Common Signs of A Sewer Line Issue

There are common signs the average homeowner can look out for in order to spot an issue happening with their sewer line and avoid major damage to your home from a sewer line backup. Here is a list of the top five:

1.  FREQUENT BACKUPS

Backups happen every now and then. However, if you have a back up every time you flush a toilet, do the laundry, or water goes down a drain, that’s not normal. The problem could be your main sewer line. All your home’s drains rely on the main sewer line in order to drain properly.

signs of sewer line issue - frequent backups
2.  BACKUPS HAPPENING IN MULTIPLE FIXTURES

If multiple drains in the home are having backup issues, especially on the lowest level, and/or a floor drain that has a water puddle (2-3 ft diameter) around it.

Note: Avoid using chemical drain cleaning products because they are likely causing damage to the pipes.

signs of sewer line issue - backups happening in multiple places
3.  WATER GOING WHERE IT SHOULDN'T

Whenever you send water down a drain, it should never come up in another location. If flushing the toilet causes water to backup in the bathtub, for example, it may be because the water is being forced upward due to a clog in your sewer line. These backups may appear in multiple places like bathtubs, showers, or drains on the floor.

signs of sewer line issue - water going where it shouldn't
4.  ROOTERING YOUR MAIN LINE REGULARLY

It shouldn’t be necessary to have your main line rootered regularly to maintain it. Technically, you should never have to maintain your main line. Having to do this could mean a bigger issue that needs to be looked at and addressed.

To learn more, check out this previous blog post -
You Shouldn't Have to Rooter Your Sewer Main Line on a Regular Basis

signs of sewer line issue - rootering your main line regularly
5.  PUDDLING WATER IN A FLOOR DRAIN

If you find water puddling around a floor drain or notice that it’s wet around a drain and the water has gone back down, that can be an indication that there is a draining issue that needs to be looked at.

signs of sewer line issue - puddling water in a floor drain

Recommendation: Main Line Camera Inspection

If you are experiencing any of the signs above, it’s a good idea to have a sewer main line camera inspection done to see what the problem is and find out what repair options are available. A drain camera allows you to see what's causing the issue you’re having before it turns into an unexpected repair or damage to the home.

Make it a habit to periodically look around your home to see if any of these backup or drain issues are happening. You won’t be able to avoid every issue that comes your way, but you can be prepared to take action as soon as possible if something is wrong and avoid it causing bigger problems.

Our drain and sewer department has seen it all, and we know what to look for when investigating and figuring plumbing and drain issues. We’re always here to help. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.


 
Author: Tammy Nelson
Copyright © 2020 by Any Hour Services

 

Sep 27th 2021

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