7 Symptoms of Sewer Drain Clogs That You Shouldn’t Ignore
Are you tired of dealing with clogged, slow drains and toilets? Call Advantage Plumbing and Sewer Co. at (847) 268-3553 for hassle-free sewer drain services.
You don’t have to be an expert plumber to recognize when something is wrong with your drains. Although some indicators are more obvious than others, every homeowner should know how to recognize the signs of a sewer drain clog.
If you’re not sure whether or not you have a sewer drain clog? Our drain cleaning experts in Elgin, IL, put together this guide to seven telltale signs that you should definitely not ignore.
1. Slow Drains
We have all had to deal with a slow draining sink or shower at one point in our lives, but how do you know if there is a deeper underlying problem? Firstly, go through a few basic troubleshooting steps, such as clearing out visible debris with a tool or using a liquid drain cleaner to remove the blockage.
If your drains are still not functioning properly, it may be a sign of a clog in your main line. This is even more likely if you are experiencing multiple slow drains in different parts of your home. If your kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, and showers are all having difficulty draining, you need to have a plumber inspect your main sewer line.
2. Odd Noises
In the event of a sewer drain clog, your faucets may make unusual noises. If you notice, for instance, that your sink makes groaning sounds when you try to run water, it is time to look further into the issue.
Sinks making unusual noises or sputtering out water may indicate a sewer drain clog. In this case, the sinks are making these noises due to strain on the system as they suck up air in an attempt to supply water. This may be due to a local clog in your sink, but if you are unable to clear any blockage, there is likely another cause of these noises and lack of water flow.
3. Toilet Issues
The toilet is the most obvious place to look for evidence of a sewer drain clog. If your toilet is the only fixture in your house that seems to be having issues, try to remove any potential clogs with a plunger first.
If the toilet itself is not clogged, there are other ways to determine the cause of the problem. Try running your sink. Is your toilet tank making gurgling sounds? If so, and the water level in the toilet appears to rise, you likely have a main sewer drain malfunction.
4. Neighbors with Similar Issues
If you speak with your neighbors and find that they are experiencing similar plumbing problems, the issue may be external to your home. This type of sanitary sewer overflow could be due to an issue with the city’s main line rather than a problem within your home.
Depending on the scope of the issue, a tree root may have damaged a neighborhood drain pipe, or your neighbors have caused a blockage. When one household is flushing objects down the toilet, it can clog the shared sewer line and cause drainage issues for all of the surrounding properties.
5. Unpleasant Smells
If you smell sewage, particularly coming from your drains, a clogged sewer drain could be at fault. If that is indeed the cause, you need to be vigilant about wastewater or raw sewage potentially coming up through the drains and into your basement or your showers.
If contaminated wastewater comes back up your drains, the issue is probably not with your home’s sewer lines, but rather a major backup in the city’s main line that connects to your home.
6. Soggy Lawn
A sewer drain clog may reveal itself through certain changes in the area surrounding your house. Your main sewer drain pipe runs underneath your yard from your house to the street, where it connects to the city sewer.
If you are noticing pools of water on your lawn, water could be bursting through from the pipe below. The precursor to this would be raised bumps appearing on your lawn that seem to be filled with water; these bumps may smell of sewage before they burst through the ground.
7. Cleanout Pressure
If your cleanout fitting is tight, it is a very likely sign of clogging in your sewer drain. If you have a cleanout outside, you will likely locate it sticking out of the ground very near to your house close to one of your bathrooms.
Carefully attempt to loosen the cap to see if any water flows out. If you feel any water pressure whatsoever, tighten it back on and contact a professional plumber. The cleanout should be very loose and not contain any water, even a small amount. If water is present, it is a clear sign that you are dealing with a clog in your main pipe.
Contact Advantage Plumbing and Sewer Co. for Sewer Drain Services
If you aren’t sure how to deal with a sewer drain clog, it is always best to contact a professional plumber. Their experience and technology allow them to handle issues that the average homeowner cannot. Contacting a plumber can save you from potential damage and expensive replacement costs down the line.
Especially if you live in an area with an old sewer system, you may want to consider installing a flood control sewer system. Though not all sewer-related flooding is preventable, you can avoid some detrimental effects that it may have on your basement and home.
Advantage Plumbing and Sewer Co. is a trusted plumbing, drain cleaning, and sewer service company serving Elgin, IL, and the surrounding areas. Sewer drain clogs can cause immense damage if you don’t resolve them promptly and effectively, so we’ll send a specialist to deal with your sewer drain emergency as soon as possible.
Call us today at (847) 268-3553 for sewer drain services to protect your home!
