Homeowners can’t exactly dig up their sewer lines to check to see if everything looks normal, so how do you know if you might have a septic issue that needs to be addressed, like dirty sewer lines?
Here a few signs to watch for that could mean you have clogged sewer lines.
1. Multiple Fixtures are Backed Up
If you have noticed that water is draining slowly, gurgling, emitting a bad smell and / or backing up in plumbing fixtures in your home, it could point to a sewer line backup, since these all feed into the main sewer line. Plumbing fixtures commonly affected by a sewer backup include:
- Sinks
- Toilets
- Bathtub
- Showers
The first place you’re likely to notice an issue is toilets, which have the largest drain and most direct path to the sewer system. However, multiple backups in sinks or showers could also point to a sewer backup.
2. Plumbing Fixtures Are Experiencing Unusual Issues
What does that mean exactly? It could be:
- When you use the washing machine, it causes the sink or toilet to overflow, or water to back up into the tub or shower.
- If you turn on the sink to wash your hands after using the toilet, the water begins to bubble up in the toilet.
- Water is backing up into the shower or tub when you flush the toilet
If any of these unusual plumbing issues occur, it likely is pointing to the same culprit – a septic system that needs to have its lines cleaned.
3. Sewage in the Floor Drain
If there is sewage coming up from the floor drain not only will it smell bad, but it also probably means that waste water and sewage is unable to escape the pipes due to a sewer line blockage. When that happens, sewage forces it ways to a secondary drain, such as your home’s floor drain.
Not only are sewage backups smelly, but they are also dangerous, since sewage can contain gasses and bacteria that may cause illnesses in humans and animals.
4. Drainage in Sewer Clean Out
Homes built after 1978 typically have a sewer clean out. Look for circular plastic or concrete lid labeled “Clean Out.” If you have one, remove the cap. If you see sewer water flowing out or standing in the pipe, you may have a sewer line clog.
At EcoClean, we have the training and skills to clean or repair your sewer lines and get your home’s plumbing system back to normal as quickly as possible.
If you are experiencing issues with your plumbing fixtures and suspect that there is a sewer line blockage, call the sewer experts at EcoClean right away. Using cameras, we can inspect sewer lines and determine if there is a blockage. If we find one, we can treat it in a variety of ways, including root treatments to kill intrusive roots blocking pipes, or trenchless pipe repairs and replacements.
