Is your sewer line backing up? It is never pleasant, especially when you don’t know what to do or who to call to help. For many homeowners, it seems like it happens at the most inconvenient times (not that there is ever a good time for a sewer back-up). Sometimes, you can anticipate one coming or can prevent it, and other times, it becomes and emergency that requires sewer drain cleaning.
A sewer line back-up is caused by water and waste coming back into the home, usually through a floor drain in the basement or lowest level bathroom toilet or shower. The sewage isn’t able to exit to the city sewer main because there is a blockage in the sewer line that runs from your house to it, so, it comes back into your home. It is dirty and unpleasant and can cause significant damage to your property.
This is why it’s important to know when you need a sewer line cleaning and what to do about it.
Warning Signs
There are times your sewer line may back up without warning. This is usually because the line has been slowly clogging over time and it simply can’t handle any more. Other times, you may experience gurgling in the toilet, see water or waste residue near a floor drain, or hear funning sounds coming from drain lines when the washing machine is being ran.
Washing machines dump a lot of water down the drains quickly, so if you hear sounds in the drains when it runs, or you see water coming up through a drain, it is likely there is a sewer line clog that is causing it. Turn off your washer and call a specialist for a sewer drain cleaning before you have water and waste coming back into your home.
How to Prevent a Sewer Back Up
One of the most common causes of a sewer back up is the accumulation of tree roots in the sewer line. While tree roots are fine enough to infiltrate sewer pipe joints, when they grow uncontrolled, they can completely close the line. They can also act like a strainer, allowing water to pass through their growth while catching paper, feminine products, and other materials, forming an even greater clog.
To prevent this from happening, some home and/or business owners opt for a regular preventive maintenance sewer cleaning. The frequency of these cleaning will be dependent on how quickly roots impact the line. For businesses, this could mean cleanings could be as often as monthly or as infrequently as twice a year. For homeowners, you could do a cleaning every 6 months, to every other year.
Reducing Damage
If you are noticing signs of an imminent sewer back up, call to get a preventative maintenance sewer drain cleaning done. A reputable company will typically offer a work guarantee that the line won’t back up for a certain amount of time when they’ve cleared it of tree roots.
When you have an active sewer line back-up, you can prevent further damage by not using your plumbing or waste systems. This means not using your sinks, showers, toilets, washing machine or dish washer until the line has been cleared. Failure to do so will cause the additional waste to also back up.
When (and Who) to Call
Because you are not able to run water or use the facilities during a sewer line back up, it is important to call an emergency plumber who can come 24/7/365 to clean your line. Sewer drain cleaning specialists understand the importance of getting your line cleared and will come night, day, weekend or holiday to make sure you are taken care of.
Find a reputable drain cleaning company who doesn’t charge extra for afterhours service, who offers a service guarantee and is well rated with the BBB.
Garvin’s Sewer Service has been providing sewer drain cleaning services for over 75 years in Denver and the surrounding areas. Give us a call today at 303-571-5114 if you have a sewer line back-up or are looking to prevent the inconvenience of one. An employee answers the phone and can be dispatched to you 24/7/365 with NO overtime charges ever.
