How to Know When Your Sewer Line is Clogged

Aren't all plumbing problems back-breaking and tiresome to deal with? They all are. But some home plumbing problems are bigger and more serious than a faucet leak. A clogged sewer line is one of them. A clog in the main sewer line that goes ignored or unnoticed can lead to costly repairs but can also expose your family to contaminated water. To help keep your family and home safe, make sure you look out for these sewer line clog signs.

Multiple Water Backups

The most significant sign of the sewer line block is water and drain backups from different sources. If you notice the drain is slowly moving, gurgling, smelling bad, or having water backups in toilets, sinks, basins, bathtubs, showers, and other fixtures together, it is a signaling sign. As every water fixture’s drain eventually connects to the main sewer line, a blockage in the main line will affect various drains in your home.

Water Overflow From Different Fixtures

If you notice that water backs up in random places as you’re using water fixtures, you likely have a blockage in the main sewer line. This happens because water from one branch line tries to drain away, but the main sewer clog blocks it and forces it to back up into other smaller drains. The biggest signs of this can be:

1) Water gurgling or coming up your tub or shower drain when you flush the toilet.

2) Water overflowing in your shower drain, sink, or toilet when you use your washing machine or dishwasher.

3) Toilet water rises or bubbles up when you use your bathroom basin or kitchen sink.

This means that all the wastewater that is trying to leave your home now has nowhere to go and is eventually forced back up other drain lines.

Standing Sewage in Clean Out

Have you ever seen your home's main sewer line? If yes, then you must have seen a circular plastic or concrete lid labeled "Clean Out". But if you are new to the sewer line, you must know that a clean-out is a pipe that connects directly to your home’s main sewer line and gives plumbers direct access to clear any blockages. Remove this cap and take a brief look. If you see sewer water flowing out of the clean-out pipe or standing in the pipe, you have a main sewer clog.

When you start noticing these signs often, don't run the water or flush the toilet. Remember, if you don't add water to your drain system, you can't make the problem worse. Call your plumber immediately so that they can open the main sewer line, diagnose it, and take the necessary steps to unclog it. Till then, you can even consider shutting off the main water supply valve in your house.

Capital Plumbing & Heating Ltd.

With over 20+ years of industry experience, Capital Plumbing offers the best in the business if you need expert plumbing, heating, cooling, or HVAC services in Edmonton that you can trust for the long term.