How to Unblock a Sewer Line
- Determine the cause or source of the clog if possible. ...
- Run hot water through your pipes if you have a partial clog. ...
- Turn off all the water to your home to prevent further buildup. ...
- Locate the sewer cleanout and open it up. This is the entryway to the main sewer line, and is usually situated just outside the front of your house, in ...
How much does it cost to unclog a sewer line?
The national average cost to unclog a main sewer line is between $350 and $650, with most people paying around $475 to clean a mid-sized clog by hydro jetting the main sewer pipe between a house and municipal main line. At the low end of the spectrum, however, you can have a plumber unclog a sewer line using chemicals for $65.
How do you clean out a sewer line?
- Release the pressure. When you first notice the symptoms of a clogged sewer line, turn off the water at the main supply (or street level).
- Chemical drain cleaning. If tree roots are the culprit behind your sewer line clog, you can use chemicals to remove them.
- Mechanical drain cleaning.
- Camera inspection.
How do I know if my sewer line is clogged?
Signs of a Clogged Sewer Line
- Your drains are all running slowly, despite your best efforts to clear them. ...
- Several plumbing fixtures are clogged at the same time. ...
- When you flush the toilet, water backs up into or comes up in the tub or shower. ...
- When you run water in the bathroom sink, the toilet bubbles and gurgles. ...
How to tell if your main sewer line is clogged?
Some of the most common reasons are:
- Broken or damaged pipe
- Tree roots growing into the sewer line
- Repeatedly flushing unsafe products (hygiene products, toys, food, diaper wipes, etc.)
- Grease and oils poured down the kitchen sink
- Multiple clogs in different drains
- Extreme changes in temperature
What Causes a Clogged Sewer Drain Line?
In most cases, particularly in older houses, tree roots can interfere with the smooth operation of your sewage system. Attracted to the warmth and moisture of a sewer line, tree roots creep in through tiny cracks or loose joints in the pipe. Feeding on the plentiful nutrients they find there, the roots grow and create a blockage in the sewer line. Eventually, toilet paper or other debris gets snagged on the roots, further preventing water from flowing through the main sewer drain line.
How Much Does a Sewer Line Cleanout Cost?
The auger is even powerful enough to clean out tree roots from your sewer line. But the cost to have your sewer lines cleaned out can be substantial — it costs $350 to $450 to have your main sewer line cleaned out this way.
Does a Home Warranty Cover Clogged Sewer Line Drain Cleanout?
If you have a home warranty with American Home Shield, you can get plumbing clogs in your home’s main sewer drain lines cleared for only the cost of a Trade Service Fee. Blockages in your lateral drain lines are covered up to 100 feet from the access point. To get home warranty coverage for your blocked sewer drain, you should file a service request with American Home Shield online or over the phone.
What happens if your toilet bubbles?
If the toilet bubbles (gurgles) or the water level in the toilet rises, you may have a clogged sewer line. When your washing machine drains, the toilet overflows or water backs up in the tub or shower. If the toilets are still flushing fine, you probably don’t have a blocked sewer line.
What can clog a sewer line?
Flushing sanitary products, such as paper towels, facial tissues, feminine hygiene products or even extra-thick toilet paper, can also clog your sewer line. However, this is far less often a problem. Assuming these items make it far enough, sewer pipes are typically 6 inches in diameter.
How to get a clogged sewer line out of your house?
If you think your main sewer line is clogged, you can go outside and remove the cap on the main line drain pipe to release the pressure in the system. Be careful and stand to one side while you’re pulling it off — any waste material that has backed up in your home’s plumbing will come spilling out. This should allow your pipes to drain so that you (or a plumber) can get to work removing the clog.
What does AHS mean when it says clogged sewer line?
AHS explains the signs of an issue and when to call in a pro. Clogged drains are a headache for many homeowners, but a clogged sewer line is on a whole other level. When a main sewer line is clogged, it can be difficult or impossible for any waste water, whether black or grey, to escape your home’s plumbing system.
What does it mean when a plumbing vent is clogged?
A clogged plumbing vent means that air is not getting inside the drainage system and as a result fixtures will drain slowly.
Why do sewer lines clog?
Unlike water which is supplied to your house at pressure, wastewater from your drains is carried out purely with the help of gravity. That is why drain lines and sewer lines clog easily compared to water pipes.
Why do you need to open the cleanout cap?
Since there will be a water column inside the sewer line, pressure will have built up and that is why you need to open the cleanout cap/plug slowly to release it.
Why is my shower draining slower than usual?
Are your fixtures (toilets, sinks, showers and washing machines) draining slower than usual? You most likely have a clogged sewer line. Some clogs start as partial ones, which mean they only allow a little amount of wastewater to pass through.
How to feed cable down sewer line?
Start feeding the cable down the sewer line via the sewer cleanout. It is important to make sure that you are pushing the cable in the sewer line and not back to the house. This is usually hard to see since the cleanout is usually full of water and hard to see.
What to do when drains are backing up?
The first thing you should do when you notice drains backing up is to turn off water to the house and avoid using all the water fixtures until the sewer line is unclogged . Sewer backups expose your family to health hazards which you should avoid.
Where is the plumbing vent on a house?
It is connected to the main drain stack just above the fixture on the highest floor level. As you know the main drain stack is connected to the sewer line, so the plumbing vent gives you direct access to the sewer line.
How Do You Unclog A Sewer Line?from atlantisplumbing.com
The answer to this question depends entirely on the specific problem that is causing the clog.
What Is The Main Sewer Line?from newflowplumbing.com
The main sewer line is the pipe that runs underneath your home, connecting all of your drain lines, carrying waste to the city connection. The sewer line is split into parts: the upper and lower laterals.
How Do You Unclog A Sewer Line Without A Snake?from atlantisplumbing.com
The first thing you must do is to stop running water and stop flushing the toilet. Adding water to the problem will not help the situation. If you want to take it an extra step you can turn off the main water supply to your house.
How Much Does a Sewer Line Cleanout Cost?from ahs.com
The auger is even powerful enough to clean out tree roots from your sewer line. But the cost to have your sewer lines cleaned out can be substantial — it costs $350 to $450 to have your main sewer line cleaned out this way.
What to do if auger doesn't unclog sewer line?from ahs.com
If the auger or water jet doesn’t unclog the sewer line, you can request a visual (camera) inspection to determine what's causing the blockage. The miniature camera can reveal cracks and breaks in the sewer pipe, as well as problems in the line that may require your local sanitation department's attention.
How to clear a clogged drain?from mytunbridgewells.com
An enzyme-based drain cleaner is one of the most effective ways to clear a clogged pipe in the house. The enzyme breaks down the bacteria and organic matter in the sewer and clears out the pipes. You can buy this at any hardware store; it is a good way to unclog your sewer pipes.
How to get rid of a clogged sewer pipe?from mytunbridgewells.com
What you need to do is take a bucket and place it just below the clogged pipe and then turn on some of the hottest water you can stand and let it run until it clears up the clog. When you’re done just make sure that the room is ventilated so that all of that running sewer steam doesn’t make everything in your home smell bad.
Signs That You Have A Main Sewer Line Clog
The first thing you need to do is figure out if you actually have clogged sewer lines. There are a few telltale signs that this is the case:
Main Sewer Line Clogs: What Causes Them?
Now that you know how to tell if you have a main sewer line clog let’s talk about what causes them. There are a few different things that can cause a blockage in your sewer line, including:
How To Prevent Future Sewer Line Clogs
The best way to avoid a clogged sewer line is to be proactive and take steps to prevent problems before they happen. Here are a few things you can do:
How To Unclog Main Sewer Line Without A Cleaning Snake
If you don’t have a cleaning snake, there are still ways to clear a clog without one. Here are a few methods you can try:
