It goes without saying, that having anything in your plumbing system fail is an inconvenience you’d rather avoid. But when there are issues in your sewage line, it’s important to identify and fix the problem before it gets out of hand. However, It’s not always easy to spot problems in your sewer line before they become outright disasters. But, keeping a watchful eye for these warning signs may save you lots of time and money down the road, and it may save you a full sewer backup repair.
Symptoms of a sewer line problem.
#1: You have smelly and soggy patches on your lawn.
This warning sign is easy to spot since it attracts your attention by sight and smell. When a sewer line either leaks or breaks, wastewater will have nowhere to go but into the ground of your property. Keep your eyes open for smelly, soggy patches in your lawn or garden. Their presence is a surefire sign of a damaged sewer line in need of prompt repair work. On a septic property the same soggy patch usually means the drain field needs repair, so it is worth reading our septic tank maintenance tips. If the ground is wet but nothing smells, leak detection will tell you whether it is the supply line instead.
#2: Drains throughout your home are clogging.
Individually clogged drains are usually not a cause for major concern, since they are generally simple to solve. But when the issue goes beyond a singularly clogged drain, and becomes chronic clogging in drains throughout the house, the issue is probably much more serious. Our expert plumbing professionals are able to inspect your system using a specially designed video camera that can fit through plumbing pipes to identify issues deep within your drainage system. That includes spotting when a sewer line may need professional drain cleaning, or even larger repairs before the problem gets worse. For roots and heavy grease we use water jetting rather than a cable.
#3: Drains around your home smell bad.
This common warning sign is an easy one to ignore, but it can be an early indicator of sewage line problems. If you notice foul-smelling odors rising up from multiple drains, and it can’t be remedied by simply running water to fix a dried p-trap, it could be a sign that a clogged or broken pipe is causing sewage to back up into the line. Our explainer on what a p-trap is and why you need one covers the harmless version of this.
#4: Water in your toilet bubbles or rises when using the bathroom faucet.
If you notice that running your bathroom faucet causes a disturbance in your toilet’s water level, this could be an early sign that not all is well with your sewage line. The same can be said for any water that backs up into drains when you flush your toilet. Both of these issues are signs that you likely need your sewage line cleaned or repaired by our plumbing team, and they often come alongside a toilet that needs repair or resetting. When it goes further, you get water backing up into the bathtub.
#5: Your laundry or bathroom lines are draining more slowly than usual.
This sign might be harder to spot since drainage speeds are not usually something we notice right away, but it’s an important indicator that there’s a bigger issue at play. If you notice that the water from your laundry machine, bathroom sink, or shower is draining noticeably slower than before, don’t let the problem get out of hand. It is a good idea to have a plumbing professional take a closer look before the problem gets worse. Our guide to clearing the main drain line in your house explains where that slowdown usually starts.
Having the right people to identify and fix problems early is a great way to avoid plumbing disasters down the road. If you’re vigilant for early signs of sewage line issues, professional plumbers, such as the members of our team at True Plumbers & AC, can fix problems before they disrupt your life. We handle sewer work in Plant City and across Lakeland, Plant City, and Winter Haven. If sewage is already backing up into the house, call our 24 hour emergency plumbers, because contaminated water quickly becomes a water damage restoration job.
