Using a plunger to sort the problems in a clogged drain in your home is a common initial step. As a general rule, ordinary plunging is pointless if you have a clogged main sewer line in your home. It’s possible to wind up with extensive flooding and plumbing issues all over the house if this happens.
You must be able to recognise and deal with clogged sewer lines if you want to keep your home safe.
Ensure that your main sewer lines are clear
Drain lines are installed throughout your property to remove waste water from sinks, toilets, tubs, and other fixtures. There is only one main sewer pipe that connects all of these laterals. Sewage and/or septic systems are fed by this enormous pipe.
If you have a clog in your main sewer line, there isn’t much you can do to fix it yourself. Deep beneath the surface, these drain lines might be difficult to locate. Special equipment and expertise are often required to deal with them.. Even if you can’t fix it yourself, you still have options. A few things you can take to keep the problem from worsening until a plumber or clogged sewer line repair Fairfield county CT team arrives are listed in the following paragraphs:
What to look for if your sewer line is blocked
The majority of sewers become clogged gradually. Sewage water flooding your entire home can be avoided if the problem can be identified at an earlier stage. If you feel that you need a sewage line cleaning, here are some things to look out for:
Water That’s a Shade of Gray
Water accumulating in your bathtubs or showers is a common sign of a main-drain clog. When the sewer line becomes clogged and you try to drain water, this is what happens. The water then travels backward, searching for the tiniest possible entry site. In most homes, this will be a bathtub, shower, or basement floor drain.
The water will not be clear, unlike the flooding fixtures caused by a faulty pipe. Because of the large amount of trash that is included, the finished product frequently has a black, musty, and disgusting appearance. Make sure you’re aware of the dangers of this water, as it may include raw sewage. Do not attempt to clean up after dark water has entered your drains without suitable protective gear and powerful cleaners.
Drains That Take Time to Drain
Consider the drains in your house for a moment. The water drains quickly, or do you notice any pooling when you operate the faucet? Because most sewage line jams don’t suddenly stop 100% of the pipe, your drains tend to slow down when there’s a clog.
A clogged sewage line is the most common cause of slow drains throughout your house. In most cases, the toilet drains are the first to show signs of sluggishness. You may notice that the water floats for a moment after you flush the toilet, before gently falling to the bottom. Because toilets are frequently linked directly to your sewage line, they are often the first drains to be affected by a mainline clog.
Sounds of Gurgling
Having a blockage in the mainline of your plumbing system can generate strange behaviors when you use it. There are times when water and air bubbles occur when you flush a toilet, run a sink or use a washing machine. Noises can be caused by all the sloshing around in your pipes. Plumbing fixtures, walls, floors, and ceilings may all make unusual noises when connected to pipes because of the strange way sound travels via pipes.
While utilizing a drain, individuals often describe hearing a gurgling noise, which is the most common sound. However, unusual hissing, bubbling, or trickling noises may also be heard. Drainage can take a long time when your main sewer line is nearly completely clogged. Consequently, you may hear strange noises even if you stop using a drain.
Clogged Pipes and Drains
In order to tell if you’re dealing with an overflowing sewer line, you’ll notice that as the clog grows, nearly no wastewater will be allowed to flow through it. Eventually, your drains will stop operating altogether if something happens to them. It will appear as though your plumbing fixtures are unable to drain at all.
Make sure you know how to replace a clogged sewer line because it will affect all of your home’s plumbing fixtures. Using the restroom after using the kitchen sink may reveal a clogged shower. If your upper-floor toilets seem to be working OK, but when you go downstairs, all of the sinks are clogged, this could be the case.
When Your Sewer Line Is Clogged, Here’s What to Do
Half the battle is won when you realize your sewage line is plugged. Once you recognise what’s going on, the remedy is straightforward. Keeping a level head is all that’s required.
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Turning off the water supply
As a first step, switch off the water supply to your residence. This is critical because it prevents the condition from worsening. You don’t want to accidentally turn on a clogged sink and fill a bathroom with raw sewage. Also, it prevents leaking pipes or automatic operations, such as a timed dishwashing, from draining additional water into your clogged line.
It’s important to know where your water main is before you may shut off your water supply. You can usually find it near your home’s water meter, or it may be outside your property on a corner. A huge wheel, handle, or lever is commonly found on these devices. Turn it to its fullest extent.
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Hire a Plumbing Company
If you have a slight blockage in your sewer system, you can technically unclog it yourself, but this is not recommended. A major drawback of doing-it-yourself sewage line repairs is that most jams are the result of underlying plumbing problems such as broken pipes, tree roots, and other obstructions. The equipment needed to clear a sewer drain clog aren’t readily available to those who can clear a simple drain clog.
In order to remove clogs from the main sewer line, professionals use heavy-duty main sewer line cleaners and other tools. There is no way to discover and fix tree root development or other significant plumbing issues if you just throw some main drain cleaner down a toilet yourself.
To get to the root of the problem, it’s best to have a professional inspect your entire plumbing system. If your sewer lines need a replacement, you may have to dig up your yard and conduct some substantial plumbing work.
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To clear a sewer line, follow these steps.
In the end, you’ll need the help of a sewer-cleaning expert. Prior to the arrival of your plumber, there are a few things you can attempt that may help alleviate the obstruction.
Your basement or the side of your house may have an access point to your sewer line cleanout, a huge pipe with a cap that may be accessed by removing the cap. To gain access to your main sewer line, simply remove this cap. It’s possible that the clog was shoved against your cleanout, in which case you can simply take it out by hand if you’re fortunate.
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Using a plumbing auger to dig through the sewer line is another option.
This may help you remove some of the debris or break up the obstruction. As a result, ordinary drain augers are generally ineffective in dealing with sewer line obstructions.
In most cases, you can get things flowing by snaking your sewer line, making it easier to clear up backflow and get your home back in working order. A complete sewer line cleaning is necessary to prevent obstructions from occurring. The major clog will still necessitate the services of a qualified plumber.
