There’s nothing more frustrating than your sewer line backing up and causing foul smells, plumbing problems, and water damage to invade your home. Tree roots, clogs, and environmental factors can all cause this common issue to reoccur. If your main sewer line keeps backing up, it’s important to know the causes and warning signs to help you get ahead of the issue and prevent extensive damage. Keep reading to discover what to look for and how professional repair can help.
Common Causes of a Backed-Up Sewer Line
Several culprits can cause clogs, cracks, or damage to your sewer line, resulting in a backup. Some of the most common causes include:
- Clogged or blocked pipes: If grease, fat, household products, or other waste builds up in your sewer line, causing clogs that restrict water flow. If this happens, you’ll likely see plumbing issues in multiple toilets and drains of your home.
- Tree roots: The moisture and nutrients in your sewer line attract tree roots and cause them to grow toward them. If the roots wrap around or grow on top of the line, their weight may form cracks and penetrate the line, causing a blockage.
- Heavy rainfall: While designed to handle large amounts of water, sewer lines have a limited capacity and overload if there’s heavy rainfall or flooding. With nowhere to go, the excess water will back up into your home.
- An aging system: As your sewer system ages, wear and tear may cause the pipes to crack, break, or collapse, resulting in backups, overflows, or flooding.
- Broken sewer pipes: Earth movements, such as sinkholes, land shifts, or earthquakes, can cause your sewer line to crack or collapse, resulting in a sewage backup. This is especially common in older homes with iron or clay piping.
- Municipal sewer issues: A blockage or problem within the municipal sewer line can lead to a backup in your home. While this is out of your control, the municipality will often repair it quickly to prevent damage to nearby sewer lines.
Signs That Your Main Sewer Line Is Backing Up
Knowing the signs of a backed-up sewer line helps you catch the issue early on to prevent excessive damage to your home and property. If you notice any of the following, contact a plumber right away:
- Gurgling noises: When your sewer line begins to clog, you’ll hear gurgling noises from the drains as air bubbles try to escape the blockage.
- Slow-moving drains: While one slow drain may be due to a clog in that particular fixture, multiple slow drains indicate a problem with your main sewer line.
- Water backup in your tub or shower: If you see water backing up into your bathtub or shower, there’s likely a blockage in your sewer line.
- Foul smells: One of the most common signs of sewage back-up is a foul smell from your drains or fixtures.
- Wet floor drains: Drains in your garage, basement, laundry room, or bathroom are often the first place you’ll notice sewage backing up into your home. If you spot wetness, contact a plumber as soon as possible.
- Yard changes: If sewer water is escaping the line, you may notice sinkholes, lush green grass, or pooling water covering your yard.
How to Fix a Backed-Up Sewer Line?
If you notice any signs that your sewer is backing up, act fast to minimize health hazards and damage to your home. Immediately turn off all water in your home and avoid using faucets, toilets, and appliances at the first sign of trouble. If water has made its way to any areas with electrical outlets, locate and turn off the breakers to prevent potential hazards.
Once you’ve taken these steps, contact a plumber to assess the situation. Sewer line repairs are complex jobs that should always be done by professionals. They have the tools and experience to diagnose the problem, safely repair it, and minimize damage.
Traditional Sewer Repair vs. Trenchless Repair: Which Is Right for You?
When your sewer backs up, contractors can use two methods to repair it: traditional and trenchless. Traditional sewer repair, sometimes called open trench repair, involves digging up your yard to create a trench along the length of the sewer line. While it allows technicians full access to the damaged area, it causes significant damage to your property. Nearby landscaping, plants, and trees will likely be removed and damaged.
Trenchless repair is a minimally invasive method that uses advanced technology to repair the sewer line without damaging your property. There are two main types of trenchless repair:
- Pipe lining: Technicians insert a resin-coated tube into the pipe and inflate it to create a new pipe inside the old one.
- Pipe bursting: A new pipe is pulled through the old pipe to break it apart and lay a new line.
Trenchless repair is often the preferred method for homeowners. It offers minimal disruption to your property, is done quickly, and is typically more cost effective than traditional repair. While there are many benefits, it isn’t suitable for severe sewer damage.
Schedule Trenchless Sewer Line Repair With Frank’s!
If you have a backed-up sewer line, call Frank’s for emergency trenchless repair. Our technicians are available around the clock and will arrive as soon as possible to begin working on your system. We’ll insert a specialized camera into your sewer line to diagnose the issue without damaging the surrounding property. Then, we’ll determine the best solution for lasting results.
Call us or book online to schedule sewer repair in Amarillo and surrounding areas today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is trenchless repair suitable for all types of sewer line damage?
Trenchless repair is not suitable for severe damage, such as complete pipe collapse or extensive corrosion. The location of the damage also limits it, as large obstacles such as driveways, trees, or structures may block contractors from accessing the area without excavation.
How long does trenchless pipe repair take?
Depending on the extent of the damage, most trenchless repairs take less than a day. However, if the damage is extensive, contractors may need up to two days to assess and repair the line.
