Tag: sewer

How to Fix a Backed-Up Sewer Line

All About Sewer Line Backups 

Backed-up sewer lines get gross in a hurry. Sewer line backups mean water and sewage don’t move out of the house as they should but come back into the home through the toilets and drains. Plumbers can use multiple tools to diagnose the cause of a sewer line backup and fix sewer lines to get water and waste flowing again. Here is a quick guide to dealing with this irritating plumbing problem. 

What Causes Sewage Backups? 

tree rootsA sewer line backup involves a clogged, damaged, or collapsed sewer line stopping water and waste from flowing like it usually does. The result can be wastewater and sewage returning to the home via drains and toilets. A backed-up sewer line occurs for two main reasons, but those reasons can have multiple causes:

  • Blockage or clog: A clog and blockage is a common cause of backups. Blockages can form from many things that shouldn’t go down drains and toilets, like hair, grease, food scraps, and non-flushable materials. Additionally, tree roots can grow into and clog underground lines and cause a backup.
  • Broken or damaged line: A broken or crushed pipe can also deter the water flow and force the water to have nowhere to go but back into the home. Pipes can suffer this damage due to factors like shifting soil, corrosion, age, and wear and tear.

How to Fix a Backed-Up Sewer Line

camera inspection Thankfully, backed-up sewer lines can be fixed by a plumber. Plumbers can use sewer camera inspection to look into the line and determine the cause of the backup, which will influence how it should be fixed. Here are a few methods that may be used when fixing backed-up sewer lines, depending on what caused it:

  • Hydro jet drain cleaning: Water is a powerful tool in the fight against clogs. With hydrojetting, water is sprayed into the pipe at high volume and pressure to clean out the inside of the lines and remove any clogs or buildups.
  • Drain snaking: A drain snake or plumber’s snake is another tool used for clogs. It’s a long cable that goes into the pipe with an end that can break apart blockages. 
  • Trenchless sewer repair: When pipes are damaged or otherwise broken, it can cause sewer backups. Trenchless pipe repair can be used to repair or replace broken pipes by adding an interior epoxy pipe liner or using another trenchless repair method, which is done without major excavation. However, not all pipe damage can be solved this way.

Preventing Backups in Sewer Lines 

Homeowners can also help prevent sewage backups and their messy effects. They should avoid disposing of food in the drains, not pour grease down drains, and avoid flushing anything down a toilet besides waste and toilet paper. These tips will help prevent a major cause of backups: a clogged sewer line.

Homeowners should also have their plumbing and piping inspected regularly as a part of plumbing maintenance. Much of the reason for regular inspections is to catch problems before they get worse and lead to worse issues like backed-up sewer lines. Routine inspections and maintenance give a better chance of finding problems early.

About Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical

Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical is a local family-owned business serving Lansing and the surrounding areas. They are always ready and offer fast response and financing. Call them today for sewer line repair services in Lansing, MI.

Get Ready to Say Goodbye to Sewer System Backups at Home

Water pipe and valve in dirt terrain, featuring metal and blue plastic elements for home services maintenance in Lansing.

Dangers of Sewer System Backups

Sewer system backups are not foreign to many homeowners but they need to be seen as far more serious than a mere annoyance. When your sewer system backs up, liquid and solid waste both back up into your house, entering pipes that were never meant to hold waste. When this happens, it can release toxins and bacteria into your kitchen sink pipes, bathroom sink pipes, even back up into your washing machine!

If you’re smelling something bad coming from your pipes, you’re actually inhaling the bacteria and toxins that are coming up through your pipes from a sewer system backup. As gross as that is, it also poses a significant health hazard that must be remedied as soon as possible, as you really do not want any sewage caused diseases. 

The Impact of Sewer System Backups

sewer system backupEvery pipe in your house connects at some point to a large pipe that drains all of your excess water and waste into the city sewer system. The mainline that leads away from your house is the sewer line.

When there is a blockage anywhere from the pipes which lead into the sewer line or in the sewer line itself, you’re going to be dealing with a sewer system backup. This primarily means that when you flush your toilets, the waste has nowhere to go and will back up into other areas of your plumbing.

Sewage can back up into any pipe connected with the main sewer line including your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and even washing machine connections! Sewer backups are not only harmful to your health but potentially damaging to the rest of your plumbing, you must always prepare for sewer backup emergencies.

Reasons for Sewer System Backups

There are several reasons for clogged sewers and, unfortunately, many of them need a professional to fix. Clogs are the easiest possible reason to fix. When a clog gets trapped in the pipe, it prohibits water and waste from draining into the connecting sewer pipe. A plumber can find the clog and push it through, opening up your pipe to again drain properly.

reasons for sewer system backup

A more complicated reason for sewer system backups is due to tree roots forming inside the pipes. When this happens, water and waste flow can be obstructed or cut off completely. Only a plumber is able to adequately fix this issue and repair work should never be attempted without proper equipment and training.

How to Prevent Sewer Issues

preventing sewer system backupProper maintenance of your plumbing system is the most important thing you can do to prevent clogged drains, pipes, and sewer systems. By having a plumber come and regularly clean your entire pipe system, they’ll be able to prevent tree roots from taking hold inside your pipes.

It is always better to employ steps of prevention than waiting until you’re experiencing drainage issues and need to fix pipes that have roots inside. Once tree roots take ahold of a pipe inside, if left too long, the pipe will need to be replaced altogether.

If you’re experiencing issues due to clogging, there are several steps you can take to ensure your system flows freely. First, be sure you’re only flushing toilet paper down your toilet. Even items listed as flushable shouldn’t be used, as your pipes were not meant to flush anything other than toilet paper. And this is the simple secret to preventing sewer backups. 

Trusted and Reliable Local Plumbers

Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical serves Lansing, MI providing a variety of plumbing routine maintenance services, replacements, and even sewer line repairs. They offer transparent pricing, professional and personal service, and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.