Wastewater is simply one of the byproducts of modern life. And usually, you don’t have to think about it very often. How much wastewater does your home produce? Where does it all go? As long as things are working properly, you don’t have to know anything about it. But if there is a problem with your home’s wastewater disposal system, it can get extremely unpleasant very quickly.
Water that goes down your drains and is flushed down your toilets all makes its way to one exit point from your home: the sewer line. This pipe connects your house to the municipal sewer pipe, or to the septic tank if you have one. If it needs cleaning or repair, you’ll want to get it done as quickly as possible, before anything nasty happens. So what are the signs of a sewer line problem?
Drain Clogs
If one drain in your home clogs on rare occasions, and you’re able to get it unclogged by using a plunger or drain snake, it’s probably a case of a blockage in that particular spot. But if drain clogs happen often, occur in multiple drains throughout your home, or can’t be resolved by those methods, the clog is likely to be deeper within the drainage system or in the sewer pipe.
Slow Drains
Before an actual stoppage occurs, drains often get very slow. If it takes a long time to let the water out of your sinks or tub, chances are there is a partial blockage somewhere in the sewer line. It’s only a matter of time before something turns it into a complete blockage and the water stops draining entirely.
Drain Odors
A stinky smell coming from a single drain usually means that something organic is decomposing in there. This often happens in the kitchen sink because of food waste, and can be resolved by pouring a cup of baking soda and then a cup of vinegar down the drain. If this doesn’t work, or if the odors are rising from multiple drains in your home, the decomposing substance is probably farther down, in your sewer line.
You need a plumber right away, partly because this is an unpleasant problem to have, and partly because it’s important to determine whether a sewer line problem is the culprit or if you have a blocked sewer vent. The vent allows hazardous sewer gasses to escape safely, and if it’s blocked, you’re breathing those gasses. This issue must be resolved as soon as possible.
Lawn Problems
A sewer line sometimes actually has a break in it, which can occur due to encroaching tree roots or simply from age if it is a particularly old pipe. They used to be made of clay! This will allow sewage to seep out into your lawn. Puddles, foul odors, or particularly lush green grass in the area over your sewer pipe are all indicators that you need drain repair in Montgomery County, PA.
Contact Platinum Plumbing & Heating, Inc. today to schedule an appointment with our pros.