What to do When Your Sewer Backs Up

All homes are equipped with a sewer drain, which works by moving water and sewage away from your home and off to a nearby treatment facility. However, this sewer drain isn’t without its problems. And when it clogs and water isn’t able to adequately pass through it, then it will likely overflow through the existing drains in your home. At best, any water that comes up will slowly go back down. However, at worst, raw sewage can come up through the drains, potentially creating an unsanitary, damaging and expensive mess.

So what should you do if your sewer backs up? Regardless of how minor or major the backup is, contact someone immediately to clear any blockages in the home’s plumbing and/or in the sewer line. A professional plumber is able to inspect drains and sewer lines for problems, and then perform drain cleaning to free any obstructions. In situations involving intense obstruction, a high-pressure sewer jet is often utilized to free the line.

Signs and Symptoms of a Sewer Back Up

You don’t have to wait for your drains to back up and your home to flood to know that there’s an obstruction in your sewer line. Here’s a look at some signs and symptoms to be on the lookout for:

• Slow running drains, especially when efforts to clear them don’t produce any noticeable results
• Multiple drains backing up at once
• Water coming up through the shower drain upon flushing the toilet
• A bubbling toilet when you use the bathroom sink
• Water backups in the tub, shower or sink when a large water-using appliance, such as the washing machine or dishwasher, drains

In some cases, you may be able to clear the clog yourself by using a plunger, auger or drain snake to clear lines. However, in more significant situations, having the sewer line camera-inspected and professionally cleared with a sewer jet is necessary. The process, when performed by a plumber, is usually fast, efficient and affordable.

Why Do Sewer Drains Clog?

Just think of everything that goes down the drains in your home. Soap scum, dirt, grime, grease, food debris, etc. This can all add up over time, resulting in an obstruction in the line. Furthermore, you may have accidentally flushed feminine hygiene products, paper towels, baby wipes and more down the toilet – and these are items that can accumulate in and clog a sewer line. Finally, tree roots also commonly enter exterior drain lines and contribute to obstruction, especially if toilet paper catches on them.

Call IT Landes for all Your Plumbing Needs

For more information on how to handle a sewer back up, contact IT Landes today. As a firm that’s served Montgomery and Bucks Counties since 1929, IT Landes has the experience, expertise, and credibility to resolve any sewer line issue that you’re experiencing, no matter how big or how small. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, respectfulness and overall quality of the work we perform. Contact us today for more information.