3 Signs Your Sewer Line Needs Repair

Sewer line damage is not a problem any homeowner should ignore. Repairing damaged sewer lines can be an expensive proposition, if you let the signs of damage go on for too long without fixing the problem.

Besides being an expense, sewer line damage can lead to serious health and safety problems for you and your family. In extreme cases, damaged sewer lines can result in contaminated groundwater from sewage that does not properly drain away, or worse flooding of your home.

The following signs of potential problems with your sewer line are certainly not exhaustive. It is entirely possible that you could have a sewer line problem even if you do not notice any of the issues described below in your home. If you are experiencing any of these issues in your home, do not delay in calling a licensed professional in the Murrieta area to inspect your sewer line and determine if there is any damage that must be repaired.

1. Unusually Slow Water Drainage from Your Sink or Shower

Pay attention as the water drains from your sink and shower on a daily basis. If the water appears to be draining unusually slowly from your sink or shower, this could be an indication that there is a blockage in the drainage pipe. On a temporary basis, you may be tempted to use store bought cleaning products as a quick fix to the drainage problem. But, as a doctor would say, this quick fix only addresses the symptoms, not the real root of the problem. If you try to fix a slow draining sink or shower with some cleaning liquid, then you may actually be masking a more expensive and problematic issue with your plumbing. Another concern with using cleaning products to fix a slow draining sink or shower without knowing the root of the issue is that the cleaning solution could cause an already weakened pipe to disintegrate even more and lead to an ultimately bigger problem and more damage.

In extreme cases, the water may actually come back up the pipe instead of exiting out the drain. If this happens, then before even attempting to understand the cause of the issue, you would be best to contact a licensed, experienced plumber to inspect the sink or shower in person.

2. Strange Sounds Around Your Pipes or Unpleasant Smells

This should be one of the most obvious signs to notice in figuring out whether you are experiencing a problem with your sewer line drainage. It goes without saying that waste makes smells, so if you notice extremely unpleasant odors around the bathroom, this is likely a sign that waste is not draining properly from your toilet and that you may have a problem with your sewer line.

Along the same lines, if you happen to hear any clanking sounds when you see water draining down the sink or shower, this could be a sign that you have waste leaking out of your pipes. Catching these issues early is important because it is much easier and less expensive to repair a simple leak in your pipes than handle an actual emergency with sewage drainage, if a small problem is left unattended for too long.

3. An Increase in Pest Problems Around Your Home and Yard

You may not immediately hear or smell any problems with waste being eliminated from your pipes, but this doesn't mean pests won't catch on. If you  notice mice, rats or bugs around your home more than usual, this could be an indication of sewage backup and a failure of waste to drain properly. These pests are naturally attracted to the waste backup, so you want to be more proactive than simply setting mouse traps if you notice pests lurking around your house. This is especially true if you also have an inkling about noticing any of the other signs of sewer line problems described above. In addition, if you notice soggy patches in your yard, then this might indicate a failure of sewer lines to drain properly, and it is likely that the unwelcome pests will be drawn to these areas where waste may collect as well.

Typically, homes will show more than one sign that there is an issue with the sewer line drainage, so be alert to notice multiple symptoms of a potentially serious plumbing problem. In fact, the odds of actually having a sewer line problem are much higher if you are experiencing more than one of the problems described above at the same time.

As you can see, sewer line problems are not an isolated issue and have the potential to bring disease-ridden pests to your home and lead to water contamination. These are serious health issues that could affect your family, so investing in plumbing repair early on is extremely prudent.

While dealing with plumbing issues in Murrieta, especially if they are a full blown emergency, is never a pleasant task, you can save yourself money, headaches and a much bigger mess by having a licensed plumber examine a problem when you first notice it and before it causes residual damage.

For quality services in your Trinity or Murrieta, FL home, call Roman Plumbing at (727) 858-3412.