Every drain, fixture, and plumbing-connected appliance in your Glendale, AZ home empties into your sewer line. This lone pipe carts all of your waste and wastewater to an underground septic tank or the municipal sewer main. If it ever clogs or collapses, it will send effluence rushing back into the building. Sewage backups expose residents to dangerous biological and chemical contaminants. They also cause significant property damage. By recognizing the tell-tale signs of an impending backup, you can put plumbers on the job before disaster strikes. The following are seven signs to watch out for.
1. Multiple Clogged or Slow-Moving Drains
It’s not uncommon to have a single clogged or slow-moving drain. Over time, drains in high-use areas can accumulate heavy buildups of debris that inhibit the movement of wastewater. However, having multiple blocked or slow-moving drains at once is a major issue. More often than not, it indicates serious problems along the sewer line. If your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room drains are all moving slowly or not moving at all, give us a call.
2. Foul Drain Odors
Cracked sewer pipes and sewer pipe blockages can fill your home and yard with rank sewer gas. Sewer gas smells like rotten cabbage or rotten eggs. If you detect this smell coming from your sinks, shower pans, or tubs, it may mean that backed-up waste isn’t far behind.
3. Sunken, Sodden Areas In Your Yard
Sewer pipes can develop tiny cracks as they age and dry out. Although small, these openings may prove large enough for tree roots. Trees that abut your sewer line can send out lateral roots that measure just millimeters at their tips. When these roots enter sewer pipes, they take maximum advantage of the available nutrients and moisture, and they often grow exponentially.
This growth blocks sewer pipes and causes original entry points to expand. It also allows blocked wastewater to seep into the surrounding soils. When nearby soils are saturated, escaping waste could leave standing pools of sewage in your yard.
Leaky sewer pipes can also make lawns look verdant. When there’s a sudden proliferation of new growth just above your sewer line, it’s time to have your sewer pipe inspected and repaired.
4. Malfunctioning Appliances
When sewer lines are blocked, dishwashers and washing machines can’t complete their wash or rinse cycles. With wastewater trapped in your sewer pipe and effluence creeping ever closer to the home, your dishwasher and washing machine can’t fully drain. You might have an impending sewage backup if these appliances keep stopping mid-cycle or will no longer turn on.
5. Bubbling or Gurgling Sounds In Toilets and Drains
Bubbling and gurgling noises in your toilets and drains might seem harmless, but they’re common signs of an impending backup. You’re most likely to hear these sounds at night when everyone has gone to bed and no one is actively using your plumbing. These noises mean that trapped or slow-moving wastewater is finally clearing a partial sewer line blockage.
6. Frequent Clogs
Recurring clogs and overflows could mean that your sewer line is too dirty to permit all of your waste. Thick build-ups of soap scum, hair, sediment, sand, and other debris gradually diminish the interior diameter of sewer pipes. With less room to flow through, things like “flushable” wipes and feminine hygiene products can get caught up on rough pipe interiors and other snags.
7. Pest Problems
Cracked sewer lines give rats, mice, and other critters accessible points of entry. They also provide access to a continual water supply. If you have rodent trouble and are having a hard time getting rid of these unwanted guests, you might need sewer line repairs.
What Causes Whole-House Backups?
Whole-house backups occur whenever something obstructs the flow of wastewater away from homes. You or other building residents could be flushing the wrong things down your toilets or putting the wrong things down your drains. Sometimes sewer line blockages are the result of larger issues within the municipal sewer main or connected septic tanks.
Invasive Tree Roots
All trees in your yard should be at least 10 feet away from your sewer line. You can avoid most problems with tree root encroachment by using smart planting strategies and installing physical root barriers. However, weed roots can be just as detrimental to your sewer pipe as tree roots. Thus, you should also have an effective weed control plan.
If you recently used hydro-jetting or rooter service to break up and flush out invasive tree roots, you’ll need to follow this treatment with additional action. Although both services can effectively remove existing obstructions, neither prevents invasive roots from regrowing. Some tree species can regrow their roots within just one month of a hydro-jetting or rooter treatment. For a long-lasting fix, have the damaged pipe section repaired or replaced to block off all entry points.
Slow-Degrading Waste
Never put cooking oil, rendered fats, or grease into your drains. As these things cool, they’ll add to the waste that already lines your pipes. Even if dumping grease down your drain doesn’t clog your kitchen sink, this grease will invariably cause problems in your sewer line as it hardens. The best way to get rid of grease and cooking oils is by cooling them, placing them in sealed containers, and tossing them in the trash.
Sewer Pipe Damage
Some sewage backups are the result of general pipe damage. Heavy build-ups of silt, sand, and sediment can lead to cracks, ruptures, and leaks. You can avoid damage-related backups by regularly cleaning your sewer line and by replacing this pipe before it reaches the end of its lifespan.
Placing heavy equipment on top of your sewer line can crush or offset pipe sections. You should never park a stump grinder, excavator, or backhoe on top of your sewer line. Although these pipes are sometimes buried up to five feet deep, many sewer lines are covered by just 18 to 24 inches of soil.
Municipal Sewer System and Septic Tank Problems
You can also experience a sewage backup if there’s a blockage in the system that your sewer line drains into. If you have a private septic tank, it may be time for septic tank pumping. If your sewer line drains into the municipal sewer system, blockages that lie just beyond your sewer pipe are the responsibility of the city.
What to Do If You Suspect a Whole-House Backup
If your drains smell like rank sewer gas or if they’re blocked or moving slowly, turn all of your water off and contact a plumber. Raw sewage can cause serious skin, eye, and respiratory infections. It’s harmful to both human residents and household pets. You should not attempt to clean a sewage backup on your own or try to troubleshoot the underlying clog.
As a locally operated company, we help homeowners in Glendale, AZ maintain healthy, high-functioning plumbing systems. With over 19 years of industry experience, we provide expert drain cleaning, leak detection, and repiping services. We also offer water heaters, water treatment, and faucet installation. If you think you’re in danger of experiencing a messy, whole-house backup, contact Bumble Bee Plumbing now.
