Being a homeowner comes with several responsibilities, and one that is often overlooked is properly maintaining your sewer line. If you let the health of the sewer line suffer, you typically can expect expensive consequences. As a homeowner, if you can recognize the symptoms of a clogged or broken sewer line, you can save yourself from some costly repairs and further issues. But don’t sweat it if you’re not as familiar as you’d like when it comes to plumbing, leave it to the experts at WaterGuard Plumping.
How Your Sewer Line Works
Think of the sewer line as the pipe that transports wastewater and sewage from your home into the sewer system. While this line that moves your wastewater to a water treatment facility does fall under municipal responsibility, the homeowner is required to maintain that line up to the edge of their property line.
Signs of Clogged Sewer Line
Sewer lines sometimes collapse and break – especially if the infrastructure is old or improperly cared for. There are numerous telltale signs of an issue with the line, the following are some of the common ones.
Slow Drainage
An early sign of a sewer line issue is slow drainage, or no drainage at all, of your sinks, toilets, tub and showers. This is especially true if more than one of these fixtures is acting up at the same time. If plunging the drain doesn’t work, it might be time to call WaterGuard Plumbing.
Odor
Generally, the drains in your home should not be giving off a noticeable or distinct smell. If you have a broken sewer line, a pungent and sewage-like odor is a good indication.
Clogs and Backups
Clogs or backups that are isolated to one area of your home and are not affecting the entire system could be due to a clog in the pipe that services those fixtures. If multiple drains are clogging and sewage is backing up and flooding your home, you’re likely dealing with a broken line. WaterGuard Plumbing’s team of professionals have the expertise to quickly diagnose and solve this issue.
Green Lawn Area/Soggy Lawn
It’s always nice to have a vibrant green lawn, but if you are noticing that yours is greener than usual, you may have a broken sewer line on your hands. Because sewage acts as fertilizer, it will create a healthier looking lawn, and depending on where the break in the line occurred, you might also notice sewage seeping upward into your lawn creating soggy conditions. This can be dangerous if left untreated as toxins can build up in the soil over time. Soggy lawns can also lead to sink holes. These swampy conditions will also attract insects and other creatures homeowners would be smart to avoid.
Insect and Rodent Infestation
Rodents and insects also like to nest in sewage pipes. When a break occurs in a line, these pests can squeeze through the cracks and gain access to your home. If you have suddenly been overrun with pests, it could be a sign of a broken line.
Mold and Mildew
A sewer line break in or around your home’s interior can create mold and mildew spots. Pay attention to ceilings, walls and floors as this is where you’ll likely notice it first.
Foundation cracks
Minor foundation cracks are typical as a house settles over time, but sudden new cracks could indicate issues with the sewer line. Leaking sewage and wastewater can cause severe damage to your home’s foundation. This should be dealt with immediately.
The occasional clog to the odd fixture will happen as drains get used over time, but if you have experienced any of these issues with your sewer line, call the experts at WaterGuard Plumbing because we specialize in sewer line repair. It is never a good idea to risk the health of your line. Acting today when it comes to drain repair could save you significant dollars tomorrow.
