Sewer backups are serious problems, and if they’re ignored they can make a home uninhabitable. It’s also important that a professional handle sewer backup problems. Sewer gas, for example, is dangerous to breathe when it escapes. Here are some signs that there’s a backup in your sewer line.
Bad Smells
One of the most noticeable things that alert you to a possible sewer backup is the smell of sewage coming up from your drains. The stench can also permeate your home in general. It’s time to call the plumber just to get rid of that smell.
Slow Drains
A slow drain here and there is normal for your plumbing system. When all of them are slow, though, you should suspect a sewer backup. If you live in a multi-story home, the problem will start in the drains in your basement or your first floor and creep upward.
Bubbles and Gurgling in Drains
Another sign of a sewer backup is bubbles and gurgles in your drains and even your toilet bowls. This happens when dirty water and wastes have trouble flowing down the sewer line and the clogs cause so much pressure that they compromise the fixture’s drainage trap. This pulls air into the trap, which leads to bubbling and gurgling.
Raw Sewage Coming From the Clean-out
Your main sewer drain has a clean-out plug that allows you or a plumber to access and clear blockages in the drain. In the case of a severe clog, the pressure can build up and cause the clean-out cap to loosen or fail, which may result in raw sewage escaping. In more extreme situations, the pressure can even cause the pipe to crack, leading to significant contamination and requiring urgent repairs.
Overflowing Toilet
One of the most unpleasant signs of a sewage backup is a toilet bowl that overflows when you flush it. Your sinks, bathtubs, and showers can also overflow because of a backup. This, of course, leads to a potentially ghastly mess on the bathroom floor.
Wet Places in Your Yard
Puddles in your yard that won’t go away can be a sign of a sewer backup or other drainage issue. This problem needs to be addressed immediately, as wastewater can leak into your basement or crawl space. If you have a private septic system, these puddles could indicate a system failure, which may interfere with its functioning and potentially lead to costly damage.
Contact Us for Sewer Line Services
Don’t live with a potentially hazardous sewer line blockage any longer than you have to. If you need your sewer line cleaned out or repaired, don’t hesitate to call our professional plumbers at TNT in Savannah, GA.
