What to Know About Sewer Line Backups

FAQs About Backed-Up Sewer Lines 

For many homeowners, sewer line backups are their worst nightmare. What may initially be nothing more than a bubbling toilet could soon lead to puddles of sewage, water damage, and foul odors. And this isn’t something a homeowner can ignore. They need prompt assistance from a trained professional or risk their home’s habitability. When faced with a sewer line problem or backup, many homeowners find themselves asking:

Why Does the Sewer Line Keep Backing Up?

There are many reasons why a home’s sewer line may keep backing up. Some of these reasons include:

• Aging infrastructure: The older the piping gets, the more issues it could have. For instance, if the joints and connectors in the sewer line become loose or the line breaks or corrodes, this could increase the risk of unexpected problems and backups.

• Heavy rainfall: Excessive rain and other inclement weather conditions can overwhelm the sewer main, leading to backups. It can also contribute to shifting soil, which can damage pipes. 

• Tree roots: Tree roots can grow into underground sewer lines searching for water and nutrients, which may cause cracks, clogging, and backups.

• Clogs and blockages: Clogged sewer lines can also cause the pipe to experience backups since the water and sewage have nowhere to go. 

How Do Plumbers Address Backed-Up Sewer Lines?

A professional can inspect the piping system to determine why the home’s sewer line keeps backing up and the best solution to fix it. When identifying and fixing the cause of a backed-up sewer line, plumbers may employ various methods to solve it depending on the issues facing the sewer line. These methods may include:

• Sewer video inspection: Sewer line cameras on the end of a long cable allow plumbers to see a sewer line problem up close and accurately diagnose the cause. 

• Drain cleaning: If a plumber determines that a clog or tree roots are causing a sewer line to back up, they may use a drain snake or hydrojetting to clear the clogs.

• Use trenchless sewer line repair: When many homeowners imagine sewer line repair, they picture having their front lawns dug up so plumbers can reach the pipes. However, that’s not the case with trenchless sewer line repairs. Trenchless repair methods are fast, non-invasive ways to address various sewer line problems like cracks or breaks in the sewer line caused by tree roots, age or corrosion, and shifting soil. 

How Can a Homeowner Prevent Sewer Line Backups?

Households can help prevent sewer line problems and backups by:

• Being careful of what gets flushed down the toilet: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that people should only flush toilet paper. Anything else, like diapers, wipes, and paper towels, could cause sewer line clogs.

• Be mindful of what goes down the kitchen sink drain: Food waste and substances can also cause sewer line clogs, such as grease and oil, eggshells, coffee grounds, pasta, and more. So people should avoid using their drains as a garbage bin.

• Scheduling annual plumbing maintenance visits: Nothing beats having a plumber inspect and maintain the plumbing system regularly to prevent sewer line problems and backups. They can perform essential maintenance tasks and make recommendations and repairs as necessary. 

About Great Day Plumbing & Air

Great Day Plumbing & Air is a local plumbing, heating, and air conditioning company serving Wilmington and the surrounding areas. They provide upfront pricing, same-day service, and the latest technology. Call them today for sewer line services in Wilmington, NC. 

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