Your sewer line may be out of sight, but it shouldn’t be out of your mind. Unchecked sewer line problems can create messy and frustrating situations on your property. Further, they can also release harmful bacteria into your home and cause significant health problems.
Issues with the sewer system can be challenging to spot early. On a positive note, detecting them becomes a lot easier when you know the common signs of sewer line problems to look for.
Protect your home from the mess and damage an unexpected sewer line disaster can create by catching these telltale signs early.
6 Signs of Sewer Line Problems
1. Sewer Gas or Rotten Egg Odor
When your household plumbing is in good condition, you shouldn’t smell anything foul from your drains. If you notice the smell of rotten eggs, burning sulfur, or simply plain sewage from your bathroom’s drains, it may be time for inspection and repairs. These odors typically indicate sewer problems like a broken drain line.
With this said, know that sewer gasses do not only affect your comfort – they can also be harmful because of the hydrogen sulfide gas they contain. Exposure to this at even low levels can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. It may also cause dizziness, nausea, and headaches.
2. Slow Drains
A slow drain may seem harmless. If multiple slow drains happen simultaneously, this might indicate underlying sewer line problems. These problems often involve breakage due to the ground around the building settling or tree roots infiltrating and blocking the sewer line.
In worse cases, drains don’t only slow. They can also back up and cause sewage to flow back into the home, creating an overwhelming mess.
3. Clogs and Backups
Clogs limited to one fixture or area of your home may be due to a blockage in the pipe connected to that part or fixture. Widespread and frequent clogging is an entirely different story. These can be symptoms of a broken sewer line rather than a simple blockage. Since fixtures and drains flow to your sewer system, problems with it can create fake clogs.
Considering this, trying to fix the clogs on your own using DIY solutions won’t work. Instead, you’ll need a professional to inspect your sewer lines and repair the breakage to keep your pipes and drains flowing freely.
4. Lush Spots of Grass
It feels good to see your grass green and thriving. However, lush patches amid brown grass can signify a collapsed sewer line. Leaks from your underground sewer line work as excellent fertilizers and produce a healthy lawn right above it. While this may sound like a good thing, note that this can be bad for your health in the long term. Toxins can accumulate in the soil and seep to the surface.
In some cases, you may even see a lush patch follow a line from your house to the street: a sign that the entire line may be failing. Before the problem worsens, have the pipe removed or replaced as necessary.
5. Soggy and Smelly Lawn
Along with patches of green, flourishing grass, a soggy and foul-smelling lawn can signal sewer line problems. In the long run, this can lead to sinkholes forming around the leak, weakening that area of your yard and making it unsafe for use. To make matters worse, the conditions can also invite insects and rodents to your property.
6. Insect and Rodent Infestation
Following on from above, common sewer line issues can increase insect and rodent activity on your property, making you and your loved ones vulnerable to diseases.
This may encourage rodents that make their homes in sewer lines to find their way into your home. Similarly, more insects can breed in stagnant water within your property, making an infestation highly likely.
Insects and rodents multiplying in and around your home can cause health issues, so it’s crucial to have the cause of the infestation – your sewer line issues – checked as soon as possible.
What To Do Next After Finding Signs of Sewer Line Problems
Discovering these signs of sewer line issues can be upsetting, but it helps to remember that there’s more to be done. Fortunately, there’s no need for you to deal with sewer problems alone. A certified plumber can inspect your sewer line to locate the issue, understand what needs to be done, and guide you through the entire process.
If sewer gas, slow drains, or other sewer problem symptoms are disrupting your daily life, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is here to help. We know how stressful dealing with a failing sewer system can be, so we deliver swift, efficient, and tidy work.
Whether the breakage was caused by corroded pipes, broken lines, or tree root infiltration, you can trust us to repair or replace your sewer line. More importantly, rest assured that we’ll offer only the right fix at the right price. Contact us to get started!
