When you decide to have a bath or shower after a long hard day, the last thing you would expect to find is sewage in
your tub and a foul smell in your bathroom. It’s essential that we keep our main lines clog free to avoid this and other problems. The first step to tackling this problem is identifying that you may have a clogged main line. Here are 5 signs that you may have a clog building up in your main line and that you need a
plumber to clear it.
What is the Main Line?
When a plumber refers to the main line, they are talking about the main pipe that runs into and throughout your home. Actually, there are two main lines; the drain or sewer line and the water supply line. When a drain that feeds into this line becomes blocked, it will need be cleared for drainage to be restored. When the main sewer line is clogged things become significantly more complicated. The main line is harder to reach without specialized tools and experience. A build up of water behind a clog in the main line can cause sewage to back up; it’s then forced into your home via sink drains and water fixtures. Here are 5 clog warning signs to look out for.
- Strange Gurgling Noises:
When your plumbing is operating normally, you should not hear noises coming from your sinks, toilets or bathtubs. If the main line is developing a clog, you may hear a gurgling sound coming from the drains. This is the sound of the water backing up in your drains as it cannot pass the blockage.
- A Bad Odor:
If you can smell a foul odor rising from your drains, there may be a clog in the main line. A blocked main line prevents the drainage of sewage, and as a result, it sits in your pipes and decomposes. The odor is very unpleasant and distinctive, and it is a sure sign that you need to give your local plumber a call.
- Bubbles in Your Water:
If you see bubbling water and popping or bubbling noise coming from your water fixtures you have a clog in your main line. The bubbles are typically caused by air that is trapped in the water between the clog and the drains. This can also cause a fluctuation in the level of water in your toilet bowl.
- A Recurring Backup Problem:
Every home has a clog in the drain caused by hair or food that become compacted over time. This can be easily removed, but if you find that this is a regular occurrence, you may have a blocked main line. A clog located in the main line is causing debris to be backed up into the drains in your home, and as a result, clogs are forming regularly.
- Strange Drainage Issues Throughout the Home
If you discover that flushing your toilet is causing water to come out of your shower drain, there is a clog in your main line. Any kind of strange connected behavior between different drains, like washing your hands in the sink and noticing a drop in the level of toilet bowl water is a sure sign that there is a clog somewhere.
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.
