Every home has plumbing pipes that transport waste from sinks and toilets to a sewer main. These pipes are usually made from a type of cement called “concrete pipe” or “steel pipe”, depending on the location. However, it’s important to keep these drains unobstructed and flowing properly so that nothing backs up into your home. Luckily, many property owners contract with a professional sewer service provider to clean their drains on a regular basis. There are several reasons for doing this – cleaning a clogged sewer line can help prevent costly sewer repairs down the road, and can also help prevent bad smells and unpleasant smells from being released into your home. If your sewer drains are clogged regularly, it’s important to know how to unclog them as soon as possible so they don’t cause additional damage. We at My Plumbing Company have outlined some helpful tips on how to clean your sewer drains below:

Check the water level in your tub or shower

If your shower or tub drains are clogged, make sure to check the water level. You can do this by placing a bucket under the faucet and letting the water flow back out. If the bucket is full, the sewer line is most likely clogged. You can try using a plunger to try and unclog the line, but make sure to turn the water off before doing this. If the plunger doesn’t work, you will need to call a sewer cleaning service to come out and clean the line.

Check the water level in your toilet bowl

If your toilet is clogged, this is an easy way to test if the sewer line is clogged as well. Place a bucket under the toilet bowl and let the water flow back out. If the bucket fills, the line is most likely clogged. You can try using a plunger but make sure to turn the water off first. If the plunger doesn’t work, you will need to call a sewer cleaning service to come out and clean the line.

Watch out for unusual smells

If your home smells bad, this could be a sign of a clogged sewer line. You may notice bad smells coming from your drains, especially after you have used a garbage disposal. This is usually a sign that food waste has built up in the drains, and needs to be unclogged by a sewer cleaning service. You can also use a product called “Bleach”. This is an effective but messy solution to unclogging your drains. If your drains are clogged, you will need to hire a sewer cleaning service as soon as possible. It’s better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to your drains.

When to hire a sewer cleaning service

If you are reading this article, you have probably already used some DIY methods to unclog your drains, but they have not worked so far. If you have tried everything, you may want to consider hiring a sewer cleaning service to come out and clean your drains. If you have a home with a septic tank, it’s important to keep the drains flowing properly so that the tank can be emptied properly. If your drains are clogged, it can cause the septic tank to back up, and this can be very expensive to fix. If your drains are clogged, you have two options: you can try to unclog them yourself, or hire a sewer cleaning service. If you choose to hire a sewer cleaning service you can expect to pay between $175 and $500 for the job. This is a much more cost-effective way to unclog your drains than if you try to do it yourself.

Frequently Asked Question

  • Loosen the cap on the drain pipe
  • Allow any sewer buildup to come out of the drain
  • Gently feed the auger cable into the main line drain
  • Run the auger until the clog is broken up
  • Hose out leftover debris
  • Pull the auger cable back out of the main line drain
A good general rule is to have your home's sewer lines cleaned out every 18 to 22 months. That may be difficult to remember, but think of it as a year and a half to slightly less than two years
Consider using a sewer jetter to clean and remove dirt, sand, and yard debris that clog the foundation perimeter drain tile outside your home. A sewer jetter that's powered by your pressure washer can help you flush away the silt and debris so fewer clogs come back.
Perimeter drains or weeping tiles can last for decades. If properly installed, you can expect to have a problem free basement for a very long time. Older clay weeping tiles tended to deteriorate, and become clogged with soil and tree roots, but even these systems lasted for many years.