More than 1.4 million American households report cases of sewer systems failures every year.
Drainage blockage and the recurrence of clogs are not only frustrating but also expose the entire family to numerous health-related hazards.
In the long-haul, clogs in your home’s main sewer line can lead to costly plumbing repairs.
The main sewer line in your home connects all the other minor sewer lines.
Problems with the main sewer line can affect your sinks, bathrooms, and toilets functionality.
If you’ve been experiencing nasty backups, it’s time to learn how to clear a main sewer line clog.
Read on to find out how to unclog the main service sewer line in your house.
Signs You May Have a Main Sewer Line Clog
It’s critical to understand the signs of a main sewer line clog.
This will ensure that you avoid dealing with the signs and focus on the actual cause of the blocks.
So, what are the main signs of a main sewer line clog?
Bubbling Toilets
Have you been experiencing bubbling or gurgling in your toilet’s system in recent times?
This is the surest indicator that your main sewer line may be experiencing trouble.
A main sewer line block often forces the water back up into the drains causing an unprecedented bubble up in the toilet.
Toilet Leakages
It’s not wise to ignore water seepages at the base of your toilet.
In most cases, this is a sign of probable main sewer clogs.
Toilet leakages may also be an indication of broken flanges, which may eventually cost you an arm and a leg.
Slow Drains or Overflows
A severe clog on the primary sewer system may cause multiple slow drains in most of the interconnected sewers.
Slow drains may also lead to instances where the showers and the tubs back up at the same time.
This is a clear sign that your main sewer line is not functioning correctly.
Tips on How to Clear a Main Sewer Line Clog
Could you be wondering how to clear a main sewer line clog?
Here are some of the critical steps that are useful when unclogging your main sewer line.
Begin By Undertaking a Comprehensive Diagnosis
The best place to begin when undertaking central sewer line repairs should be with a complete diagnosis.
Most times, it is safer to engage a sewer line specialist during the diagnosis phase.
This approach allows the specialist to evaluate the main sewer line before concluding on the actual state of the system.
Once the assessment is done, it’s easy to conclude on the actual extent of the damage. A diagnosis gives you a clear direction on the measures to take.
Loosen the Drain Pipe Cap
The next step, when dealing with clogs along the main sewer line, should be to loosen up the drainpipe caps.
The small pipe cap is around 10 to 12 inches and often works to reduce the extent of spillage when the valves are opened.
Once the drain cap is loose enough, allow it to stay for a few seconds.
The Next Step Should be to Remove the Cap
The reason for the apparent focus on the cap is to allow build-up to drain out thoroughly.
Most clogs on the main water sewer tend to cause significant build-up within the system.
As soon as the cap is entirely removed, it’s easy to drain the system off any water before you can do anything else.
Ensuring that the drain is empty reduces the risk of damages to the property due to water spills.
A fully-drained primary sewer system allows for a more straightforward process when unclogging the mainline.
Before You Proceed to Clean the Main Sewer System Understand the Cause
At this point, it’s easy to clean up the entire system and get rid of any debris that may be blocking the sewer line.
Many reasons may cause a sewer line to clog.
The decision on the best technique to use when cleaning your sewer should depend on the actual cause of the blockage.
Tree roots are the most prevalent causes of the main sewer clogs.
When tree roots grow into the sewer system pipes, it’s highly likely that the sewer will develop problems.
Most times, such tree roots may eventually cause a total blockage of water in the system.
The other common reason why your primary sewer system may experience blockage is due to the accumulation of foreign objects.
Such debris may be anything from stone boulders to accumulated mud.
The toilet system also often ends up contributing to the clogging in the primary sewer system due to the accumulation of thick tissue paper.
Other probable reasons for the clogging of your main sewer supply may be the accumulation of feminine hygiene products. These products include sanitary towels.
Either of these reasons may be the cause of the extent of trouble in your central sewer system.
You may have two options to choose from when undertaking the final phase of the unclogging process.
Choose the Best Unclogging Technique
Most of the traditional main sewer lines unclogging techniques have been ineffective in their capacity to clean the sewer system thoroughly.
For a long time, the use of the snaking method has been useful in dealing with clogged bathrooms, kitchen, and the main sewer drains.
The snake technique uses the snake or the auger to break out the clog.
Most times, this option leads to unsatisfactory results considering that the clogs may include boulders and tree roots.
Augers may lack the force or pressure necessary to push such heavy components.
Over the years, most plumbing experts have realized the ineffectiveness of the snaking option when dealing with tough clogs such as tree roots.
The alternative, yet highly effective option is the use of the pressure jet.
You have the option of using either hot or cold water jetters to unclog the main sewer line.
The main advantage of a jet over a snake is the optimum cleaning pressure, which makes it easy to drive away the most stubborn clogs or debris.
A Blocked Main Sewer Line Can Be the Cause of Untold Frustrations
Nothing is more frustrating than having to deal with a faulty sewer system.
Using the toilets, the kitchen sinks, or the bathtubs suddenly becomes impossible which may spell trouble.
The worst part is that these clogs are often due to stubborn debris that require optimum pressure to remove.
While you can handle most minor clogs through various DIY options, you may wonder how to clear a main sewer line clog where massive boulders or tree roots are the cause.
Well, all you need is a hot or cold jet, and you can kiss those sewer line frustrations goodbye.
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