What Happens When The Main Sewer Line Is Clogged?
The main sewer line is what connects your home’s entire plumbing system and is making it arguably the most important plumbing fixture. When the intricate parts of your home plumbing system don’t get taken care of properly, as well as various other outside elements, it can cause the main sewer line to take strain and eventually become clogged or even break down entirely.
When the main sewer line becomes clogged, it can result in many of your household drains getting backed-up with slow-moving drainage. The way that the main sewer line is designed is that a number of different pipes branch off of the main sewer line and connect to the secondary drains throughout your home. So, if there is a blockage in the main sewer line, then all of the sewage and waste coming from the various drains throughout your home, have nowhere to drain. This means that eventually the sewage and wastewater will pile up in your pipes causing terrible smells and could start backing up out of the drains.
What Causes The Main Sewer Line To Become Clogged?
It is always a good idea to find out what causes your main sewer line to become clogged and what the various warning signs are to look out for to avoid having to deal with a costly repair or main sewer line replacement.
Serious Pipe Damage
A main sewer pipe can become severely damaged due to shifting soil caused by increased foot traffic or heavy construction vehicles on the ground above the pipe. Corrosion of the sewer pipe can also result in pipe leaks or collapse.
Sagging Sewer Line
This can occur when a section of the pipe sinks as a result of uneven ground or soil conditions. The sagging spot will start to collect waste and result in reoccurring blockages.
Overgrown Tree Roots
When tree roots start to grow, they do so in search of a water source. This can sometimes result in tree roots latching onto a main sewer pipe and growing inside the pipe. As the roots grow and expand, they will cause the pipes to break.
Flushing Items Down The Toilet
Flushing unwanted items other than toilet paper or human waste down your toilet can be the number one cause of a main sewer line blockage. It is important to know what you can and cannot flush down your toilet.
Pouring Grease Down Into The Drain
It is never a good idea to throw away excess grease, oils, or fats down your drain. When they solidify, they can cause severe blockages in your pipes and are difficult to fix.
Warning Signs Your Main Sewer Line Is Clogged
Having one clogged drain is bad and inconvenient enough, so dealing with a clog in your main sewer line is something you want to try your best to avoid or at least identify and fix the issue before it’s too late.
Multiple Backed-Up Drains
A clear indication that a clogged drain is because of more than one pipe being blocked, is when there are multiple drains experiencing back-up issues. This is likely to be a main sewer line problem.
Re-Occurring Drain Clogs
If you find that you have attempted to treat a clogged or backed-up drain and the issue continues to happen then it is likely that the problem is coming from the main sewer line and it is time to call in a professional.
Unusual Response From Most Plumbing Fixtures
If your toilet bowl starts to fill up more frequently after flushing, or strange smells and sounds are coming from your drains, then it is likely that there is a main sewer line clog.
Changes To Your Lawn
Since the main sewer line runs outside and through your lawn, a good indication that there is a break in the main line is if there are noticeable changes to the look and feel of your lawn where the waste has escaped from the pipe.
Failing to identify and properly fix your main sewer line clog can be devastating to your home plumbing system and the health and safety of your family. While there are some drain cleaning and repair tips that you can try to unclog a drain, when it comes to the main sewer line repair or replacement, it should always be performed by an experienced professional. Call Art Rooter, Sewer & Drain Cleaning today if you’re worried your home is in need of a main sewer line repair.
