What to Look for When Your Drains are Clogged

A clogged sink and a slow shower drain are significant issues that most homeowners face.  Problems like these have simple solutions like plunging or introducing gunk-melting chemicals into the pipes.  Fixing a clogged line is simple. In most cases, the clogs are close to the main sewer, and the repair is both simple and affordable if you call upon a plumber. 

In contrast, the main sewer line clog is not simple to fix. You cannot do the fixing yourself like the clogged sink or shower drain. If the blockage is because of a crushed part of the sewer line, a costly repair might be inevitable.  This repair may involve landscape reconstruction and backhoe excavation. 

To avoid such costly repairs, you need to be knowledgeable about the sign of a main sewer line clog.  Detecting this early enough will help you get the issue fixed before it becomes a big one.  Here are some red flags to be on the lookout for:

When Backup Drain is More Than One 

Your home comprises two plumbing systems.  The first system carries waste water away from the house while the other line brings clean water into your apartment.  You can visualize the drain system as a tree with many branches.  The lines that carry waste waters away from the sinks, tubs, and toilet are the branches known as the secondary drain lines.  These secondary drain lines connect with the tree trunk (main sewer line) and then to the municipal sewer line.  

The first indicator of a blocked main sewer line is backups in more than one drain. If two or three drains are draining slowly—backing up—you have to take prompt action toward correcting the problem which could be because of a clog in the main sewer line. 

Backup in the Sewer Cleanout pipe 

The Sewer cleanout pipe is usually outside the home; it's a pipe standing vertically. The sewer cleanout leads to the home's main sewer line.  If water or sewage is coming out of this pipe, it indicates a clogged sewage line.

Sewage Backup in the Floor Drain 

When there is a floor drain backup in the basement, it might be a sign of a sewer clog.  If your house does not have sewer line cleanout pipe, you can access this drain without having a plumber remove your toilet.

Early detection will save you the stress and money involved in fixing a clogged main sewer line, check for any of the signs above for quick detection and fixing of your issues relating to blocking of your main sewer line.