A main line drain is the drain that transports waste water from your home to the the sewer mains underground. A main drain clog can lead to raw sewage backing up into your home or yard, and can lead to costly repairs to both the line and your home.

How do I know if I have a clogged main drain?

Listen to your home:

• Gurgling noises in your drains or toilet
• Sewer odor
• Water back up or flooding
• Sewage back up

The most telltale sign of a main line sewer drain clog is water backing up out of the basement floor. Gurgling and bubbling toilets are often a strong sign of a clog as well.

What is a main sewer line clog?

A main line clog will trap all water in your house, so that any water that runs through your system will not exit your property. You will be able to see water creeping back into your home through the lowest point, most commonly the basement. A main line sewer clog will cause your toilet to percolate and water to come up the bathtub anytime you run something through a line in the house.

What is the most common cause of a clogged main line?

Tree roots are the primary cause of a clog in your main sewer line. If you have a newer construction home, it could be caused by paper products in your pipes such as paper towels, thick toilet paper or feminine hygiene products.

Pay attention to the early warning signs that there is a blockage in your line. Gurgling toilets etc are trying to tell you that there is a problem that needs addressing. Take action before it is too late and a root fully blocks your pipes or it can even crush the pipes in your yard.

What can I do?

If you have access to the sewer clean out line, you can open the cap in the yard to release the pressure. You can even remove this cap during a back up and let the water run outside rather than inside the house.

Keep up with regular pipe maintenance. You should fill your sinks once a month and let the water drain out to help keep your pipes clear without the use of harsh chemicals.

If you do have a clog, call one of the technicians at AquaTemp. We will run a drain snake or auger. These can be up to 50 feet long and can easily reach any clog along your pipe system. A drain snake is a metal cable that can flex and bend through your plumbing, find the clog and break it up. If snaking your drain doesn’t work you can opt for a high-pressure hose solution. This often is more effective yet more expensive than a drain snake. It will possibly fix the problem for good rather than needing to re-snake every few months. The solution you need depends on the size and type of clog you have and the age of your home and pipes. One of our professional technicians can help you diagnose the problem and will provide you with the best solution for you.