Welcome! My name is Sally. This is my blog about plumbing. I decided to start writing about plumbing after a very scary experience. I arrived home from work one day only to discover that a pipe burst in my home. When I opened the front door, I saw a torrent of water pouring down the stairs. I panicked and ran next door to my neighbour. Luckily, he used to work as a construction contractor, so he has a lot of experience in dealing with household problems. He helped me to turn off the mains water and helped me to mop up the mess. After this event, I decided I wanted to learn more about the plumbing in my house, so I went to a night school class.
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A clogged kitchen sink is a minor plumbing problem, one that you can usually take care of on your own. But when you have a blocked sewer drain, that is a major plumbing issue that must be handled immediately to prevent a total failure of your sewer system. If you are having trouble with sewage backup or other telltale signs of a blocked sewer drain, here's what you need to know about how to handle the problem.
There Are Obvious Signs -- One of the most common signs of that your sewer drain is blocked or obstructed is when the water in your bathtub takes a long time to empty and you hear a gurgling or sucking sound, which indicates that the water is flowing backwards up into the drain from the main line. Another obvious sign that your sewer drain is clogged is when the water in your toilet constantly backs up. You may also notice a foul odour emanating from your bathtub or sink that is similar to what you would smell if you were standing next to an open sewer.
Your Plumber Will Need To Perform a Sewer Line Video Inspection -- Anytime you have symptoms of a blocked sewer drain, a plumber will have to do a sewer line video inspection to see what's happening in the pipes. This process is done with a sewer video camera, in which a tiny, waterproof fiber optic camera attached to a flexible rod is inserted into the sewer drain and snaked through so that your plumber receives a video image on a monitor. The rod is flexible because it must be able to go around corners within the sewer for a comprehensive view of the line. These cameras are so sophisticated that once they identify the source of the blockage, they can record the depth and exact location in metres of the obstruction.
Tree Roots Are the Most Common Cause -- Many homeowners are surprised to discover that tree roots growing down from trees in their front yard are responsible for blocking sewer drains and causing major problems. This is most often seen in older homes with trees that have existed for many years, in which thick roots grow into the drain pipes and block them, causing water to struggle to flow through. Roots can also grow so large that they burst or crack the pipes, which can lead to a major plumbing repair job. Other causes of sewer drain blockage include paper towels and plastic products. Plumbers typically use a cable with a cutting implement into a blocked sewer drain to clear out the obstruction and restore proper water flow.
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