Blog

As plumbing experts in Rockville, MD and the Washington D.C. area, we know there are some problems many homeowners want to try to fix themselves. Leaky faucets and clogged bathroom sinks or toilets are common do-it-yourself projects. We also know that a clogged sewer line or backed up sewer drain is not a problem you want to ignore.

Your home’s sewer system starts with one main sewer line. Several branches of pipes extend from this main line to tubs, toilets, sinks and other drainage sources around your home. The main sewer line transports the waste from your home to the main sewer system and eventually to the water treatment plant.

A clog in your main sewer line can create an expensive and messy problem. Here are six signs that you have a clogged sewer main and need to call a plumber in the DMV right away:

1. Sluggish Drains and Toilets. If you suspect a sluggish drain is potentially being caused by a clog at the sewer line, use another drain or toilet at the lowest level of the home. If other drains are running fast, you can likely unclog the slow drain at the top with a snake or plunger.
   
   
2. Gurgling. The main sewer line should be able to accommodate most of your home’s drainage needs. If you hear gurgling in the toilet when the washing machine is running, it’s a sure sign of a potential sewer line problem.
   
   
3. Water Backing Up in Your Toilet or Sink. If you flush the toilet and see water coming up in a different area of the house, there’s probably a problem with the sewer line, since the draining pipes connect closer to the main line.
   
   
4. Wet Floor Drains. You may have floor drains in your basement, laundry room or attached garage. If you notice moisture collecting in these areas, it’s a potential sign that water isn’t flowing well to the sewer main, but not fully clogged.
   
   
5. Bad Smells. Found odors coming from your drains indicate that wastewater is not flowing easily out of your pipes. If sewage is sitting in your pipes, the smell will be bad but not dangerous.
   
   
6. Flooded Yard. Sewer lines are buried several feet underground. If these pipes leak or break, you might not initially notice a problem in your home. If there’s standing water in your yard and a funky smell, there may be a problem under the ground.

What Makes Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement the Better Option?

Traditional sewer line replacement requires digging up your yard, which most homeowners would unsurprisingly prefer to avoid. When given the option, they nearly always choose the faster and less invasive sewer line repair or replacement option. Trenchless sewer line replacement involves inserting a new sewer line through the existing damaged pipe. Instead of having to trench up the whole pipe, tearing up your yard, driveway or hardscaping in the process, a small hole can be made so the pipe threading machine can reach the existing sewer line.

Although this method does use more advanced technology than traditional trenching, it’s inevitably far cheaper. You don’t need to pay for the laborious process of having your yard and walkways torn up, and the process is completed much more quickly. There will also be far less repair required afterward. No need to completely redo your yard, driveway or walkways that were damaged or destroyed by the trenching process.

What to Do If You Suspect a Problem With Your Sewer Line

If you notice any of the signs above, you need to contact a professional plumber like Home Air Services. We can make sure there isn’t a problem in one of the pipes leading up to the main line, and then we’ll determine how to solve the problem. Solutions range from cleaning out the main line and removing debris to replacing the entire sewer line.

Click here to find out more about our drains and sewer expertise or call (301) 585-8100 and to schedule a consultation.