As many homeowners have unfortunately experienced, a sewer system backup can lead to a messy and expensive home disaster. Thankfully, significant damage and trouble can be avoided if you are able to recognize the signs that your sewer drain is all clogged up.According to the sewer system and drainage pros at Victoria’s DrainScope, here are four warning signs that can alert you to a backup in your home’s sewer system:
1) Multiple clogged drains
Having just one clogged drain usually signifies a problem with that particular drain rather than with your home’s entire sewer system. Two drains may also be a coincidence, but should definitely spur you on to look for other signs. Multiple clogged drains throughout the house almost certainly indicate that there is a sewer backup which is affecting all of them. Toilets will usually be the first and the most severely affected fixtures, with tubs and showers following closely behind.
2) Telltale fixture malfunctions
Apart from draining slowly or not at all, there are a few other telltale fixture malfunctions that could indicate a backed up sewer. These include:
– Water coming out of the tub or shower drain when the toilet is flushed.
– Seeing either bubbles come out of the toilet drain or the water level in the toilet rising when you run the sink nearest to the toilet.
– The toilet overflowing or backing up into the shower or tub when the washing machine is running.
3) Foul odors coming from your drains
Just as multiple drain clogs are a good indication of a sewer backup, so is a foul odor coming from more than one drain. If your sewer line is broken or blocked and the sewage has nowhere to go, then it will remain in your home’s sewer system and the smell will rise up through your drains. Coupled with the signs above, a foul odor definitely means that something is going on.
4) Water in your main line clean out
A great way to visually confirm a sewer system backup is by checking your home’s main line clean out. Not all homes have them, but, if yours does, then checking it is the best way to confirm your suspicions. If you remove the cap from your main line clean out and water is either standing or flowing out of the pipe, then you know your sewer system needs attention.
What to Do When You Have a Sewer System Backup
If you suspect that your Victoria home has a sewer backup, then you should take action and make sure that family members and pets stay away from affected areas. Turn off your central air conditioning and heating unit (as this will prevent sewer debris from entering your floor vents), and contact the residential drainage professionals at Drainscope.
A sewer system backup is a plumbing emergency that you shouldn’t wait to get taken care of. DrainScope will make sure to diagnose and fix the issue as quickly as possible, keeping your home and your family safe.
