A clogged sewer line can be a serious problem that exposes your family to toxic waste. Sewage overflowing from your toilet or backing up in your shower is a plumbing emergency that should be repaired quickly. You may need to turn off the water to your house until the plumber arrives since any water that goes down the drains could cause sewage to back up. You definitely don't want to use the toilet until the problem has been fixed. Here's what a plumber may do.
Determine The Problem
A plumber can usually tell by listening to your account of the problem if the sewer line is clogged. However, they won't know the exact cause of the problem. The only way to know what's going on inside the sewer line is to look inside it with a pipe camera. One reason your plumber may want to use a camera is to find out if there is a clog present or if the problem is caused by a collapsed pipe. When using a pipe camera and sewer cleaning tools, the plumber will work through the cleanout that's outside your home. This provides easy access for snaking a camera cable through the sewer line to see what's causing the toilet backup problem.
Clear The Clog
A clogged drain line could be filled with tree roots, paper clogs, soap scum, hair, scale, and other debris you flush down the toilet or send through the garbage disposal. A sewer snake or hydro jet can clear out many kinds of clogs. The advantage of using a hydro jet is that the water cleans off the insides of the pipe so that the pipe is cleaned as well as cleared out. However, hydro jetting isn't suitable for all pipes, so your plumber may use a "snake" instead to chop up the clog so it can be forced through the line with water.
Repair The Drain
When you have a toilet backup, a likely cause is a clog in the system, and tree roots are often to blame. When tree roots bother your sewer line, they may eventually cause the drain to crack and collapse. When you have a broken sewer drain, the plumber needs to replace it or line it. Replacing the drain involves digging up the old pipe and installing a new one in its place. Lining the drain involves pulling a new liner through the old pipe that that hardens to form a new pipe. Your plumber can explain the pros and cons of each type of repair so you choose the right one for your budget and property.
When you've experienced a toilet backup once, you'll probably be motivated to keep it from happening again. Only flush paper down the toilet that dissolves quickly and don't use the toilet for other trash. By being careful about what you send down the drain, you may be able to prevent another sewer disaster in your home.
Contact a company like Rob's Septic Tanks Inc to get help with toilet backup repairs.
