Your main sewer line is responsible for carrying waste away from your home’s plumbing fixtures, including your sinks, showers, bathtubs, and toilets. Since much of your home’s plumbing, including the main line, resides below the ground, it can be tough to recognize when an issue is present. However, there are three common warning signs that your main line might be clogged. Take a look:
Sign #1: Slow-Draining Sinks
When water takes longer than usual to drain from your sink or bathtub, a clog is the most frequent culprit. Sometimes, the clog is localized to your sink itself, and may be found a few inches below the sink’s surface. So how can you tell if your clog is below the surface or within the main sewer line? Clogs in the main sewer line almost always affect many areas of your home at the same time, so if you’re only experiencing a slow-draining sink or tub and the remainder of your home’s plumbing seems fine, the issue may just be with one fixture. To be sure, it’s best to reach out to a professional Westminster, MD plumber.
Sign #2: Water Backing Up
Slow-draining plumbing fixtures are one thing, but when wastewater begins to back up in your sink, bathtub, or toilet without you having used the fixture or turned the water on, your main sewer line is likely to blame. A gurgling sound may also be heard coming from the pipes below the surface. Your home’s plumbing system branches out from the main sewer, and each line goes to a different fixture. If you notice the bathtub backing up but the toilet is functioning as normal, the issue may be confined to an individual sewer line. If multiple or all of the plumbing fixtures in your home are experiencing issues simultaneously, however, there’s a good chance the problem is originating from your main sewer line.
Sign #3: Bubbling Water from Plumbing Fixtures
Another sign that your main sewer line is clogged is water bubbling. As water flows into your pipes, air is pushed through along with it. The same is true for the wastewater that leaves your home. When there’s a blockage in the pipe or main line, positive pressure can build up and cause water bubbles to come up into your sink, tub, or toilet. When your plumbing fixtures are draining slowly and you notice a bubbling sound or see bubbles coming out from the drain in the standing water, your main sewer line most likely has a blockage.
Looking for a Residential Plumber in Westminster, MD?
Michael Runk Plumbing and Heating has been in business for over two decades and specializes in providing fast, affordable residential plumbing services to homeowners in Westminster and throughout Maryland. Whether you’re experiencing signs of a clog or your plumbing simply needs a routine inspection, we’re here for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.