No one wants to face the frustration of repairing (or worse, replacing) their sewer line. Even though most sewer lines have an average lifespan of 50 years or more, the current average age of homes in the U.S. is 48-years-old, which means lots of sewer lines are nearing their final days.
Regardless of the age of your home, keep an eye out for these five unfortunate signs of sewer line and plumbing problems:
- Visible Water Damage
- Various Toilet Water Levels
- A Flooded and Smelly Yard
- A Persistent Clog
- Multiple Clogs in Your Home
Contact Green Group today for any plumbing problems you are experiencing in Nashville or surrounding areas. We provide both residential and commercial plumbing services!
Visible Water Damage
While unpleasant to think about, water damage in your ceiling, wall, or floor could be the direct result of a leaking sewer pipe. Even though the pipes transporting the waste water from your home to the sewer or septic system are made of steel and cast iron, they can still corrode, leak, and even crack.
Water damage from a leak will discolor your floors and ceilings, cause mold and damp odors, and raise your water bill.
Various Toilet Water Levels
A symptom of a troublesome sewer that might be more difficult to spot is various toilet water levels. More often than not, a toilet’s water levels are fairly consistent and return to the same level following a flush. A more-full or nearly-empty toilet bowl should alert you that something is amiss, especially if you have attempted to unclog the toilet, haven’t been using the toilet, or the toilet’s water levels vary with each use.
A Soggy and Smelly Yard
Another clear sign you might have a broken or burst sewer pipe? Your yard is soggy, flooded, foul-smelling, or all three. If your sewer line is close to the surface of the ground, the water from the damaged or leaking sewer pipes will quickly rise and become visible in your yard. You might even be able to smell it before you see it.
You will likely know it when you smell it, but a sewage clog or leak tends to smell like rotten eggs, which is evidence of hydrogen sulfide (sewage gas).
A Persistent Clog
A persistent clog is also something to watch out for regarding your sewer line. Your sewage lines are meant for toilet paper, human waste, and water, and anything else can lead to persistent blockages. (Think paper towels, feminine products, or trash.) Foreign objects can not only be the culprits behind persistent clogs, but also cause significant damage to your sewer lines, such as burst pipes or sewer back-ups.
Just know this: Drain cleaning agents won’t be able to dislodge foreign objects. You will have to call a plumber!
Multiple Clogs in Your Home
Speaking of clogs, while a single clogged toilet, sink, or shower drain should not be reason to panic, more than one clogged drain throughout your home is a telltale sign of trouble brewing. If you’re experiencing multiple clogs, the real issue might be sewer draining difficulties, which could eventually lead to water backing-up and seeping into your home.
Take this as your queue: Call a Green Group plumber to inspect your main sewage line!
