When plumbing problems arise in your home, it’s not always easy to pinpoint exactly where the problem exists. Some plumbing issues have obvious signs, while others do not.
The need for a sewer line repair usually makes itself readily apparent. Slow drains, gurgling noises coming from your bathtub, sewage smells, and sewer water backing up into the tub when flushing the toilet are all warning signs that you have a clog or serious problem in the main drain line for your home. When this happens, it’s best to take care of the problem immediately, as sewage can spread illness, disease, and in some cases, even death.
Sewage line backups can cause many problems in your home and cost a lot of money in repairs for the damages. A sewer backup is certainly no fun, but it can easily happen to anyone because it’s common for plumbing fixtures in a bathroom to empty or feed into the same main sewer line. Therefore, if there’s a blockage, sewer water can emerge from these main drains.
How do you know when there is a problem with the sewer line? The most common red flags are:
Rising Water Costs
We may use more water for a wide variety of reasons from time to time, but if the situation is getting very bad, there may be a sewer leak. A single sewer line leak can waste huge quantities of water and significantly raise your water bills. It’s a good idea to contact your plumber to carry out a leak detection to make sure and then fix the problem.
Multiple Clogged Fixtures
Every now and again a fixture may clog and require a clog removal. This should only happen as an isolated incident, and if multiple fixtures, such as toilets, showers, and sinks, are all clogging at the same time there may be a sewer line leak. This may seem trivial, but you will soon get tired of clearing clogs throughout the home constantly using your plunger. The sewer leak will also be causing problems in other parts of the home so take this as a timely warning a call a plumber.
Fluctuating Toilet Water Levels
If you notice that the water levels in your toilets are fluctuating when they are not in use this is a good indication of a sewer line clog. There may also be air bubble released into your toilet water from trapped air in the sewer line. Eventually, the clog may get bad enough to block the sewer line entirely, and dirty water will be pushed into the home. This is unsanitary and very messy to clean up.
Insects and Vermin
When a sewer line has broken or cracked, it will create room for insects and/or vermin to nest inside. Eventually, you may notice that there are mice or bugs crawling around inside your home as they worked their way up to sewer line. This can be very disconcerting and unpleasant, but a plumber will be able to fix the break and correct the problem for you.
If you’re experiencing one or more of these signs, call in a professional plumber to check and service your mainline. It is rare that an entire system would need to be replaced by excavating.
It’s very important to call in a professional for cleanup if you think sewage has come in contact with your home’s forced or central air-conditioning system. It is also vital to maintain adequate homeowner’s insurance, including sewer backup coverage in the event of damage from a sewer backup. For most insurers, sewer backup coverage is affordable.
A mainline helps transport wastewater from the home to underground sewer mains. A clog can lead to a raw sewage backup coming out of the drains, causing significant damage and resulting in sewer line repair or replacement. Water damage and health conditions can occur if the issue is not addressed. Understanding how to respond to the warning signs can save you time and money.