First Signs of a Broken Sewer Line

Most sewer lines that transport your waste from your home to your septic tank or main city sewer line are located a few feet underground. When these pipes corrode at the joints, crack or sustain damage, you may not know right away that there is a problem. However, there will be signs that are bound to appear to alert you that you have an issue with your plumbing waste system. Here are some of the first signs that you may have a broken sewer line at your home.

Several Drains are Slow or Backed Up

If the sewer line break is causing a blockage for your waste, you may notice that several drains in your home are backing up or slower to drain. This does not always occur with sewer line breaks; it depends on whether there is a blockage or not. Drains closest to the main sewer line are the most likely to be slow or back up.

Wet Spots or Odor in Your Yard

If there are areas in your yard that are wetter than the rest of the lawn near where your sewer line runs, you may have a leak. There also could be a sewage odor that alerts you to a definite problem with your sewer pipe.

Soil Erosion

In many cases, a sewer line break starts with a small crack and becomes worse. A slow leak could have occurred for weeks, even months. Soil above the pipe can begin to erode, letting you know there is a problem below.

If you see signs of a broken sewer line, call your local sewer or septic company right away. They can inspect your sewer line and locate the point of the problem. Fixing the pipe can prevent further backups and damage to your property.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Top 3 Signs of a Main Sewer Line Clog

Like smaller plumbing pipes can become clogged, so can your main sewer line. The difference is that when the small pipe under your bathroom sink is clogged, only your sink doesn’t drain properly and the pipe can be easily accessed. When your main sewer line is clogged, it can back up sewer into all the drains in your home and the pipe is underground, not easily to reach. You want to catch sewer line clogs as soon as possible before you have a large sewage back-up issue. Here are three signs you may be forming a clog in your main sewer line so you can get it fixed before it becomes a larger problem.

  1. Slow drains. When more than one of your sinks is slow to drain, this can mean there is a problem with your main sewer line. It is more common for the drains closest to your main sewer line to be the slowest if there is a clog.
  2. Bad smell. If there is an odor you can’t seem to find, try smelling your drains. If any have a sewage odor, you may have a clog forming that is causing sewage to stay in the pipes.
  3. Overflowing toilets or washers. Is there still water in the bottom of the dishwasher when you open it and toilets seem to be “clogging” all the time? This may not be localized if you are having multiple problems at once; it could be your main sewer line.

If you notice any of these signs, call your local plumber that handles sewer line clogs or repairs. They can inspect your plumbing and sewer lines for clogs to find the problem and get the issue resolved.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Septic System Warning Signs

We all have had home repair issues.  The sewer septic is one area that none of us wants a problem with.  As homeowners, it is our responsibility to know the warning signs of when things may be going wrong with our septic system.

Your septic tank and sewer system is an important, expensive piece of your home.  It provides wastewater disposal for the entire plumbing system of the house.

Signs of impending nightmares include toilets that are slow to flush or have ‘remains’ in them after flushing.  Drains that are slow to drain are also signs of potential clogged drain lines.  Often, these lines can be ‘cleared’ with a simple plumbing technique, but in other cases more serious services are required.  Never place chemicals in any drain to help speed the drainage as these chemicals can actually destroy the bacteria that helps break down the solid waste.

Standing water in the area of the leach field and septic tank generally indicates a leak in the sewer septic system somewhere.  A qualified professional should be contacted immediately in these cases.

Foul odors or smells coming from the yard where the septic tank is generally indicate that the septic tank lid is cracked or broken, or that the tank itself has a crack.  A smelly septic tank odor and area is a very bad sign, and requires immediate help from a qualified professional.  In some states, civil penalties can be assessed for sewer septic tank failures.

Visitors and Your Septic System

Septic systems are designed for a certain number of people.  When long term guests come to visit (or stay!) home owners may find that their septic system isn’t working as effectively or efficiently as possible.  When more individuals are using the septic system, increased pressure is placed on the tank and drain lines, potentially causing back-ups and slow draining.

Every septic tank has an amount (or capacity) allowed.  When this capacity is met, the septic tank is unable to take as much sewage, and will not drain properly.  This is frequently seen when long term visitors are staying in your home.

If you plan on having long term visitors, consider adding a water flow meter to your septic system.  Every gallon of water that flows through the drain needs to also be drained in the septic tank field.  A water meter can help you and your family conserve water appropriately and avoid unsightly and embarrassing back-ups and problems.  You will know exactly how much water is being used.  Home water meters should cost around $100 plus installation.

Another issue with house guests and your septic tank is toilet flushing.  Most toilets use between five and six gallons per flush.  When you double the occupants in your home, it is easy to see how quickly your septic tank lines and field can become overwhelmed!  Consider installing an ultra-effective toilet that effectively flushes wastes with as little as one gallon of water.  An ultra effective one gallon toilet generally costs around $200-$300 plus installation….far less than an expensive septic tank repair!