A home’s main sewer line removes the wastewater and transports it to a municipality’s water treatment plant through a series of pipes. Unfortunately, sometimes a home’s sewer line can become clogged.
This potentially costly and messy condition requires immediate attention. The cause could be damaged pipes, multiple plumbing blockages, or other culprits. Here’s how to tell if a sewer line is clogged:
Backed-up water
A common sign of a clogged sewer line is water backing into sinks or toilets. Water should never come up from drains. Sometimes when water backs up into a sink, it will be accompanied by an unnatural gurgling sound. If water backs up into multiple sinks, this is an indication that the home’s sewer line could be clogged.
If a toilet is flushed and water immediately backs up in the tub or shower, this also indicates a sewer line clog.
Water drains slowly
It’s common for an individual drain to become clogged with hair, food particles, and other items. If water drains slowly from multiple sinks and showers, this is a red flag of a bigger issue. A clogged sewer line will affect all drains since it’s the primary plumbing that removes wastewater from the entire house.
Foul odors
A sign of a clogged sewer line is the presence of bad smells from drains. If the smell is accompanied by sewage being pushed back up out of the drains, this is a surefire sign of a clogged sewer line.
Standing water in the yard
A sign of a backed-up or damaged sewer line is the presence of wet patches of lawn that never go away. Sewer lines are buried several feet below the surface, and it can take some time for the wastewater to reach the surface. Sometimes homeowners will experience a foul odor from a section of the lawn, which indicates a sewer line issue.
Another outdoor symptom to look for is a patch of lawn that is unnaturally green or is thriving much better than the rest of the property. This could be caused by a sewer line leak feeding the grass with the home’s wastewater.
Washing machine drainage issues
When running a washing machine, if the water drains out between cycles and the home’s toilets overflow, this is another symptom of sewer line problems. Likewise, if the bathtub or shower frequently backs up when washing clothes, the culprit is most likely a clogged sewer line.
Contact a professional
Draining issues, foul odors, and wet patches of lawn are all common signs of a clogged sewer line. To determine if this is the culprit, consult with a licensed plumber. A plumbing professional can quickly assess the issue and remedy the problem. Backed-up sewage can pose numerous health-related issues and should be remedied as quickly as possible.
Royalty Plumbing offers high-quality residential plumbing services in the areas of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Summerlin