Clogged drains happen all the time, and how you deal with them can mean the difference between free-flowing waste pipes and a severely clogged sewer line. A single, isolated slow drain or clog can often be attributed to hair and soap scum build-up in bathroom sink and tub drains. Kitchen sink drains are more likely to become clogged due to what homeowners put in the garbage disposal, with cooking grease, pasta, and stringy vegetable remnants being the main culprits.
For DIY-minded homeowners, most stand-alone clogs can be easily remedied by removing the P-trap from the affected sink’s drain pipe and clearing any debris that is present. Don’t forget to clean inside the pipe that connects the sink drain to the P-trap, as there is likely to be some debris in that pipe as well. If you can remove the drain stopper, it’s a good idea to take it out and give it a thorough cleaning as well.
However, when clogged and slow-drain issues start to occur in multiple sinks and tubs, and the toilets throughout the house struggle to flush thoroughly, it may be necessary to consider the possibility of a main sewer line blockage. Nick’s Plumbing provides fast, reliable service for clogged drains, sewer line problems, or any other plumbing-related concerns you have.
Common Causes of Sewer Line Blockages.
Sewer line blockages take a long time to form to the point where they can completely block wastewater flow out to the city sewer system or a septic tank. I mentioned earlier that the build-up of grease, soap scum, hair, food waste, and everything else we let enter our drainpipes are the most common culprits for what could lead to a main sewer line clog.
Another issue plaguing sewer lines all over Houston is tree root infiltration. Tree roots are naturally drawn to sources of water, and the moisture that collects on the outside of the pipe is a perfect place for roots to quench their thirst.
Unfortunately, once the roots reach the pipe, they will begin to grow around the outside of the sewer line, eventually creating tiny cracks in the pipe due to the constant pressure exerted by the roots. Once the cracks form, the main sewer line is penetrated by roots that begin to grow inside the pipe itself, eventually creating a situation where the pipe becomes completely impassable.
Lastly, the flushing of products that plumbers often refer to as “the Un-Flushables,” such as baby wipes, paper towels, and various hygiene products, can also lead to blockages.
In older homes or those built in areas where the soil is more prone to shifting, your sewer line can develop what’s called a “belly,” a U-shaped bend that occurs in the main sewer line, trapping wastewater in the bottom of the bellied area.
What Are the Warning Signs of a Main Sewer Line Clog?
Main sewer line clogs do not occur overnight, and they certainly do not happen without any prior warning signs. Sometimes, the progression of a significant blockage can take months or years to form, making it easy to ignore the symptoms. Your plumbing system, from your faucets and drains down to your main sewer line, appears to be functioning normally.
Meanwhile, over time, your drains start to drain a little slower, your toilets require the dreaded “double flush” to thoroughly empty, and a horrible “rotten egg” smell often lingers in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Of course, the earlier you can determine that you have a sewer pipe blockage, the better, as time equals damage when it comes to a neglected sewer line blockage. What else should homeowners look out for in terms of sewer line clog symptoms?
- Drains and Toilets Start to Gurgle – This usually means that you have air trapped in your sewer or drain line(s), which will occur as debris builds up in your main sewer line. The air can also be introduced into the sewer line through any cracks or broken fittings that may arise due to age or root infiltration.
- Multiple Drains Slow or Clogged at Once – A one-off occurrence of an isolated clogged drain is common and easy to fix. When several drains in different areas of the home are affected, there’s a high probability of a serious sewer line issue.
- Sewage Backs Up Into Home – If raw sewage and wastewater are backing up into your living area through sink, tub, and shower drains or is coming up from the toilet, you’ve got a sewer line issue, and it’s time to call a plumbing professional for help.
- Unpleasant Odors— We all know what sewage smells like, and we know we shouldn’t be smelling it in our homes regularly. Sewer smells emanating from your plumbing are due to the buildup of waste and other debris that inhibit sufficient drainage and ventilation of the sewer line.
- Water Backing Up In Odd Places – For example, if flushing the toilet causes water to rise in a tub or shower drain, it’s time to seek professional drain cleaning services.
When Do I Call a Plumber for Professional Sewer Line Cleaning?
If plunging and snaking haven’t solved the issue, it’s time to get in touch with a professional plumbing company that can help you make a breakthrough. In your sewer line, of course.
When multiple drains become clogged simultaneously, the evidence suggests a sewer line blockage rather than a minor issue with a kitchen P-trap. If you notice sewage odors in the areas around your kitchen or bathroom sink or tub drains, it means that your wastewater isn’t completely draining into the city sewer or septic tank.
Older homes with old-growth trees in the area should invest in an annual sewer line inspection to check for any cracks or root infiltration.
How Professional Drain Cleaning Can Eliminate Sewer Line Blockages
The first step in resolving a sewer line clog is to have a company that provides professional drain cleaning services, like Nick’s Plumbing, conduct a visual inspection of the pipe. Using a high-resolution camera, your plumber can inspect your entire sewer line, including any areas that may have been affected by root infiltration. Once the blockage is found, the camera even instructs the technicians on how far they need to extend into the pipe to break it up.
Next in Nick’s Sewer Line Playbook is the introduction of a motorized drain snake, which is essentially a one-hundred-and-fifty-foot long spring, available in various sizes ranging from ¼ inch to 1 inch in diameter. The snake cable is fed into the sewer line, rotating as it advances to help break up standing debris. The pointed head of the snake is used to bore through the main blockage, exactly where the camera said it was, allowing the debris to be flushed out easily.
If we can’t get the blockage resolved that way, the remaining and most effective weapon stashed away in the plumber’s van is the hydro-jetting machine. Hydro-jetting is a process that uses highly pressurized streams of water in multiple directions to remove all forms of buildup and debris, leaving your main sewer line in “like-new” condition.
Important Safety Announcement!
If you find yourself facing a clogged main sewer line, the one thing you should never do is use chemical drain cleaners to clear a sewer line blockage. Firstly, they won’t clear the clog, and the trapped fumes—both from the cleaner and sewer gases—can back up into your home, creating a dangerous situation. The gases won’t only back up into the room from which you poured them – but the entire house as well, from every drain.
You probably don’t need a blog on a plumbing page to tell you that breathing in the combined trapped sewer and chemical gases is going to cause damage to a lot of essential organs like the lungs and kidneys. So, how about we leave the Liquid Plumber alone for this occasion?
Why Choose Nick’s Plumbing For Your Clogged Main Sewer Line Repair?
When Houston homeowners have faced a clogged sewer line or any other plumbing concern, Nick’s Plumbing has been the trusted name to call since 1979. We utilize the most advanced diagnostic tools to diagnose your sewer line issue accurately. Our licensed and experienced plumbing technicians always arrive in a fully stocked truck equipped to tackle all sewer line-related tasks, including clearing clogs and blockages, sewer line repairs, and complete sewer line replacements and installations.
If you’ve started to notice your drains are running slow, and you think it might be a clogged main sewer line, or you have any questions about a clogged sewer line, Nick’s Plumbing is here to help you through it.
Call Nick’s Today. We’re on the Way!
