The use of indoor plumbing dates back as far as 2500 BCE. The stress that comes with damaged indoor plumbing probably dates back just as far. For a homeowner new to plumbing repair, you may not recognize the signs of a sewer line clog and a needed sewer line replacement. Here are some common signs you have a clog in your sewer drain:
- Your toilet is acting strange
- Your washing machine makes your toilet overflow
- Water and sewage is flooding the area around your sewer line
Because toilets have one of the biggest links to your sewer drain, the number one sign something may be wrong with your draining system is if your toilet isn?t working properly. If there?s a clog in your sewer drain, water coming in from your house can?t go down into the drain and so when you flush your toilet, the water won?t be able to properly make its way down, causing it to overflow or back up into the shower or bathtub. The same is true for your other bathroom amenities that use water. If the water in your toilet raises after you use the sink (because the water is trapped), you most likely have a clog in your main sewer line.
If your washing machine overflows, it isn?t necessarily a sign that you have a sewer drain problem. However, if your toilet overflows or water backs up into your shower while running the washing machine, it?s most likely not the washing machine that?s the problem, but a clog in the sewer line.
A clog in your sewer line may be visible from your yard if you have a main line clean-out. A clean-out will usually be clear and dry, but if there?s water and sewage coming up from the clean-out when you remove the cap or when you have flooded waste around where the clean-out is located, you definitely have a clog in your sewer line.
Once you?ve determined a clog in your sewer line, you can either choose to borrow a sewer drain snake or contact a plumbing service. However, if a sewer drain snake fails to work your problem may be more than a simple line clog. Plumbing companies may be able to determine what may be wrong with your sewer line in this case.
If the problems with your sewer line are more than clog, the odds are that you may need a sewer line replacement. According to Angie?s List, sewer pipes ?are usually made of clay tiles that can crack or break apart, allowing tree roots to infiltrate and create clogs.? Having an older home usually means having older sewer pipes, which increases the possibility of a need for sewer line replacement. This may be frustrating for homeowners not only because of sewer line replacement cost but because sewer line replacement and repair usually calls for a plumbing contractor to excavate a trench along the yard of the house. However, depending on the location of your home and the services provided to you by your local plumbing company, a trench may not be necessary.
If your household is near the main sewer, digging a trench to get to your sewer line may be the cheapest option; however, there may be less invasive methods to your sewer line replacement which may save your yard and landscaping. Assuming your sewer line needs attention, contact your local plumber to hear your options.