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How Can I Tell If My Sewer Line is Clogged?

7007994652 • June 26, 2022
How Can I Tell If My Sewer Line is Clogged?

We all know how frustrating it can be when a drain in your home gets backed up. The first instinct most people have when a drain gets backed up is to grab a plunger to try to fix it themselves. Or, they scour the internet for quick and easy DIY home fixes. While we understand the urge to resolve the problem quickly, there are some situations where plunging can be completely useless — and most DIY solutions end up causing more harm than good.


We always suggest that you call a professional plumber if you have a drain clogged. Sometimes, a clogged drain is a symptom of a much larger problem — a sewage line clogged up. A sewer clogged up can lead to major household problems, including flooding and plumbing issues. But how do you know if you have a clogged sewer or a less severe problem?


Below, we’ll go over what a sewer line is, the causes of a clogged sewer, and the signs of a sewage line clogging, so that next time your plumbing is acting up, you won’t have to wonder, “Is my sewer line clogged?”


What Is a Sewage Line?

In your home, you have many pipes that carry water from the area. A shower drain, a bathroom sink, the kitchen sink, the washing machine, and the dishwasher all have pipes that lead to the main sewer line, or pipe. A sewage pipe is about 4 to 6 inches in diameter and is one main line that draws all the wastewater from your property and leads it to the sewage or septic system. Sewage lines are typically buried deep underground and far away from your home.


How Do I Know My Sewer Line is Clogged?


There are a few telltale tiles that you have a sewage line clogged up. The most common indicators of a clogged sewer are:


1) Multiple Clogged Fixtures

If multiple areas in your home are clogged and have water backing up at the same time, this is a big indicator that it’s not just one pipe, but your entire sewage line clogged up. Toilets usually get backed up first, but watch for shower and sink drains backing up at the same time, especially on the first floor, where pipes are low lying.


2) Dark and Foul-Smelling Water

When a pipe is leaking, the water will run clear. A clogged sewage line will cause dark and foul-smelling water to back up. This is because your sewage line is removing wastewater, and when you have a clogged sewer, the wastewater has no place to flow but back where it came.


3) Gurgling and Bubbling in Plumbing Fixtures

Hearing gurgling noises — and hissing, bubbling, or trickling — from any of your drains or seeing the water in your toilet bowl start to bubble is another sign that the sewage line is clogged up. When water travels through your pipes and gets flushed, it will naturally form air and water bubbles. When your sewage line is backed up, those bubbles get trapped and come back into your pipes and plumbing fixtures.


What Causes a Clogged Sewer Line?

The most common problems that lead to a sewage line becoming clogged are:


Damage to the pipe itself 


Pipe damage can happen from corrosion, the soil shifting around the pipe, heavy traffic above the pipe, and leaking joints.


Tree roots 


Tree root infiltration is the second most common reason for a clogged sewer. Older pipes were constructed out of clay and other porous materials, and as trees grow, their roots instinctively grow towards water sources. Roots can penetrate clay pipes, causing an obstruction.


FOG


Fats, oil, and grease — also referred to as FOG — should never be poured down any of your drains! You should always pour FOG into a can and let it solidify, and then throw it away. When it goes down your drain, it hardens and sticks to the inside of your pipes, leading to a sewer becoming clogged up.


Foreign objects 


You cannot use your toilet as an ordinary wastebasket. Only waste and toilet paper should be flushed down it. Anything else will lead to a clogged sewer.


There’s no safe or effective way to fix a clogged sewer line yourself. And you shouldn’t try any fix-it jobs on your own, due to a sewer line’s location and major role in your entire plumbing system. If you suspect you have a clogged sewer line, contact Gainesville Mechanical today. We’ve been serving Gainesville, GA, and its surrounding areas since 1989 and are available 24/7.


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Plumbing is integral to our everyday lives, providing us with essential water supply and sanitation systems. It ensures our homes and buildings have clean water for drinking, bathing, and other domestic needs. However, have you ever wondered about the origins of this vital system? For instance, when was plumbing invented? Well, plumbing has a long history. The greatest ancient civilizations like Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, and Chinese have used the first versions of plumbing. While in the modern era, plumbing includes advanced features that keep your home hygienic and free of disease and contamination, plumbing in the ancient period meant having usable water inside and a way of removing wastewater. Let’s discover the answers to these fascinating questions about plumbing history, including - when did indoor plumbing start, who invented indoor plumbing, when did indoor toilets become common in America and all the exciting bits. Plumbing's Origin in Ancient Era In Mesopotamia, the elite class residents used separate bathrooms and indoor toilets to discard the waste into the river in 3000 BCE. Around 2600–1800 BCE, some regions, including Harappa, Rakhigarhi, and Mohenjo-Daro, developed the first urban sanitation systems in ancient India. These civilizations used well water through masonry conduits and dumped wastewater into the street drains. Around 2500 BCE, Egyptians started to use copper pipes to create complex plumbing and drainage system. The first version of flushing toilets was stone seats placed over water streams where a bucket of water was used to do the flushing. Around 2000 to 1700 BCE, these toiles were discovered in the Mediterranean island of Crete. The ancient Greek island of Crete created an advanced drainage system around 1700 to 1500 BCE. Their design included terracotta pipes and joint sockets. However, the ancient Romans made significant advancements in plumbing technology. Around 510 to 31 BCE, they started to use fresh water in baths, fountains, and toilets that came through tunnels of pipes. Romans built aqueducts to transport fresh water from the countryside to Rome. The water was collected in tanks to distribute. But, around 200 BCE, Romans replaced their existing system with lead pipes which caused countless deaths from lead poisoning. Plumbing in the Early Modern Era The invention of the flush toilet is attributed to Sir John Harington - Queen Elizabeth I's godson - an English courtier in the late 16th century. Long after, in 1652, America's Boston City built a water system for domestic and fire-fighting purposes, where pipes were made of tree logs. In 1664 a cast-iron water main was built in France's Marly-on-Seine to the palace at Versailles. This main could reach up to 15 miles from the pumping station, which supplied water to the palace gardens, fountains, and nearby towns. Then, in 1767, William Feetham designed the world's first mechanical shower. At that time, hot baths were popular, and no one wanted this cold and dirty water for a bath. However, this shower offered recycled water to be used in the shower. Alexander Cumming patented a toilet similar to the first flushing toilet but with improved features in 1775. This toilet had a flush mechanism that let users employ and refill the pan. It also prevented the sewer gas from entering the bathroom. This invention laid the foundation for the modern indoor toilets we use today. In 1778, Joseph Bramah patented a new toilet design which was an improved version of Cumming's design. And in 1795, New York built a unique water system for the firefighters. It was a network of logs that supplied water throughout the city. Firefighters drilled the logs and plugged the hole to access water. Now let’s take a look: Plumbing in The Modern Era During 1815 Philadelphia started supplying water governed by the municipality. They built a dam and water wheels across the Schuylkill River to provide water directly to businesses and homes through pipes. By 1819 cast iron mains began to replace the wooden system in Philadelphia. The Tremont Hotel of Boston installed indoor plumbing for guests in 1829, including indoor toilets and running water. Later in 1833 White House installed a plumbing system on the main floor of the presidential home. In the 1800s, Midtown Manhattan constructed its first reservoir in 1835, sourcing water from the Croton River. By 1842, the reservoir was operational, supplying approximately 72 million gallons of water daily. Later in 1855, America established its first sewer system, while in 1870, Thomas William Twyford introduced the ceramic flushing toilets. 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