Have a clogged drain at home? The first instinct when dealing with a clogged drain is to grab a plunger and try to unclog it. But sometimes, a clogged drain can be indicative of a bigger plumbing problem. All your home’s plumbing fixtures, pipes, and drains are connected to the main sewer line. At times, the main sewer line in your home can get blocked, resulting in multiple plumbing problems all over the house.
In order to prevent this, you should be able to identify clogged sewer lines and know how to handle the situation. The sooner you recognize your main sewage line is clogged, the lesser the damage will be. You can avoid the high cost of repairs and avoid exposing yourself and your family members to contaminated water.
So, if you’ve ever asked, “How can I know my sewage line is clogged,” here’s your answer.
Gurgling Sounds
If your main plumbing line is clogged, it will keep all your drains from working effectively. When this happens, you might hear some weird sounds while using the plumbing system. If you are running the sink, using the washing machine, or flushing a toilet and water is not draining properly, air and water bubbles can form. As sounds travels strangely through the pipes, it can seem like strange sounds are coming from your plumbing fixtures or pipes. A gurgling sound is very common while using the drain. Strange bubbling, hissing, and trickling noises can also be heard. As it takes time for water to drain in case of a blockage, you may keep hearing the sounds a long time after you have used the drain.
Dark Water
How do I know my sewer line is blocked? The answer to this question will show itself in the form of water accumulating in your sinks, tubs, or showers. This happens when you are trying to drain water, but there is nowhere for the water to go as the sewage line is blocked. So, the water then moves backward and accumulates.
Usually, this water is not clear as it is mixed in waste material. It might also have raw sewage, so you need to be careful around it. Use powerful cleaners and protective gear when cleaning up your drains after dark water has accumulated.
Slow Draining
Notice the draining of your home. Is the water draining rapidly, or is it pooling near the drain whenever to run the sink or shower? If the water drains slowly, your sewer is disrupted. It may not be 100% blocked but has waste or debris accumulated within it, making it harder for the water to flow through it. When you flush the toilet, you may notice that water seems to hang in the toilet bowl for a while before it gradually sinks downward. This, too, is the sign of the main sewer line block. Usually, toilets are the first to get affected as they are connected directly to your sewage line.
What Steps to Take If the Sewage Line is Blocked?
Once you have noticed that your sewer line is clogged, there are two primary steps to take. First of all, turn of the water in your house. This is important because this prevents the situation from worsening. You don’t want water to accumulate and flood the bathroom with raw sewage. Stopping the water supply also keeps pipes from draining water into an already clogged sewage pipe. Identify the main switch that is in charge of supplying water to your home and turn it off. This is usually in the outside of your home and has a large wheel or a lever. Make sure it is turned off completely.
The next step you should take is to call a plumber. You may be able to unclog your home’s main sewage pipe by yourself, but this is not advised. Even if you know how to handle a drain clog, you may not have the tools to handle a sewer line clog. The majority of sewer line clogs are tree roots, broken pipes, or deep issues within the home’s plumbing system. Your plumber will figure the main reason causing the sewer line blockage.
Depending on what the issue is, there is a chance the sewer pipe may need to be replaced completely. If this is the case, it will require some serious digging and plumbing. Plumbing professionals have the equipment and heavy-duty sewer line cleaners to deal with clogs. They also have the necessary knowledge and experience to deal with any deep plumbing problem.