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A broken sewer line is messy and smelly. The first step is determining the cause. To do so accurately, call the professional plumbers at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. This article discusses the main causes of blocked or broken sewer lines and various plumbing services used to fix them.
Broken sewer lines include problems with the pipes that carry waste away from your home. This could involve either pipes from your house to the municipal sewer lines or to a septic tank on your property. When one of these pipes breaks, you need qualified technicians to perform the right plumbing services to set things right in your home’s pipes.
Since some sewer plumbing services are expensive, it’s helpful to understand the different symptoms and causes of a blockage or breakage.
Signs of a Blocked Sewer
1. More Than One Drain Has Become Backed Up
If you’ve noticed your sink, shower, toilet and other drains have become backed up recently, this could indicate the issue is with your sewer line rather than the individual drains.
Sometimes, the toilets become hard to flush or the bathtub develops a ring of soap scum due to slow draining water. Keep an eye on the water level in the toilet, which may change on its own.
2. You Can See Sewage in Your Floor Drains
When your sewer line becomes blocked, the sewage and wastewater in those pipes have nowhere to go. If it builds up enough, it overflows to secondary drains. If you have a drain in your basement, this is where you may spot the first signs of a backed-up sewer. For homes with basement drains, white deposits may signify repeated backups and pooling water that drains slowly.
3. Sewage Seeps Out of Your Sewer Cleanout
Your sewer cleanout pipe is a small pipe that’s usually located just outside of your property. It gives plumbers access to your sewers so they can easily clean out small blockages. If you can see sewage or wastewater bubbling up out of your cleanout pipe, that’s a surefire sign there’s a blockage further down the sewer line.
4. You Suddenly Have a Pest Problem
Overflowing water often attracts pests such as rats and insects. Since this presents health risks to you and your family, it’s important to call for a plumber right away.
If your landscaping includes shrubs and trees above a blocked sewer line, roots are likely the cause of the blockage. Plumbing services for root removal typically involve an electric snake that includes a cutting blade. If roots aren’t causing the blockage, our technician may be able to clear the blockage quickly with a sewer auger. First, we locate a clean-out valve to insert the auger or snake into. Then, our licensed plumbers may have to repair the pipes according to the local codes and regulations.
Signs of a Broken Sewer Line
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Foul Smells in Your Yard
One of the first signs most people notice when they have a broken sewer line is a foul odor in their yard or garden. A broken sewer can allow waste to seep into the ground, causing a smell that lingers. If you notice this issue, contact a plumber as soon as possible.
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Standing Water or an Unusually Lush Lawn
Unusually lush patches on your lawn or the sudden presence of pools of standing water in your driveway can indicate a leaking pipe underground. This pipe could be a sewer pipe or a water main. In either case, it’s important to fix it quickly before it causes structural damage.
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Driveway, Pavement or Foundation Cracks
Visible cracks in your foundation or sinking paving stones can be a symptom of a broken sewer line. When the ground becomes saturated with moisture from the sewer line, this weakens it, allowing the foundations to shift. Don’t ignore sinking pavers or noticeable cracks in your foundations because these can threaten the structural integrity of your property.
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A Sinkhole Forms in Your Yard
Broken sewer pipes in the basement or outside your home release water directly into the soil. In this case, a sinkhole could develop in your yard or under the street. The area impacted by the leak typically has the distinctive smell of sewage. This can affect your quality of life and limit or halt the use of your yard for recreation and relaxation. Prompt plumbing services are the best way to identify and correct the damaged pipe.
For broken pipes under asphalt or paved pathways, leaking water causes the hard-top surface to deteriorate and sink. Meanwhile, vegetation in the area above the breakage flourishes due to the extra nutrients.
What You Should Do
If you notice these signs of broken or blocked sewer lines, call a company noted for reliable services, such as bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. Give our technicians any details that you have noticed to facilitate the diagnosis or the problem or rely on their expertise to identify and fix the issue efficiently.
How a Qualified Plumber Removes FOG
When fat, oil and grease (FOG) accumulate in a sewer line, they can clog the secondary lines as well as the main sewer. When you call for plumbing services for a secondary line blockage, we can usually clear the line quickly with an auger. However, stubborn clogs in the mainline may require heavy-duty equipment to solve the problem. For FOG accumulation in multiple secondary lines, a hydro jet fitted with a degreasing nozzle may serve as our best defense to clear the blockage.
Instead of trying to rent or buy a machine to clear the line, it makes more sense to leave the job to the professionals. For example, the technicians at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain have access to a wide variety of equipment. From high-pressure water jets to cameras and other sophisticated tools, we bring whatever is needed for a decisive diagnosis and a long-lasting solution.
Maintain Your Sewer Line
Once we complete the required plumbing services for the broken or blocked sewer line, our experts can provide guidance on how to avoid future issues. For example, after the fat, oil and grease clog is fixed, it’s up to you to avoid dumping these materials down your drains.
Remember, all the drains in your home eventually connect to the main sewer line. So, everything you flush or wash down the sink ends up in the same place. Ask our bluefrog Plumbing + Drain technician to recommend a gentle chemical solution that you can flush or pour into the pipes with hot water occasionally. This can clear out accumulated materials before they become a bigger problem.
Misaligned Drainpipe
A camera inspection may reveal a misaligned drainpipe. During inspection, we can explore your options for fixing the pipe or leaving it as is. You can trust our technicians to give you straightforward answers and our best recommendation that fits your situation and budget.
Non-invasive plumbing services include a pipe bursting or pipe lining repair. We may recommend blowing a flexible tube treated with resin into the pipe. Once the tube hardens, the water should flow through to the mainline again. Pipe bursting involves putting a new pipe inside the damaged one.
More invasive plumbing services incorporate traditional methods. This includes pipe replacement by digging a hole to access the pipe and replace it with a new one. This work requires permits and inspections as well as a knowledgeable plumber familiar with local authorities.
Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain today for more information on your broken sewer line or to schedule an appointment for any sewer line services for your home.
