When viewed in its entirety, a
home plumbing system is a complicated system to move water into our homes and remove waste. Every home needs two main lines to make this system work; a main water line to bring in the potable water and a sewer line to remove the waste water. Any issue that develops in either of these important lines will affect how the plumbing system in your home works. This is a problem because both the main water line and the sewer line are buried under the yard, so how will you know if there is a problem? In this article, we will examine three signs that could indicate a problem with your sewer line.
1. Stinky Puddles in the Yard:
If you notice that there are multiple dirty and stinky puddles in your yard, there could be a problem. These puddles will not look or smell like regular puddles that may form after it’s been raining. There will be a distinct sewage odor present that’s hard to ignore. These puddles are a good indicator that there is a problem with your sewer line. It’s likely that there is a break and the dirty wastewater has seeped to the surface and pooled there. Avoid these puddles, keep away children and pets and call out your local
plumbing professional. This is not a problem that can be solved with DIY skills and it will only get worse over time. A skilled plumber will be able to identify the where the leak is located and replace the sewer line section to restore its function.
2. Bubbling in the Toilet:
If you toilets are bubbling when a nearby sink is used, this could indicate that there is a problem with the sewer line. This could be a clog that’s causing the water to drain away too slowly or a venting issue. This phenomenon may also be accompanied by strange gurgling noises or water rising and falling in the toilet bowl. If left unattended the toilet could back up into the home and problems with flushing could occur. If you notice any of these issues call on a local professional plumber to correctly diagnose the problem and suggest a way to fix it.
3. Every Drain is Slow:
Every now and again you may experience a single drain in your home that is draining slowly. This is usually caused by a clog that needs to be removed and then normal draining is quickly resumed. If you notice that all the drains in your home are slow at the same time, this could be an indication that the sewer line is the source of the problem. This could be caused by a large clog that has moved into the sewer line and preventing all the drains from working. You may also notice a gurgling sound when the water is slowly draining away. A plumbing professional will be able to confirm this for you and then take action to clear the clog. It may be tempting to pour a chemical clog remover into the drain, but this will not work on a sewer clog, and it may even damage your pipes.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
