Most clogged main sewer lines do not happen overnight. It is important to identify them early before the sewer water backs up or floods your home. Knowing the warning signs and causes can help prevent dealing with a major repair.
Warning signs that your main sewer line might be clogged:
Water backing up in your sinks, bathtubs, or showers. This happens when the water has nowhere to go.
Slow moving drains. Is the water pooling whenever you run the water?
Noticing an indentation in your lawn.
Noticing a soggy part of your lawn when it hasn’t rained or snowed.
Causes:
Pouring oil, grease, or other fats down a drain. Running hot water down the drain does not help. Once the grease cools it hardens and sticks to your pipes.
Flushing the wrong items down the toilet. Only toilet paper should be flushed.
Tree roots, broken pipes, and sagging sewer lines.
When you realize you have a clogged sewer line here are a few tips:
Identify your home’s water main and turn off the water. You water shut off valve is located on an outside wall where your water meter is located. This is essential to keeping the problem from worsening.
Call a licensed plumbing professional. This is not a job for a do-it-yourselfer.