Got a blocked sewer? Almost everything related to plumbing in your house is connected to the main sewer line. Pipes drains, plumbing fixtures, and the way you use water in your house can affect the main sewer line. There are many factors that can clog your sewer line. It may even collapse. You can avoid costly repairs and replacements if you know about the possible causes of this problem.
Slow running bathtub, sink, or a clogged drain, you may have faced these plumbing problems in your house. However, you can easily fix it if it is a single clog.
This becomes a big problem when all the drains are causing trouble. This may happen due to a clogged sewer line. Even if a section is clogged and your cleaning efforts are fruitless, you may have to repair or replace your entire sewer line to fix the problem. The following are the most common causes of a blocked sewer. Repair or replacement is required to fix the problem.
Severe Damage To The Pipe
The cause of the problem may be ruptured or broken sewer pipes. Settling or shifting of soil, using construction equipment, or any other heavy machine on the above-ground or increased traffic can lead to broken or ruptured pipes.
If it is an older pipe, it may collapse or break due to corrosion.
Sagging Sewer Line
Sagging is not in your control. This happens over time. A sunk section of the pipe due to soil or ground conditions causes this problem. Repeat blockages occur due to waste and paper getting collected in the low spot.
Tree Roots
If you are living in an older house using sewer lines made of porous materials like clay, tree roots looking for water can infiltrate your sewer lines. Root infiltration also occurs at joints that are not tight enough. Once roots manage to enter a sewer pipe, roots can grow inside and cause blockage. This root growth can also break the line.
Flushing Debris
This is not good for the health of your plumbing system. Never treat your toilet as a trashcan. If anything other than human waste and toilet paper is flushed down the toilet, this will lead to a blocked sewer.
Grease
If you pour oils, fats or grease down the drain, this is most likely to clog the lines. Instead of doing this, pour fats or grease in a jar and leave it to solidify. Throw it away when the grease is solidified. After pouring grease down the drain, you may think that pouring hot water will help. However, this doesn’t work. The grease becomes sticky when it cools off. This is how it clogs sewer lines. So, learn what should go down the drain and what should not.
Warning Signs
You can avoid expensive repairs and replacements if you are aware of warning signs indicating that there is something wrong with the sewer line. These signs include:
- Multiple fixtures getting clogged
- Frequent backups in drains
- You flushed the toilet but water backed up from the tub.
- Flushing toilet makes gurgling noise
- Indentation on the lawn
If you suspect a blocked sewer or any other plumbing problem then call a plumber. After a video inspection, the plumber will identify the cause of the problem. In case the plumber is unable to fix the problem, you may have to spend money on replacements.
