Most issues that come up in your home are easy to detect early on. If this isn’t the case, they still tend to be something you can see fairly quickly so that you can repair them. One major issue that is difficult to detect is a broken sewer line. For almost all types of drain backups in Downriver Michigan getting a licensed, reputable plumber is needed to repair the problem and get things flowing again. For the main sewer line in your home however, getting help quickly from a licensed plumber is a must because it affects so much of your home.
How to Tell if Your Sewer Line in Downriver Michigan is Broken
Your main sewer line is buried underground, so it’s definitely harder to tell when there’s something wrong with it. Here are a few ways to determine if you possibly have a broken or damaged sewer line. Usually when you notice your drains getting slower and slower to drain is a sign that things are going wrong. Sometimes the difference in a single clogged drain and the clogged sewer line is difficult to determine. You may need to hire a plumber if you notice many drains in your home starting to drain slower. A plumber can inspect the drains and if needed provide video inspection of the main sewer line. With that being said, there are some things you can look for which may indicate a problem with your main sewer line:
- Drains that Clog Easily – Clogs happen. There’s always a chance that some drain in your home will get a little stopped up, but a simple fix usually gets everything working as good as new. If you begin to notice, however, that your toilet, kitchen sink, or shower begin to get clogged up regularly, you likely have a bigger issue at hand. If you notice there are frequent clogs in multiple drains of your home, you also should see this as a sign for a bigger problem. If the water in your home is draining slowly overall, you likely have an obstructed water line.
- Smelly Smells – While you often can’t see a broken sewer line, chances are you will be able to smell it. Professionals say that any detection of a sewer odor in the house is a sure sign that there is a plumbing issue. This could range from a sewer clog to something more serious like a broken pipe. Backups in the line will often push the smelly sewer gas back through the drains, so you’ll be able to smell it more in the house. This indicates a clog in most cases. If the smell is more present outside, you more than likely have a leaking sewer line.
- Soft Lawn Spots – A sewer line can leak due to a break in the line or a total collapse. The most common cause of a leak, though, is a tree root puncturing the line. Sometimes these leaks are harder to detect than usual due to the depth of the line burial, but a soggy lawn could tell you there is a leak. Warmer areas will have more shallow line depths, but any unusual soft spot in the lawn could show you that there is a break or leak in the line underground.
- Slow Moving Drains – Drains that take ages to empty are a sign that the plumbing in your home is not flowing properly. This can be a sign of the sewer line being partially clogged. If you notice more than one drain doing this behavior it can be indicative of a partially blocked sewer line in your home.
What should you do?
If you notice any of these signs, or any combination of them, try to rule out the problems that are simple such as a clogged drain or a broken vent. If these don’t seem to be the culprit for your problems, seek professional help as soon as you can. Get a plumber to take a look so that they can diagnose the problem and you can go about repairing the issues immediately. One of the best plumbers in Downriver Michigan that can help you solve your sewer line issues is Downriver Plumbers. Call them today for help at 734-548-9925. They are a fully licensed and insured plumbing company in Downriver Michigan.
