How to Spot a Sewer Line Backup
An uncharacteristic gurgle from the toilet? A sudden slowness in more than one of the house’s drains? Or maybe an odour of putridity coming from the floor drains that will not go away.
These are all signs of a sewer line backup in its early stages and you would be wise to nip it in the bud before it is a major hassle. The team at Sioux Falls Plumbing, LLC can help homeowners in Eastern South Dakota put an end to such problems at their source. Give us a ring at (605) 937-7450 for a discussion of the matter.
Plumbing generally gives some forewarning of a sewer line issue but they are easy to miss if one is not paying attention. Below we have outlined the telltale ones.
Slow Drains in More Than One Place
A clogged fixture is enough to slow down a drain. But when several do so at once it is a fair bet there is something amiss with the main sewer line, not just a sink or tub. Some of what you may come across:
- A bathtub, shower and sink that are reluctant to drain
- The washer or dishwasher backing up
- Water in the adjacent tub or shower after the toilet is flushed
- Clogs on the lower level of the home
- Having to clear a drain over and over
When the blockage is in the main line as opposed to a branch, the fixtures on the lowest level will be the ones to back up.
Bubbling and Gurgles
Consider these an early warning. With a partial obstruction in the line air is trapped and made to work its way back through the system; put on the sink and the toilet will gurgle, or the washer will make a drain bubble. In short the plumbing is telling you that water and air cannot pass freely. People tend to put them out of mind until the backup has become serious.
Unpleasant Smells
There should be no connection between your home and the sewer system. If the basement, yard or the area around the drains has the smell of rotten eggs or sewage, a crack, clog or break in the line is likely to blame. It may be intermittent at first but the stench will grow with the blockage.
Water Where It Should Not Be
This is one of the more unsettling indicators. An obstructed main line leaves wastewater with nowhere to go but back into the house. You might find the washer has forced it up a floor drain or a flush has put water in the shower. At that point it is advisable to take the fixtures out of commission; there is no point in putting another load of laundry or a flush on a system already over its head.
Yard Anomalies
The proof may be outside. A broken sewer line will show itself on the lawn, though not always right off:
- Lush, green patches of grass
- Soggy ground in the yard without any rain to account for it
- Earth that has sunken over the line
- Pooling water of no discernible origin
- A sewage smell in the yard
Wastewater leaking below ground will act like a fertilizer and soak the soil.
What to Do About It
Finding the root of a sewer problem calls for the right equipment. We use Hurco liquid smoke technology for leak detection here at Sioux Falls Plumbing, LLC so there is no guesswork or need to dig.
We are a family owned and operated business in good standing with full licensing and insurance. There is no commission on our pricing and our team does not stand to gain from an upsell, which means the recommendation will be what the home requires.
We serve Sioux Falls and surrounding areas including Harrisburg, Tea, Hartford, Brandon, Crooks, Baltic, Dell Rapids, Lennox, Parker, Montrose and Canton. Our office is open Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 12 to 8pm and Sunday 5 to 8pm for free estimates.
Should you have observed any of this, do not wait for a complete backup to make a decision. Contact us at (605) 937-7450 and we will see to it.
