What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Sewer Drain Leaks and Clogs

Here’s what you need to know about symptoms, diagnosis, and repair of sewer problems.

Sewer lines rarely back up without warning. The problem is preceded by early symptoms and warning signs. If you know those symptoms, you can more easily address problems in the early stages when they are easier to repair.

A single slow-moving or clogged drain typically means a localized clog, but if multiple drains are moving slowly, the causes are likely on the main drain pipe outside of the home. When only the drains in a section of the home are affected, the problem may be on a secondary drainline that connects to the main drain.

Systems in your plumbing prevent sewer gases from backing up and into your home. When the main drain becomes blocked, these systems tend to fail. Your drains and toilets may burp, and give off the smell of sulfur, raw sewage, or rotten eggs. If you smell sewer odors such as these, then you likely have a main sewer line clog.

Sometimes the backup on the main drain line doesn't cause issues indoors. Soggy spots or standing water that smells like sewage can indicate a ruptured pipe from a clog. Sometimes, the line leaks slowly from a clog, which causes the grass to grow greener and more quickly than in surrounding areas.

Aurora Plumbing’s technicians have the skills and tools to determine if your issues are caused by a sewer drain clog or a leak. The plumber can also pinpoint exactly where the problem is occurring with certain diagnostic tools.

A camera helps determine the exact location and cause of the clog or leak. To use this method, a plumber feeds a small camera on a long cable into the pipes. Most cameras are equipped with a system that allows the plumber to know the exact location of the camera and what it is viewing. Once the cause and location is found, the plumber can begin repairs.

Sewer line repair requires access to the damaged pipe for replacement. There are two main methods available for the repair.

A traditional replacement requires digging up your yard and possibly the street to reveal the pipe. The damaged section is then removed and a new section is put into place. The main drawbacks are that traditional replacement can be expensive and it will damage your landscaping. You will need to replace the lawn and any other plants after the work is complete.

Trenchless repair is much less intrusive to your yard or driveway. Aurora Plumbing’s repair technicians first clear the clog. The techs will then either insert a liner into the old pipe to fix any leaks, a process called pipe lining, or they will run a new pipe through the old one using a method called pipe bursting. Trenchless repairs can seem more expensive initially, but you won't have to pay for landscape or street repairs after the line is fixed.  Trenchless repairs also mean less down-time for the homeowner!