It’s safe to say drain and sewer cleaning is a common service for residential and commercial plumbing technicians. After all, given the usage they receive on a daily basis, it’s not difficult to see how blockages and clogs could develop over time. Furthermore, as you could probably guess, blockages and clogs can vary in terms of severity. With that being the case, the urgency and timeliness in which repairs are needed can also vary too! However, it is worth noting that we never recommend homeowners or facility managers procrastinate on the repairs. Unsurprisingly, plumbing issues don’t typically resolve themselves on their own and will often just get worse the longer they sit unfixed.
With that brief opening in-place, we can now introduce the topic of this week’s blog post. As we mentioned in the section above, blockages and clogs can vary in terms of just how severe they are. This could go from a small clog where one drain seems to be running slower than normal all the way up to a serious blockage resulting in a back-up into your home. In either situation (and anything in-between too), it would be in your best interest to get the issue fixed sooner rather than later. Throughout this blog post, we’ll break down the steps you should take upon recognizing a main line backup!
Before we get into all of the fun stuff associated with main line backups, we would first like to welcome anyone stopping by our plumbing blog for the first time. In addition to tackling new construction projects, our team at Stine-Nichols Plumbing also offers residential and commercial service. And as you might expect, a key part of any residential and commercial plumbing service company is the ability to complete sewer and drain cleaning projects. Not to mention, also repair broken or collapsed sewer lines too! For those who live in or near the Kansas City area and are needing help with a sewer/drain line project, you’re welcome to give us a call at (816) 348-3481.
Do you actually have a main line backup?
To kick off this week’s blog post, we’ll talk about answering the question of whether or not you actually have a main line backup, in the first place. After all, as we mentioned above, sewer line and drain line issues can vary in regards to the overall severity. So…how do you know if you have a main line backup?
Our first sign of a potential issue with your main line is whenever you notice multiple drains that are either slower than normal or clogged. While a backup might not be occurring at this exact moment, there’s a chance it could be right around the corner. Conversely, if you just have one drain running slow, the issue is likely tied to that specific fixture/drain line. To take this point one step further, when the clog gets more severe, that is when you’ll see the actual main line backup take place. Whether it be the bad smells, strange noises from the drains or water coming back up the drains, there are a few easy signs of a main line backup. If you haven’t acted on the situation by this point, we strongly recommend getting your local plumber out right away. Not only is this a major problem (that won’t resolve itself on its own), but it can also be a safety risk too!
What causes main line backups?
It’s not hard to see how a main line backup isn’t the prettiest of sights! Before we get into the actual repair process, we’ll first review what causes a main line backup to occur. As you can tell based on the previous section, a main line backup is an issue with the main sewer line itself. Whether that be a blockage formed, broken line or anything else, this is a plumbing issue that can be categorized as an emergency. Here are a few of the more common culprits behind a main line backup:
Especially in older homes with large trees in the front yard, tree root infiltration can be a real problem for your main sewer line. Tree roots only need the slightest of openings before they find their way in, then utilizing the water inside as moisture to keep growing! What if the sewer line pipe itself were to deteriorate? After all, no material is built to last forever and sewer lines will eventually require repairs or replacement. It is worth pointing out that some materials are better than others for sewer lines, just as some materials used to be more common back in the day and have since been phased out. Another potential cause of a main line backup would be clogs that accumulate over time, largely due to items that shouldn’t be put down the drains (grease, wipes, etc). Lastly, before we continue on, a final possibility would simply be an improper installation or repair of the existing sewer line. If there is a problem here and not everything was installed correctly, problems could arise!
Find a local plumbing company to fix the issue.
Now that you know what a mainline backup looks like and what causes it, we can now break down how you can fix it and make this a worry of the past! Unsurprisingly, this is not a project that we recommend turning into a DIY job. With that being the case, you’re going to want to find a reliable plumbing company that can get everything back working like normal. With there being an issue with the main line, there are a couple of routes they could initially take. They could try cabling the line to get everything functioning again. However, depending on the state of the line, this may not last as a solution. After that, a second step would involve completing a sewer line camera inspection. This will provide your plumber with an inside look at what exactly is going on inside the line and will be extremely helpful in formulating a plan of attack for the repair process. You’ll be able to evaluate the current condition and locate where in the line the issue resides. Being able to accurately locate the problem spot will save time and money on getting it fixed. In the end, every sewer line issue can be a little bit different, so there’s definitely value in having a local plumbing pro that you trust and is able to provide you with an accurate depiction of the situation and give options on how to resolve it.
Experiencing a Main Line Backup? Give Us a Call!
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we completely understand how a main line backup can be a scary plumbing issue to be faced with. After all, it entails sewage coming back into your home or commercial facility, as opposed to the other way around! In any case, when this happens, it can definitely be nice to have a local plumber that you can call to provide reliable AND timely service. I’m going to guess just about everyone would want this particular plumbing problem taken care of ASAP!
From standard drain cleaning to sewer line camera inspections, sewer line replacements and so on, we have you covered for all things related to drain and sewer lines. Fill out the form HERE or call us at (816) 348-3481 to speak with a member of our team.