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Main Sewer Line Back Ups

Main Sewer Line Back Ups

A main sewer line backup is one of those plumbing problems you want to avoid at all costs. This kind of backup occurs when an obstruction in the main sewer line or pipe damage prevents wastewater from draining away from your house, resulting in dirty water coming up through drains and toilets.

A main sewer line backup is no joke. Having a situation where wastewater is coming up through drains instead of flowing down the sewer line can be a nightmare.

Apart from creating unsanitary conditions in your home, a main sewer line backup can make it impossible to use fixtures and appliances such as the toilet, kitchen sink, and bathtub. Besides, it can cause water damage in your home if the problem is not addressed quickly.

If you experience a main sewer line backup, be sure to call a reputable plumber to help you with sewer repair and restore your sewer line to its perfect working order. The longer you leave the damage unaddressed, the more damage you’ll have to deal with.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we can help you fix sewer system backups and ensure you have a perfectly functional sewer system.

Let’s look at what causes main sewer line backups and what you can do to prevent this problem.

Common Causes of Main Sewer Line Backups

  • Clogs

Treating your drains as a trash can is one of the major causes of sewer line backups. An overabundance of things like coffee grounds, food waste, and paper products in your drains can end up blocking your main sewer line, leading to backups. You should be careful about what you put down your drains to avoid sewer backups.

  • Tree Roots

Tree roots are always seeking water, and your main sewer line is an abundant source of water. Therefore, tree roots can grow into your sewer lines in search of water, resulting in obstruction and sewer leaks.

  • Cracked or collapsed sewer lines

An aging main sewer line is susceptible to cracks, tree root intrusion, and damage, causing sewer line backup.

  • Heavy rainfall

Heavy rainfall can lead to excess amounts of rain making its way into your main sewer line. If your sewer line is unable to handle the excess amounts of rain, wastewater may back up into your home.

How To Prevent A Main Sewer Line Backup

  • Do not pour grease down the drain, as it will solidify somewhere within your sewer line and create a clog.
  • Avoid flushing non-flushable items down the toilet
  • Install backwater prevention valves in your main sewer line. These valves allow wastewater to drain away from your home but prevent it from backing up into your home.
  • Cut intruding tree roots before they reach your main sewer line
  • Replace deteriorating sewer lines---old sewer lines are prone to clogs which often lead to sewer backup.

If you're dealing with main sewer line backups in your home and need sewer line repair, call Mr. Rooter Plumbing to help you out.