How to Tell if Your Sewer Line is Clogged

You might think this is a pretty straightforward question. If water is backing up somewhere in your home, the sewer line is probably clogged. While that’s true, there are other ways to diagnose and isolate where the problem is coming from. Specifically, is it just a drain pipe in your kitchen or bathroom that’s clogged, or is the problem with your main sewer line?

Recognize the Early Warning Signs

The longer you let a problem like a clogged sewer line go, the more expensive and time consuming the repair could be. Furthermore, when left untreated you could potentially expose your home to tainted water! So, what are the warning signs of a clogged main sewer line?

The first tell-tale sign is a back-up from multiple drains. One drain may simply be the result of too much hair or food in the drain, but if they’re all  backing up, the problem may be bigger. This includes your tubs, sinks and toilets. Even if they’re not completely clogged, there can be other signs such as slow drainage, gurgling or just a really bad smell.

Finally, if you notice water backing up in your bath tub when you flush the toilet, this could be another sign. That’s because all the water flowing from your toilet can’t reach the main sewer line so it’s redirected elsewhere. This can also occurs when your washing machine drains or you run a bath or shower.

Check Your Sewer Cleanout and Floor Drain

This pipe gives plumbers a direct line to your sewer line. They’re usually found in your yard with the caps sticking out of the ground. However, they can also be found in many basements. If you see standing water or sewage in your clean out line, there’s a pretty good chance there’s clog or blockage. If your sewer main line is really clogged, all of dirty water is going to need some place else to go. This can often mean winding up coming out of your floor drain in the basement.

Super Terry Can Tackle Your Sewer Main Line Clog

If you think your sewer main line is clogged, learn how Super Terry can  Contact us today to learn how we can help.