While it is a common household problem, a clogged sewer line can be a major source of stress for homeowners. Not only can a sewer line clog render your home’s plumbing virtually unusable, but if a clog goes unnoticed it can cause extensive damage. This makes it critical that you have your sewer line inspected, cleaned, and repaired at the first signs of trouble in order to reduce the impact a sewer line clog can have on your household. Fortunately, there are signs that you can look out for indicating that there may be problems with your main sewer line. Here are just a few of these signs that you should be on the lookout for in your home.
Odd Smells
A clear sign that something is wrong with your sewer line is if you notice strange smells coming from any of the drains in your home. If the odor of rotten eggs, skunks, or sewage seems to be coming from a drain in your home, then it is likely that a clog is forming in your sewer line that has caused these smells to leach into your home. It is also possible that another problem could be causing this odor such as if a rodent tried to enter your home through your plumbing and failed. Either way, this odor is a sign that you should hire a plumbing professional to inspect your sewer line for signs of problems.
Your Drains Don’t Sound Right
Paying attention to the noises that the drains in your home make can help you to detect problems with your sewer line early. In particular, you should listen to see if your drains make any weird or unusual gurgling sounds when water is running through them. If you notice these unusual sounds, it is likely that there is a clog somewhere in the line. The gurgling noises you are hearing are being caused when air and water have to squeeze around a block in your pipes. You may also notice this problem when you flush the toilet, as it may make a gurgling sound, or a few bubbles may even appear in the toilet bowl if there is a serious clog. You will then want to have your sewer line cleared before the problem gets any worse.
Slow Drains Abound
If there is a serious obstruction forming in your sewer line, you may also notice that your sink or bathtub starts draining slower than normal. If you notice one of your drains draining slower than it used to, try to pay attention to how well the drains in the rest of your home are working. If only one drain is affected, then the problem is likely isolated to that specific drain pipe. However, if you are having problems with sink and shower drains throughout your house, then it is likely that there is an issue with your main sewer line, and you will want to have it professionally inspected.
Basement Drain Backflow
If a clog in your sewer line gets serious enough, you may experience problems with drains backing up throughout your home. For instance, if you flush the toilet, sewage may come up in your shower. If you have a basement, you should keep an eye on your basement’s floor drains, as they are the lowest drain in your home and will likely be the first to be affected by sewage backup. If you notice any signs of liquid influx through your basement drains, even intermittently, this is a clear sign of problems with your sewer line, and you will need to have it inspected as soon as possible in order to prevent more serious problems.
Contact us to learn more about the signs indicating that your sewer line may be clogged as well as to schedule an inspection of your sewer line.
