Backed-up bathtubs are unpleasant especially when you have been looking forward to a relaxing experience in the tub. Sometimes the backing up of bathtubs may be accompanied by dirty water or unpleasant smells. But what may be the cause of water backing up your bathtub? Read on to find out more about the warning signs, the causes, as well as the different methods to fix such problems.
Warning Signs for Clogged Drainage Systems
There are several signs that may warn you of clogged drainage systems. The common warning signs for clogged drainage systems include the following:
• The water in your tub or shower drains slowly after taking a bath
• The water in your toilet rises or bubbles after running the bathroom sink
• Water appears in your shower when you flush your toilet
• You can smell the sewer odor from your drains
The above-mentioned warning signs always indicate minor or major plumbing issues in the sewage line. In case you notice these signs, you should not hesitate to seek emergency plumbing services from professionals.
Water appearing in the shower when you flush is the clearest of them, because it means the two fixtures share a blocked line. We break that one down in what it means when water comes up from the shower drain, and the full list is in warning signs of a sewer line problem. When it will not wait until morning, our emergency plumbing team is on call.
Causes Of Clogged Drains
Backed-up drainage systems and sewer lines may lead to extensive damage to walls, floors, and electrical damages if not attended to immediately. Among the common reasons for backed-up sewer lines include the following:
• Aging Pipes: drainage pipes are prone to damage as they grow older. Increased development may exert more pressure on older pipes causing them to leak. A leakage is likely to allow the entry of dirt and debris, which clogs sewer lines.
• Insoluble Products: When insoluble products such as wipes, cooled grease, and feminine products are flushed down the toilet, they end up clogging major sewer lines. Wipes are the worst of them, and flushable wipes are not actually flushable. Our list of things you should never flush covers the rest.
• Tree and Shrub Roots: Shrub and tree roots searching for underground water sources may squeeze in pipes, leading to the cracking of pipes and damage to pipe joints. When such damages occur, dirt and debris find their way into the pipe causing clogs.
• Multipurpose Pipes: Multipurpose pipes handling excessive raw sewage and stormwater during rainstorms may also result in sewer line backup, especially in low-lying drains. This is a familiar pattern in central Florida during the summer storm season, and a backup that only happens after heavy rain is worth mentioning when you call.
• A Failing Septic System: If your property is not on city sewer, the blockage may not be in the house at all. A saturated septic drain field sends everything back toward the lowest fixture, which is usually the tub. Routine septic tank maintenance is what keeps that from happening.
How To Fix Drain Clogs
Once you have noticed the warning signs that indicate clogged systems it is always advisable to consult a professional plumber to fix the issue. Among the common ways of fixing these issues include the following:
• Investigating the problem through video inspection
• Clearing the line with hydro jetting, which scours the pipe wall instead of punching through the clog
• Professional drain cleaning with a cable machine
• Sewer backup repair when the main line itself is the problem
• Repiping a run of pipe that has collapsed or corroded through
One method that does not belong on this list is a bottle of drain opener. On a main line clog it never reaches the blockage, and it sits in the pipe doing damage, which is why we tell people to skip store bought drain cleaners.
Generally, backed-up bathtubs indicate a plumbing problem on your sewer line or drainage pipes. Usually, you may get more warning signs on your different drainage systems that should prompt you to act on the issue. In case you notice warning signs such as bubbling toilet water and sewage smells from the drains, you should not hesitate to contact emergency plumbing services. Share this piece with your family and friends to safeguard them against backed-up bathtubs!
If you aren’t up for tackling this type of repair yourself, our experts at True Plumbers & AC are only a call away to handle all of your plumbing needs. We have written up a local example in sewer backup repair in Plant City, FL if you want to see what the job involves.
You can always rely on the plumbers at True Plumbers & AC for your drain and AC issues.
Whether the above methods have failed or you are hesitant to take on the unclogging process yourself, our team is ready to help. Get in touch with our professional plumbers by calling (863) 667-6364 today. We offer our comprehensive plumbing services to central Florida homes in and around Lakeland, Plant City, and Winter Haven, FL.
