Leaky Pipes & Dripping Taps

Posted on: 2 August 2017

Regardless of whether your house is connected to the mains sewerage or you rely on a septic tank system, there will always be a main sewer line to allow for safe, quick and efficient disposal of the wastewater exiting your house.

Like the drains installed inside the home, main sewer lines are not immune to clogging problems. At some point, they too can clog up and cause backups in the home. If you are a homeowner, it is important that you know about the common culprits behind clogged residential sewer lines. That way, you can have a clue about what's wrong when you are faced with clogging problems in your residential main sewer line.

Here is a rundown of some common reasons behind clogging problems in residential sewer lines.

Misuse of drains

One of the leading causes of clogging in main sewer lines is misuse of drains installed in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet, laundry room, and other parts of the house. For example, nothing other than human waste and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet drains, but some people turn their toilets into a disposal area for sanitary waste items such as tampons and female sanitary towels, which cannot disintegrate in water. These unwanted waste items can easily become trapped in the sewer line and cause major clogs. Therefore, ensuring that only the right types of waste are allowed to go down all house drains is critical to keeping the main sewer line free of clogs.

Normal wear and tear of pipes

Nothing stays new forever. As the pipes making up the main sewer line get old and rusty, they may easily break open and lead to sewer stoppage. If your sewer pipes have outlived their lifespan, it is best to have them replaced. A plumbing specialist can suggest ideal choices of pipes for your home. Failure to replace deteriorated pipes will result in major clogs, which will cost you plenty of dollars down the line.

Ground movement

Natural movement of the soil can cause sewer line pipes to crack or break, offset pipe joints, or cause a "dip" along the sewer line. When this happens, wastewater will not be able to flow properly, resulting in backups in the home.

The best course of action when you suspect that your main sewer line is clogged is to call for emergency plumbing service. A plumbing expert will know exactly what needs to be done to unclog your main sewer drain and get things flowing properly again.