How do I know my sewer is clogged?

Blocked sewer drains can leave your home a stinky mess. While these problems may not be that frequent, they can be annoying when they happen.

Fortunately, there are ways to identify a blocked sewer line so you can help prevent a messy situation. Here we explain the signs of a blockage, reasons your sewer could be clogged, and the techniques used to fix the issue. Remember to call your local plumber at the first sign of any wastewater issue.

Overview of Sewer Lines

If your home is connected to the municipal sewerage system, it will have a sewer pipe which runs underground and connects to the council’s sewer line in the street.

This sewer drain pipe connects to the main drain in the house and receives wastewater from around the building including the bathroom, toilet, kitchen, and washing machine. A plumbing vent is also an important component of a well functioning sewer system. It regulates the air pressure in the sewage system and prevents the harmful gases from entering your property.

5 signs that your sewer drains could be blocked or blocking up

It is easy to determine whether your sewer drains are clogged or not. Here are some of the symptoms of a blocked sewer drain which you should keep an eye out for.

Multiple drains are backed-up

The main sewage line in your home branches out to secondary drain lines which are connected to water fixtures. If there is a blockage in the main sewer line, it will have a domino effect and multiple drains could back-up throughout your house. In case of a major blockage, raw sewage can backup into your home through sinks, toilets, or floor drains.

What to look out for:

• If you flush your toilet water could back up in your shower.
• All the drains in the property drain slowly.
• When you run the washing machine, water overflows in the shower or toilet.

Smelly, noisy or slowly moving drains

Again, if there’s an issue with the main sewage line, all the drains will be affected. So if all the drains in your house smell bad, produce gurgling noises, or they are draining slowly - the main sewage line could be blocked.

Sewage smell coming from the drain

If you get a whiff of sewage smell from your plumbing fixtures, toilet or bathroom, it is most likely due to clogged sewers.

Sounds familiar? If you're in Sydney contact our licensed blocked drain specialists and we'll be able to help you right away. We provide residential, commercial and industrial plumbing services throughout Sydney.

Reasons for blocked sewer drains

Tree roots

One of the main cause of blocked sewer drains is tree roots. Tree roots can work in through into drain cracks and lose joints (in the pipe) and quickly thrive in the pipe. They will continue to feed on the nutrients and grow inside unless action is taken.

As the waste flows through the pipe, the roots will accumulate grease, wet wipes and solid material compounding the issue. Flushing wrong things like grease, wet wipes, toys, tampons etc are often the reason behind blocked sewer drains.

Broken sewer pipe

Sewer pipes can break due to corrosion, soil conditions, or general wear and tear. When sewer pipes break, sag or collapse, it would can to frequent blockages and backups as debris gets caught on the uneven surface of the pipe.

Do you have a home septic system?

If you are living in a rural area, chances are you might be using a septic system or on-site wastewater treatment system.

The main reason for clogged drains in this style of sewage treatment is due to a full leach field or septic tank. If they become full they won’t be able to handle incoming wastewater leading to sewage back up in your home.

Is the main sewer line clogged?

Backed up drains can also arise if the council sewer mains system is clogged. The city/town sewer system has high pressure and in worst cases, the blockage can force sewage into homes causing water to back up in your toilets or bathroom.

Ask your neighbours if they are facing the same issue. If they also have clogged sewers, there are high chances that the problem is due to the council’s sewer mains. Inform your local council in that case and they will be able to fix the problem on their side. You may still have to call a plumber who can fix the problem on your side.

How are clogged sewer drains fixed?

Sewer cleanout line

This technique is often used to release the pressure from the sewage system. The water supply is turned off from the mains and the cap from the sewer cleanout line is removed to release pressure in the sewer line and clears the backed up water in your home.

Mechanical Drain Cleaning

Drain Camera Inspection

Plumbers usually do a visual inspection of the blocked sewer lines to determine the reason for the blockage. A specially designed CCTV drain camera is used to inspect the pipe, it can reveal cracks or damage in the pipe. Depending on the extent of the blockage and the damage, your plumber will determine the appropriate technique to fix the issue.

A drain snake or auger is frequently used to clear blocked drains. The power-assisted drain snake is fed into the sewer line until the blockage is reached. The coil is then rotated until the blockage is cleared.

High-pressure water jetters is another tool in a plumber’s arsenal to clear the blockage.

Pipe relining

If the pipes are broken or have cracks, your plumber could try to fix the broken pipe. Pipe relining is a modern technique used to fix broken pipes without the need for excavation. This method is durable and will ensure your pipe repairs last a very long time.

Chemical Drain Cleaning

This is one of the DIY options to clear a blocked sewer pipe but needs to be used with caution. You could try pouring special drain clearing chemicals in the drain to break up the blockage. However, it is not recommended as it may worsen the problem. It may work for some time or some blockaged but the problem may arise again and doesn't offer a long-term solution to fix blocked sewer lines.

What to do if your sewer drain is clogged?

• Turn off the water supply so that no one uses the water by accident.
• Avoid using the toilets and bathroom until the problem is fixed.
• Call your local plumber immediately.

Fix blocked sewer lines with the experts at Pure Plumbing Professionals

Plumbers have experience plus the necessary tools to clear even the most stubborn sewer blockages. If you are experiencing blocked drains anywhere in Sydney, seek the help of professionals who can reduce the chance of a blocked sewer line recurring.

Pure Plumbing Professionals specialise in pipe relining, drain camera inspection and water jetting to clear sewer drains. Depending on the best technique to clear the blockage, we can clear the debris or fix a broken pipe. We promise top-quality services at affordable prices using industry-leading techniques.

Give us a call on 02 9191 7374 or complete our online enquiry form.