When your home’s main sewer line becomes clogged, this can cause a variety of problems including costly damage if sewage backs up into your home. It is then important that you have your sewer line cleaned out as needed in order to ensure that blocks do not form. Yet, many homeowners may wonder how often they should have their sewer line cleaned, and how they will know when their sewer line may need additional inspections and repairs. To help you spot problems early with your sewer line, here is a quick look at how you will know when it is time to have your home’s sewer line cleaned.
How Often Should You Have Your Sewer Line Cleaned?
One of the most common questions homeowners have is how often they should have their sewer line cleaned. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Ultimately, how often your sewer line needs to be serviced will likely depend on the age and condition of your home’s plumbing. If you have not previously had your home’s sewer line cleaned, it may be a good idea to have it inspected by a plumber who can then give you recommendations on how often you should have your sewer line cleaned and serviced. However, it is often recommended to have your sewer line cleaned at least every 18-24 months as a preventative measure, as this can help prevent clogs.
Signs That Your Sewer Line May Need to Be Cleaned or Repaired
Of course, problems can arise which may lead you to require additional sewer line cleanings in between your regular cleanings. Yet, you may find yourself asking how you will know if your sewer line needs to be cleaned. Here are a few of the most common signs that you can be on the lookout for in your home indicating that you may need to have your sewer line cleaned.
Slow Drains Abound
If you notice that a drain is your home is draining slower than normal, or is clogging frequently, then there may simply be a localized plumbing problem close to that drain. However, if you are experiencing problems with slow drains throughout your house, then this is likely indicative of a clog in your main sewer line that is preventing all of your fixtures from draining properly. When this happens, it is important that you have your sewer line professionally cleaned, as products that you buy in stores that claim to remove sewer line clogs contain chemicals that can actually end up damaging your home’s plumbing.
Something Sounds, or Smells, Off
It is important that you always pay attention to the sounds and smells coming from your sink, shower, and bathtub drains. If your fixtures make unusual gurgling sounds as water is going down the drain, this is a sign that a clog is forming somewhere in your sewer line. The sound you are hearing is being caused by water forcing its way around the clog.
If there is a clog in your sewer line, you may also notice unusual odors coming from your sinks and shower drains. Sewage smells coming from your drains indicates a block in your sewer line, and it likely won’t be long before you experience a backup, making it critical that you have your sewer line cleaned as soon as possible.
Water Backs Up Into Different Fixtures
Of course, one of the most obvious signs of a sewer line that needs cleaning is if water backs up in strange places throughout your home. For instance, if you flush your toilet and water comes up through your tub or shower drain, this is a sign of a severe blockage in your sewer line. The block in your sewer line is preventing water from draining properly, which is causing it to back up into other drains.
Knowing when to have your sewer line cleaned is critical in preventing costly damage to your home. Contact us to learn more about sewer line cleaning and how you will know when it is time to have your home’s sewer line cleaned.
