Is Your Sewer Clogged?
A sewage backup in your home is a nasty problem that nobody wants to face. A backup can be problematic and hazardous. Once your sewage line backs up, it can open the door to numerous issues for your home and your entire plumbing system. The good news is that by knowing the signs of a sewage backup, you can take the immediate action necessary to fix the problem and prevent further damage.
What Causes A Sewer Backup?
Your home is built around drain lines carrying wastewater away from sinks, toilets, and tubs. All of these lines lead to the main sewer line. When your sewer gets clogged, drains all over your home are unable to work. It’s even possible that water will start backing up into your fixtures, you get leaky pipes and other problems.
One of the most common causes of a clog is damage to the sewer line itself. If a pipe collapses or bends, the damage can keep waste from moving through the line properly. Another common cause of a sewer backup is that they gradually start to sag and warp, making it easy for pipes to collect debris that can cause a clog.
Signs You Have a Sewer Backup:
Dark Dirty Water
If you notice water backing up in your tubs, showers, or other plumbing fixtures, that’s a significant sign of a main-drain clog. Unlike clear water that comes from a leaky pipe, this water will usually be dark, dirty, and smelly due to waste being mixed in. Keep in mind that this water can have raw sewage, so you need to be cautious around it. Be sure to protect yourself with proper protective equipment when you clean up this type of drainage.
Slow Drainage
When wastewater cannot pass through the pipes and sewer line, you will experience multiple drains running slower than usual. You most likely have a clogged sewer line if all the drains in your home are starting to slow down. Typically, the first drains you will notice slowing down are the toilet drains. Slow draining usually begins with the lowest drains in the home as the backup creeps up the piping and sewer line.
Gurgling Noises
When you have a sewer backup, the most frequent sound you’ll hear is a gurgling noise that happens when you’re using a drain. You may also notice a strange hissing, bubbling, or trickling noise. If your main sewer line is almost entirely clogged, it can take a while for stuff to drain through, so you may keep hearing weird noises long after you quit using a drain.
Other Backed Up Fixtures
All the plumbing fixtures in your home are connected, so a clogged sewer pipe will keep draining from happening throughout your entire plumbing system. For example, you run the kitchen sink and then walk into the bathroom to find a clogged shower. As the clog continues to build up, very little wastewater will be able to move through the pipe, causiång your drains to quit working altogether.
Contact Stephens Plumbing for Your Sewer Backup
When a sewer backup happens, you need a professional who knows how to unclog the line. Give Stephens Plumbing a call, and let us walk you through trying to mitigate the clog before we can arrive and clear your sewer!