Sewer lines are vulnerable to clogs and backups. Tree roots can invade and cause cracks and backups in pipes. Kids can flush all kinds of objects that shouldn’t go down the toilet, and overuse affects pipes, too. These common signs of a clogged sewer line are your clue to call a licensed plumber before the problem gets worse.
Foul Odors
Sewer gas smells can enter the house if drain traps dry out, but foul odors are also caused by waste that isn’t draining away. If your sink, tub, toilet, or shower drain emits a nasty smell, you might have a sewer line clog. It’s stopping wastewater from reaching the city sewer line through your main sewer pipe under your front yard.
Back-Ups When You Use Fixtures
When you turn on the faucet or flush the toilet, water is supposed to flow freely away down the drains. If water backs up in the tub when you flush the toilet, or the toilet makes noise when you run the sink, there could be a sewer line clog. The same is true if backups happen in sinks when you’re using the washing machine. A toilet that gurgles or percolates when you run the faucet or the washing machine indicates a possible sewer line clog.
Multiple Drains Backing Up
Usually, clogs are in the trap beneath individual sinks, tubs, or toilets. But if all of them back up at the same time, it means that wastewater isn’t flowing out through the main drain, or the output from your main drain under your basement floor isn’t flowing freely through the main sewer line under your front yard.
Drains that repeatedly back up are another sign of a sewer problem. If you’ve just cleared the drain and it backs up again when you next use the sink, your sewer line may be the cause.
Your Sewer Clean-Out Is Backing Up
A clean-out is a vertical pipe with a cap between your house and the street or inside the house, which is attached to your sewer drain line. If it’s leaking, the sewer line is probably clogged. The wastewater had nowhere to go but up toward the cleanout cap.
If you notice some of these common signs of a clogged sewer line, contact a licensed plumber for a camera inspection of your sewer line to determine the source of the problem. In New York City, Harris Water Main and Sewer can repair or replace your main sewer line. Harris also provides new water main installation. Underground plumbing work requires the special licensing and experience Harris has to address your exterior plumbing needs.
