Your sewer line is one of the most important parts of your household plumbing system. But because it is out of sight, a lot of homeowners take it for granted. Yet, if your sewer line becomes clogged or damaged, it could inflict unwelcome issues on your property and your plumbing system. The quicker you recognize the warning signs of a main sewer line blockage, the more likely it is you’ll be able to resolve it without causing you too much trouble and a boatload of money to fix it. Watch out for these warning signs that your sewer line might be blocked.

Slow Draining Sinks and Bathtubs

One of the strong indicators that your sewer line has a problem is when your sinks, toilets, and bathtubs are draining slowly or not at all. You may also notice this slowness affecting multiple fixtures. For instance, if you run just the washing machine and your laundry room sink runs slowly or backs up, that’s clearly a sign that there is a blockage in your drain pipes, and you should call a plumber right away.

You Hear Strange Noises Coming From Your System

If you ever hear gurgling or bubbling sound coming from your plumbing, that could also be an indication that your main sewer line is facing a blockage and it could be because of tree roots.

Root systems are one of the primary causes of main sewer line issues, especially in an older home where the sewer is made of clay or concrete. So if you have a big tree near your sewer line, its roots could be the problem. Tree roots can work their way through your pipes. And once they are inside, they will grow larger, acting as a net that catches toilet papers and wastes until it forms a clog.

The Constant Need to Plunge

Do you always need to plunge your toilet a whole lot more than you used to? That’s a sign that the real clog problem might be farther downstream in your drainage system. This may also be true if your kitchen sink and other drains are constantly clogging or slowly running. The fact is that the more likely your drains tend to clog up or runs slowly, the more apparent it is that there is some kind of blockage in your main sewer line.

What to Do If Your Main Sewer Drain Is Clogged?

Shut off the water

Don’t run the water or even flash your toilet or even use your sink. As this could worsen your backup problem. You can shut off the main water supply of your house so that you can prevent anyone to use it by accident.

Don’t Use Drain Cleaner

When your sewer line backed-up, don’t try to use drain cleaner to unclog it. It will never work and might cause a more serious problem. The chemicals that are in the drain cleaner are very corrosive that it can ate through the pipe, causing even more damage.

Contact a Plumber

Contact a professional plumber to replace your sewer line and avoid major damage. They will be the ones to perform a sewer camera inspection to assess the extent of your clog, what’s causing it, and where that is clog located.

Why and When to Call a Plumber

When you see all the signs that are listed above, that would be enough reason to call an experienced and licensed professional plumber. A main sewer line blockage needs to be resolved quickly– don’t try to fix it yourself unless you have enough experience and have the proper tools, as you could make the problem worse.

For sewer line repair and replacement in San Mateo, trust the experts at Caccia Plumbing. Schedule an appointment with us today or contact us at (650) 442-1470!