All pipes leading from a drain can become clogged, from the small pipes under your sink to the large exterior sewer pipes under your yard. While a clogged pipe inside your home can often be quickly remedied, a clogged sewer pipe can lead to larger and more expensive problems if not resolved. If you have a slow drain or drains that are backing up, these signs may suggest that you have more than a clogged drain and that you should call a sewer professional for drain line repairs:
- Location of drain affected. With a sewer clog, generally the problems will begin in drains closest to the main sewer pipe. This may be drains in the basement or first floor of your home, typically washing machine or bathtub drains.
- Slow drains. The drains affected will start by draining slowly. Then other drains will begin draining slower until usually, all drains are affected. These will seem to climb, starting at the lowest level drain, working up those at the highest levels.
- Odor. A clogged sewer pipe will usually begin to emit an unpleasant smell as sewer water becomes trapped in the pipes below and in your home. This odor, combined with slow or backed up drains, is almost always a sewer pipe problem or clog.
Sewer pipe clogs should be handled by a professional. Many companies will use a video inspection to find the clog or problem, and then recommend solutions for getting it fixed. Sometimes clogs can be removed through flushing, however if other damage has occurred, there may need to be repair. Getting a professional out to assess the situation quickly is your best bet, and can save you both time and money in the long run.
Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing
