Sewer cleanouts are important for easy Houston plumbing repairs when you have a blocked sewer line. Sewer lines can become clogged for a variety of reasons, but outdoor clean out lines allow your plumber to remove the clog and look for signs of other damage. Let’s talk about clean out lines, sewer line clogs, and what they mean for you as a homeowner.
When You Need Houston Plumbing Repairs for Sewer Blockages
There are many reasons why you may need to call a plumber for a sewage blockage. Sewage blockages are a major problem with your plumbing system. Therefore, you want to get Houston plumbing repairs as soon as possible if you think you have a clog in your sewer line. Remember, homeowners are responsible for maintaining and repairing sewer lines that lead from their home to the municipal line.
Signs of a Sewer Line Clog
Of course, it’s not always easy to know when you have a clog in the sewer line. Here are some signs of a sewer blockage:
- Toilet bowls fill up when you run the sinks
- Multiple drains are clogged in your home
- Toilets won’t flush
- Toilets gurgle
- Sewage backs up from the drain
- Foul odors throughout your home
When something clogs your home’s sewer line, it means that wastewater can’t make it to the city line. This means that the water that goes down the drains in your home has nowhere to go. Eventually, the clog will likely cause sewage backups in your home, which releases contaminated water, waste, and other debris into your home. So, if you notice any signs of a sewer blockage, call our plumbers for help.
What Causes Sewer Line Clogs?
There are many things that can cause a clog in the sewer line. For instance, if you regularly send unsuitable things down the drain, like grease, tampons, or paper towelsv. These aren’t meant to go down drains or be flushed, as neither your home’s plumbing system nor the city’s sewage system are designed to handle these types of materials. These things can easily cause a clog in your plumbing, including in the main sewer line for your home. Save yourself on the expense and hassle of Houston plumbing repairs by making sure you and the whole family know what can and can’t go in drain lines.
Also, major damage to the sewer pipes can also cause a blockage. If the line is cracked from corrosion or other types of damage, then it can allow dirt and debris into the line and cause a blockage.
Tree roots are another common cause of sewer blockages. Roots can grow into the lines and cause them to break, blocking wastewater from traveling to the municipal line.
In some cases, a sagging sewer line may also be to blame for blockages. If there’s a change in the soil, it may allow the pipe to move and sag, which makes the line much more vulnerable to clogs.
Clean Outs Help with Houston Plumbing Repairs for Clogged Sewer Lines
Clean out lines allow your Houston plumbing company easy access to the sewer lines for your home. Most homes have at least one clean out line, which looks like a small piece of pipe with a cover on top, typically found in your yard. They allow your plumber to easily check for a sewer clog and clean out the blockage.
What is a Clean Out?
A clean out line for your home is essentially a vertical piece of pipe that connects to your home’s main sewer line. This allows your plumber to look into the line and also easily remove clogs with special tools. Most homes have some type of clean out in the yard. However, older homes may not have a sewer clean out line. If your home is old enough to have cast iron pipes, then it may not have clean outs.
Finding a Clean Out Line for Houston Plumbing Repairs
We recommend knowing where your clean out line is for your home. While clearing a sewer blockage is best left to the professionals, knowing where it is can save precious time, as your Houston emergency plumber won’t need to locate the line while sewage backs up into your home. So, we recommend taking some time to locate your clean out line before something goes wrong so you can tell your plumber if and where your clean out is.
Most clean out lines are outside in the yard, somewhere inconspicuous near the foundation. Take a walk through your yard to find it. If not, it may be attached to an exterior wall. Otherwise, you may not have one. This is also important to know, as then your plumber can move onto plan B for cleaning sewer clogs.
How Houston Plumbing Repairs for Sewer Line Clogs
When you have a sewer blockage, your plumber will access the clog through the clean out line. Generally, we use a snake or auger to penetrate the sewer and remove the clog from the line. Then, we may recommend a camera inspection of the line to make sure there is no lasting damage to the pipe. If there is a crack or other damage, you may need sewer repairs.
Typically, we can tell whether there’s a clog in the line if there is water in the clean out. However, we don’t recommend removing the cap on the clean out yourself. This is not a DIY project. In fact, it could be dangerous. In some cases, clogs may cause so much pressure that removing the cap on the clean out can create a geyser of wastewater, which can seriously harm you. Instead, call for professional Houston plumbing repairs if you think you have a sewer clog to be safe.
How do Houston Plumbing Repairs Work without a Clean Out Line?
Now, what if your home doesn’t have a clean out line? If that’s the case, it’s helpful to tell your plumber as soon as possible. Clearing a clog from your sewer without a clean out is still possible, but will require different methods. In some cases, we may access the clog by removing a toilet in your home. In other cases, we may be able to access the clog through the sewer vent on the roof.
Can My Houston Plumbing Company Add a Clean Out Line for My Home?
If you take a walk around your yard and don’t find a clean out, you might wonder if it’s possible to install one. This is certainly an option and may be better in the long-run, as it can save a lot of time and hassle in case of a future sewer clog.
Adding a sewer clean out to your home’s plumbing starts by excavating down to the sewer line. Then, our plumbers will need to cut the line to be able to add the clean out. From there, we fill in the hole and add the cap to the clean out. Our team can help you determine if it’s cost-effective to add a clean out to your current sewer system.
Call Your Trusted Houston Emergency Plumber for Sewer Clogs
When you need expert plumbing solutions, call our team at Santhoff Plumbing Company. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year for plumbing emergencies, so you have peace of mind we’re always on standby in case you need plumbing repairs. As a locally owned and operated company, we are proud to provide top quality plumbing services throughout Greater Houston. Get in touch now to schedule service or call our 24-hour line at (713) 360-2185 for immediate help with your plumbing emergency.