unfortunately, the main sewer line can become clogged with hair, tree roots, sediment or soap scum due to normal use. This can have some nasty effects on your household drains. As with most things that go wrong, they usually go wrong at the most inconvenient times. Cleaning up the mess from a clogged main sewer line can be pretty yucky. Any main sewer line blockage will not only be messy for your home, but it will also create major plumbing problems if not attended to correctly. Main sewer lines are gravity fed, meaning that they rely on gravity to move water and waste through the pipes. So, if there is a blockage in the main sewer line, it will cause water to back up in the fixtures closest to the blockage. This is because the water has nowhere else to go!
If plumbing isn’t your wheelhouse, here are some of the most common symptoms that can indicate a clog in your main sewer line and the need for professional help.
What causes sewer blockages?
You might have already had a sewer drain clog nightmare. Perhaps you experienced a clogged sewer that resulted in your kitchen sink flooding with water or you have seen the contents of one too many shower drains. If your drains are draining slower than usual or if you hear gurgling sounds, it could be an indication of a main sewer line clog. Property owners often wonder what causes clogs in the sewer system. The truth is that many things can cause sewer blockages.
- Hair: Over time, hair can build up and form a clog in your main sewer line. This is especially true if you have long hair or if multiple people in your household have long hair. One way to prevent a blocked sewer line from hair is to periodically check the drain for any hairballs.
- Tree roots: Roots can grow into your sewer pipes and cause blockages. This is more common in older sewer lines made of clay or cast iron. Tree roots require professional drain repair as the system becomes more complex at that level. It might be necessary to kill tree roots as part of the strategy. Professional plumbers are qualified to deal with this issue.
- Sediment: Over time, sediment can build up in your sewer line and cause a blockage. This is more common in areas with hard water. A main sewer line clog from sediment requires specialised equipment and sewer cleaning. You might detect sediment blockage when there is an unpleasant odour coming from the drain.
- Soap scum: Soap scum can build up in your sewer line and cause a blockage. This is more common if you have a septic tank. Septic tanks are airtight chambers that allow sewage to decompose through bacterial action. Soap scum can also build up in your sewer line if you have a grease trap. A grease trap is a device that captures fats, oils and grease from wastewater before it enters the sewer system.
Of course, any solid waste will cause a blocked sewer drain. One of the main reasons people experience a clogged sewer is because they are using it as a trash can. This is a huge no-no! Pouring grease, oil, coffee grounds, eggshells and other items down the drain will only cause problems further down the line – quite literally. Regardless of the cause, a clogged sewer line is a headache. If you have a clogged main sewer line, the first thing you should do is call a professional plumber. Plumbers have the tools and expertise to unclog your sewer line quickly and efficiently.
Repeatedly Blocked Drain
If you have a toilet or drain that is repeatedly blocked, don’t leap to replace the fixture! Repeatedly blocked fixtures can indicate a main sewer line clog. If your sewer line is repeatedly blocked, it could be due to misaligned pipes. If the pipes are not properly aligned, it can cause a blockage. This is more common in older homes with clay or cast iron sewer lines. A professional plumber will be able to assess your situation and determine if this is a main sewer drain problem or another issue. Professional plumbers know how to evaluate main sewer drain lines.
Multiple Backed Up Drains
Because all drains in your home run into the main sewer line, a clog in the main sewer line can impact all the drains in the home. This could mean raw sewage coming back up not only through your toilet but also in your sinks or showers. Multiple backed up drains including sinks, toilets, and showers can be a good indicator of a serious[ly messy] problem. Any raw sewage can come back up through any of these drains. This is unsanitary and dangerous. A licensed plumber knows how to work with the pipes and how to handle the emergency of a backed up drain.
STRANGE DRAIN NOISES
If your plumbing is struggling to drain, you could begin to hear your fixtures making some strange noises. Try running the water in the bathroom sink and keeping an ear open for the toilet or grabbing a friend to stand guard at the toilet. If you hear gurgling or notice that the water is rising, it could be another indicator of a clogged main drain.
STRONG SMELL OF SEWAGE
If sewage is having trouble draining away from your home, it doesn’t take a genius to imagine the odour wafting its way into your home will be unpleasant. When things start smelling icky, do yourself a favour and call your plumber before things go from bad to worse. Avoid trying to fix the issue with home remedies you’ve heard somewhere such as using baking soda. The sewage system and the sewer lines require special attention and expertise. Severe clogs can be a sign of a damaged pipe, loose joints, or a more serious problem.
BUBBLES IN YOUR TOILET
A strange phenomenon that can occur as a result of a main sewer clog is bubbles in your toilet. If the water cannot drain away quickly enough air may try to escape back up through the toilet. This might be a sign of water pressure in combination with a clogged drain. This is where ensuring you have an air (plumbing) vent installed in your home is important. A plumbing air vent prevents issues in the sewer lines while creating efficiency in the overall plumbing system.
USING ONE FIXTURE AFFECTS OTHERS
One of the typical indicators of a main sewer line clog is when using one fixture affects another. For example, turning on a bathroom sink tap could result in water coming up from the shower drain. Or using the bathroom sink could cause the water level in the toilet to rise. If this kind of problem is manifesting itself, it is very likely you have a main sewer line issue. You might have multiple plumbing fixtures that need replacing, in which case, calling an expert is the way to go.
Can I prevent future sewer line clogs?
There are some measures you can take to prevent a main sewer line clog. It’s important to periodically clean your water pipes, as they may accumulate waste. Also, watching out for what you throw down the toilet is essential. Avoid flushing down cotton pads, sanitary products, nappies, oils, and any other heavier items. These items can easily cause a blockage. Remove older trees near homes for safety, as it will prevent tree roots from destroying your sewer line. Tree roots can cause sewer clogging as the drains block water from flowing into the septic system. Tree roots may lead to the buildup and clogged toilets in the house.
How to Clear a Main Sewer Line Clog — Call the Experts!
Sewer line clogs might cause an unexpected or unexplained increase in your water bill. If water is struggling to get away, it will take longer to fill up the tank and run through all the fixtures in your home. A clogged sewer line can also lead to flooding and water damage. Additionally, clogged sewer lines can be a health hazard because they can allow sewage to back up into your home. This can contaminate your drinking water and just bring an overall sense of aggravation into your home. Solving the issue takes someone who understands plumbing and even the sewage system.
If you suspect you have a clog in your main sewer line, cease flushing the toilet and call a professional. It might need more than a chemical drain cleaner to fix the problem. Plumbers have the right equipment to deal with the source. The Limcora team can assess the sewer lines with state-of-the-art technology. Our technology can easily identify tiny cracks in the sewer pipes or other issues. The team is qualified and ready with personalised attention to service your home.
Contact the experts at Limcora on 1300 006 606.
