How to Spot if Your Main Line has a Sewer Clog

It’s easy to forget about your sewer line until a clog develops. Delayed action could result in a raw sewage backup. Learn the early warning signs of a sewer clog so you can respond quickly and prevent expensive home damage.

Listen for Strange Sounds

The most common sign of a sewer clog is a gurgling toilet. If you use water in another area of the home and your toilet starts percolating like a coffee pot, that’s a telltale sign something is wrong. Other drains can also make gurgling sounds if the sewer is backed up.

Watch Your Drains

A clogged sewer line causes drains to interact strangely. For instance, you may run water down the sink and it will come up into the tub. Water could also appear around basement drains, so be sure to check there if you suspect a sewer clog.

Be Aware of Tree Roots

Pipes crushed by tree roots are the most common cause of sewer line clogs, especially in older homes with well-established trees. If something seems to be wrong with your toilet or another drain, don’t assume the appliance needs to be replaced; have the drains cleaned first to see if that fixes the problem.

Seek a Remedy

To prevent damage to your home while waiting for a plumber, shut off the main water supply. If you have access to it, you should also remove the cleanout cap from the short, white pipe in your yard to direct water outside instead of into your home. Drain cleaning is the first possibility remedy. A plumber sends a cutting device through to push out and break up obstructions. If your pipes are crushed, you may need sewer line repair. A sewer clog is no fun, but with these tips, you can spot a clog before it causes damage.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

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