MAIN SEWER CLOGS: CAUSES, WARNING SIGNS & REPLACEMENT OPTIONS

All of the plumbing fixtures, drains, and pipes in your home are connected to the biggest (and most important) piece of plumbing in your entire home is the main sewer line.

Between improper use of these fixtures, drains, and pipes and many other outside factors, the main sewer line can take a beating over time. Eventually, the main sewer line can become clogged (or even collapse) to the point of needing serious repair or even replacement. This wear-and-tear can turn into a headache that you don’t need!

Knowing what causes sewer lines to clog and the warning signs to look out for can help prevent you from ever having to deal with a major repair or replacement.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES OF A CLOGGED SEWER LINE?

Almost every homeowner has run into the unfortunate situation of having a clogged drain or a slow-running sink or bathtub. While a single clog can be a pain, it’s typically easy to fix.

However, what happens if all the drains in your home begin backing up at once?

It could be a sewer drain clog. The repair or replacement of an entire sewer line (or even just a section) is sometimes required when drain cleaning efforts don’t work. Here are the primary indicators that a repair or replacement procedure is required:

1. Severe Pipe Damage

When sewer pipes are broken or ruptured, the sewage won’t be able to properly drain through the system—leading to immediate and frequent backups. Common causes of sewer pipe damage include:

• Sewer pipe rupture due to shifting soil, settling, increased traffic on the ground above, or use of heavy construction equipment above ground.

• Corrosion of an older pipe, causing the pipe to break or collapse.

• Leaking joints where the seals between sections of pipe have broken, allowing water and sewage to escape.

2. A Sagging Sewer Line

While this is out of a homeo