A sewer drain can be a dark and scary place, but it also a very important part of your home or business. Without proper sewer drains in place, dirty water from toilets, sinks, showers and washing machines can’t escape your home or business, and it can cause serious damage to your property’s foundation and surrounding landscaping. Luckily, sewer drains are fairly easy to maintain with the right tools and techniques. However, even the most diligent homeowner will encounter a clogged sewer drain from time to time. Here are five signs that might indicate that yours is in need of some serious attention - and some ideas on how you can prevent it from happening again in the future.
The first and most obvious sign that your sewer is clogged is a strong sewer smell. However, not all sewer smells are created equal. In most cases, a smelly sewer will be caused by a buildup of organic matter - like kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and other organic debris - or a buildup of fats, oils and grease (FOG). A buildup of FOG can occur if you don’t regularly clean out your sewer drains with a plunger, but it’s much more common for kitchen scraps to cause a smell.To reduce the frequency of these smells, try to keep your kitchen and bathroom floors clean and free of debris, and remember to clean out your kitchen drains with a plunger regularly.
If you start noticing that water is splashing out of your plumbing fixtures - like your toilet, sink and shower - and isn’t flowing freely, this could be a sign that your sewer has become clogged. In most cases, this will be caused by a buildup of organic matter or FOG in your sewer, but it can also be caused by an animal burrowing through your plumbing. If you suspect that your sewer is clogged, contact a plumber to inspect your plumbing and clear out any blockages.
In some cases, an open sewer line will cause water to back up into your home. This can be extremely dangerous and can be caused by a wide variety of factors, like an animal burrowing through your plumbing, a broken sewage line, or a malfunctioning pump. If you notice water slowly rising in your yard or basement, contact a licensed plumber immediately.
If you start to notice a musty smell coming from your plumbing - or if you start to detect a strong sewer smell that smells like rotten eggs - this could be a sign that your sewer is clogged. In most cases, this will be caused by a buildup of organic matter or FOG in your sewer, but it can also be caused by a sewage line break or a sewage backflow. If you notice any of these smells, contact a licensed plumber immediately.
If you notice that your home or business foundation is visibly damaged, this could be a sign that your sewer is clogged. In most cases, this will be caused by a buildup of organic matter or FOG in your sewer, but it can also be caused by a sewage line break or a sewage backflow. If you notice any of these signs, contact a licensed plumber immediately. Even if your sewer drain doesn’t appear to be clogged, it could become clogged at any time.
A sewer drain is an important part of your home or business, but it can also be easy for it to become clogged. Luckily, there are a few signs that help you identify a clogged sewer drain, and some ideas on how you can prevent it from happening again in the future. Make sure your house is clean, and clean your sewer drains on a regular basis with a plunger to prevent a clog from forming in the first place. If a clog does occur, make sure to contact a plumber immediately so it can be fixed.