What Causes a Sewer Drain Clog?

What Causes a Sewer Drain Clog
Sewer drains are silently one of the most vital components for the safety of a home, but they go unnoticed the majority of the time. When there is a problem with lines transporting waste from inside the home, call a professional plumber to eliminate the potential for serious damage. Understanding how clogs happen and the right ways to avoid them are precautions to prevent needing to call a local plumber for emergency drain cleaning.

Tree roots are nearly impossible to predict or prevent because they grow wildly in ground soil. This means that older homes are at a greater risk of lines being punctured or crushed by roots because newer homes logically have their pipes installed later. An accumulation of products that are not designed to break down in a sewer line is the other cause for major clogs, including feminine care products or heavy-duty paper towels. Never flush items that do not specifically indicate on the packaging that they are sewer safe.

The Signs of a Sewer Drain Clog

  • Toilet Doesn’t Flush

Due to the waste removal needs in a home, toilets are provided with the largest line to allow materials to flow easily. Signs of a problem include gurgling sounds, overflowing wastewater, or water backing up into the tub after flushing.

  • Tub or Shower are Backed Up

A sewer drain clog will affect the lowest drain in the house, potentially filling the bathtub or shower with dangerous waste water. A significant blockage will either make the water drain very slowly or not at all.

  • Multiple Fixtures Do Not Drain

When there are trouble signs in one fixture, it’s a good idea to check others for drainage. Check for an air trap in the plumbing by running water in the bathroom sink. If the toilet water is moving or bubbling, it’s evident that the problem is in the sewer main. Overflowing of the toilet can also cause water to back up through other drains when running the washing machine.

How To Handle A Clog Quickly

Anytime there is a clogged drain inside your home, use the emergency shutoff valve to stop the water supply which will prevent as much damage as possible. Then call the local plumber to perform emergency drain cleaning and don’t forget to request a camera inspection of your lines to find out the cause of your blockage. Contact us by using our easy to fill out contact form to find out what the professional plumbers at Fast Response Plumbing can do to keep your home safe from plumbing emergencies.

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