Is my drain clogged?
If you think you have a blocked drain, you'll probably try to use a plunger or a drain snake to fix it. However, it's likely the problem is that your main sewer line is clogged. Clogging of the main sewer lines can be a disaster as it can cause flooding in your home. There are multiple causes for main sewer line blockages. In this article, you will learn how to identify the common signs.
In your home, you have lines of drains that carry wastewater away from your appliances, such as toilets, sinks, and showers. All of these drains are interconnected, but they all end up at the main sewer line. This pipe is very large and is responsible for sending waste from your home to the septic system or sewer. If this particular pipe gets clogged, it blocks off access for all of your drains. Any water that attempts to use this pipe will come back out of another fixture. For example, draining water down the sink may cause the toilet water to rise. It can be difficult to deal with a main sewer line clog as the pipes can be hard to access (they are often buried deep underground, far from your home), and even if you can, the clogs themselves may prove difficult to remove effectively.
You are not out of luck if you face a sewer line clog; there are numerous things you can do to prevent the problem from getting worse, and gathering information can greatly help your plumber.
Dark Water
If your main drain is clogged, you will have water eventually backing up into your shower and tubs. This is because the water has nowhere to go when there is a blockage, so it ends up coming out the lowest point of entry. Most of the time, this point of entry will be your floor drain, bathtub or shower. In this case, the water will not be clear as it will be mixed with waste. It will be darker and will probably smell awful.
Be careful around this type of water as it will probably contain raw sewage. Make sure you use appropriate gear and drain cleaning chemicals when cleaning this potentially hazardous water.
Clogged Plumbing Fixtures
If a sewer line clog isn't dealt with, the drain system in your house can stop working entirely. No water will be able to travel through your sewer pipes, so your appliances will no longer function as intended. As the plumbing fixtures in your house are interconnected, if you run water from a shower and then go downstairs to use the sink, it will likely seem clogged.
This is the clearest warning sign of a clogged drain and will require action immediately as your plumbing reliant appliances like your sinks and showers won't work at all.
Slow-Moving Drains
If you watch your drains in your home in action, you will be able to tell if the draining is rapid or if there is wastewater pooling. Sewer Drains will almost always slow down in the event of clogs in the mainline instead of stop working.
This is because as the build-up of debris accumulates, it becomes increasingly harder for waste to travel through the drain. Therefore, your drain lines are likely to slow down before they stop working completely. If this slowness is present in all of your drains, that is a potential warning sign that you have a clogged main sewer line. You can see this most easily with bathroom toilets as they are directly integrated with the sewer line.
Try to flush the toilet with some toilet paper or paper towels. If the toilet water doesn't immediately sink after flushing, you can use that as an indicator for a sewer line that has become clogged.
Gurgling Sounds
One of the symptoms is odd reactions in your plumbing system, as a mainline clog will prevent your drains from working properly. It is common for air and water bubbles to form when using a washing machine, sink, or toilet.
All of the sewer pipe rumblings in the mainline can cause noises. You might be able to hear these gurgling noises around your house as some of the sewer pipes are in the walls. You'll likely hear the noises when actually using a drain appliance like your sink. It's not just gurgling sounds, though; you may hear trickling, hissing or bubbling.
These sounds can persist long after using the appliance if your main sewer line is completely clogged.
What are the Signs of a Blocked Drain?
The sights
An easy way to tell if you have a blocked drain is by monitoring the behaviour of your shower, toilet, bath, and sinks. You will notice them drain slowly if you have a blockage. If they don't drain at all, your main sewer line is likely entirely blocked. Before coming to this conclusion, make sure you test every plumbing reliant appliance in your house. If one works fine, you will know that your main sewer line is still working, and that will help you narrow down your issue.
One way you can test if your sewer line is blocked is by running your sink taps and then looking at your toilet. If the water has risen since turning the taps on, that is a warning sign of a blocked drain. Make sure to check any manhole covers and external drains in your basement and in the garden outside your property for rising water. You might be able to see tree roots growing in your pipes or mud that is stuck.
In any event, do not enter a street manhole as there is a large risk of bacteria and hazardous gasses involved.
The smells
In many cases, you will smell the problem before you see it. If there is a foul smell in your household, you should first make sure it's definitely drain related. If you can't find the source of a foul smell, then there's a high chance it is caused by a blockage. Waste that gets stuck in the drainage system will begin to rot, and this can be smelt from anywhere in the house. As soon as you suspect a blockage this way, you should verify it by trying to use your sink or toilet.
The sounds
Similar to foul smells, weird sounds may be present before you visually see any evidence of a blockage. Gurgling sounds after a toilet flush or after draining a lot of water down a sink is a good indicator that you have a blocked drain. The sounds are formed by trapped air in the pipes as the blockage is displacing and altering the pressure of the flow of water.
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What to Do When Your Sewer Line Is Clogged
It can feel like a nightmare after discovering your sewer line is clogged. Don't panic. It is common and can be dealt with. After identifying a clogged sewer line, it is essential you do the following to prevent further damage and to get your appliances working properly again.
Turn Off the Water
Immediately turn off the water in your house if you are certain of a sewer line clog. If you don't, a problem as small as a clogged sink can turn into house-wide flooding, and you could be dealing with a lot of dangerous, raw waste. Additionally, it prevents anyone else in your household (or automated appliances) from worsening the situation. To turn off your water, firstly identify the location of your water main. You can find it near your house's water meter or around the perimeter of the outside of your home.
Call a Plumber
In rare cases, you can repair and sort out a small sewer line clog on your own with drain clear and hot water, but this isn't advisable. The average kitchen drain is 3.5 inches in diameter, so it can be hard to work with. You should call one of the professional plumbing services in your city. Make sure you're dealing with a "Master plumber", as this is an official certification that ensures you are receiving a high-quality service. They may send one plumber or an entire team of professionals depending on how large the problem is. They will use all the proper equipment such as cameras and will get your drainage system working properly much faster with a thorough sewer cleanout. They will clear the clog for a fair price and can provide advice for the future.
Such advice includes the type of substances you shouldn't let down your drains. For example, certain soaps contain grease and fat. The grease will coat the interior of the pipe and has the potential to cause a blockage. In extreme cases, it can also cause the pipes to erode.
Do you require emergency help with blocked drains in Redcar, Darlington, Hartlepool or East Cleveland? Our drain unblocking services can quickly and effectively deal with your drainage problems.