7 Signs You May Have a Sewer Line Problem

What Your Sewer Line Does and Why It Fails

Your main sewer line is the big pipe that carries all the waste water from your house out to the city sewer or to a septic or grinder system. Every sink, tub, toilet and washer feeds into it. Most of the time you never think about it. That is the problem. When it starts to fail, the pipe is buried, so the first clues show up inside your home.

Several things can hurt a sewer line. Tree roots are a leading cause. Roots seek out water, and they can slip into tiny cracks or loose joints. Once inside, they grow into thick mats that catch paper and waste. Older pipes are at higher risk. In older parts of Des Moines, many homes still have clay tile or cast iron lines that crack, flake or sag with time. Newer subdivisions in Waukee and Grimes mostly use plastic pipe, which holds up well, but it can still shift if the soil settles or was not packed right.

Iowa soil adds stress. Clay soil swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Frost heaves in winter can tug on buried pipes. Over the years, a pipe may bend, drop or pull apart at a joint, which creates a low spot called a belly. Waste sits in that low spot and builds up. Grease, wipes and other items that do not break down add to the mess. Below are seven signs that tell you to take action.

Seven Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore

1. Several drains slow down at once. One slow sink is usually a local clog. When the tub, the toilet and the washer all drain poorly, the problem is likely farther down the line.
2. Gurgling sounds. If a toilet gurgles when you run the shower or the washer, air is being pushed back through the pipes because water cannot move past a blockage.
3. Water backs up in the lowest drain. A basement floor drain that bubbles or fills with dirty water is one of the strongest signs of a main line clog. Waste water takes the easiest path out, and that is often the lowest opening.
4. Sewer smells. A rotten egg or sewage odor inside the home, in the yard or near a cleanout can mean a crack or a failed seal.
5. Wet, soggy or unusually green patches in the yard. A broken pipe can leak waste water into the soil. The grass above may grow faster, sink down or stay wet in dry weather.
6. Cracks, sinking or sagging in the foundation or yard. Long term leaks can wash out soil and leave voids that cause the ground to settle.
7. Pests and mold. Rats, roaches and flies find their way up through broken lines. A musty smell or mold in the basement may come from a leak below the slab.

One sign alone does not prove a broken sewer line. But if you notice two or more, the odds go up. Do not wait for the first overflow. Sewage on a basement floor is messy, unsafe and costly to clean.

Simple Checks You Can Do Before You Call

You can gather helpful facts in a few minutes, and these facts help your plumber. First, think about when the problem began. Did it start after a heavy rain, a storm or a long dry spell? Did it begin after a tree was planted or removed? Second, test your drains. Run water in the tub and watch the nearest toilet. Flush each toilet and see whether the water in the others moves or bubbles. Then check the basement floor drain for any rise in water.

Next, walk the yard. Look for soggy areas, sunken strips and spots where grass is much greener. Find the sewer cleanout, a capped pipe near the house or in the yard, and make sure it is clear and easy to reach. Do not open a cleanout if sewage is backed up behind it, since the pressure can push waste out fast. Note any smells and where you notice them.

Please avoid harsh chemical drain cleaners. They rarely clear a main line problem, and they can harm older pipes or injure the person who works on them later. A plunger works for a single fixture, but it will not help with a clogged main. If the signs point to the main line, the best next step is a camera inspection. For one drain that clogs now and then, our drain cleaning and hydro jetting service may be all you need.

How a Camera Inspection Finds the Real Cause

A sewer camera inspection is the clearest way to see what is happening underground. The plumber feeds a small waterproof camera on a flexible cable into the line through a cleanout. A screen shows the inside of the pipe in real time. We can see roots, grease, cracks, offsets, sags and collapsed sections. A locator tool tracks the camera from above ground, so we can mark the spot and the depth. You can watch the screen with us and see the problem yourself.

The camera takes the guesswork out of the job. Instead of digging a long trench and hoping, we know where the trouble lies. Sometimes the fix is as simple as cleaning out roots or grease. A powerful water cleaning method such as hydro jetting versus drain snaking can clear heavy buildup and scrub the pipe walls. If the pipe is cracked or collapsed, cleaning is only a short term fix, and a repair is the better path.

Camera checks are also smart when you buy a home. A pipe that looks fine from the street may be cracked underground. A home inspector does not usually look inside the sewer line. Having a camera check before closing can help you avoid a surprise repair bill, or help you ask for a fair price. Many homeowners in Adel, Waukee and Urbandale ask for this step, and you can read about plumbing in Adel for local notes.

Repair Choices: Trenchless or Open Trench

When a pipe needs repair, there are two main paths. The first is the old method, open trench. A crew digs a trench along the pipe, removes the bad section and lays new pipe. This method works well, but it can tear up a lawn, a driveway, a patio or even a garden you love. It can take longer too, and the cleanup after the job takes time.

The second path is trenchless sewer repair. It uses small access holes instead of a long trench. One method is pipe lining. A flexible liner soaked in resin is pulled into the old pipe and cured so it forms a new pipe inside the old one. Another method is pipe bursting, where a new pipe pulls through while the old pipe is broken apart. Each method has limits. A badly collapsed pipe or a big belly may still need digging. We look at the camera video and explain which method fits your line. Learn more on our sewer line and trenchless repair page.

Costs depend on the length of the pipe, the depth, the material, the access, the method and whether anything is in the way, such as a tree or a driveway. We do not guess or promise a number over the phone. After the camera check, we give you a written price. For a general look at how quotes are built, read our plumbing cost guide. If you already see sewage in the home, our emergency plumber team is on call day and night.

How to Protect Your Sewer Line Going Forward

Good habits make a big difference. Never flush wipes, even if the package says flushable. They do not break down like paper. Do not pour grease or oil down the kitchen sink, and wipe pans before you wash them. Use drain strainers in showers and sinks. Keep feminine products, cotton swabs, dental floss and paper towels out of toilets.

Plan your landscaping with the pipes in mind. Plant trees and large shrubs well away from the sewer line. Pick species with less aggressive roots near the home. If large trees already sit above the pipe, a camera check every few years helps you catch root growth early. Some homeowners also schedule a yearly cleaning if roots keep coming back. If you live in an older home, ask us about the age and material of your line, since some pipe types fail faster than others.

If you are not sure what you are seeing, call +1 (515) 585-4137. We will ask a few simple questions and send a plumber when you need one. You can also contact us online and we will reply as quickly as we can.

Questions We Hear Most

Who can help with sewer line & trenchless repair?

Our licensed team can. Call +1 (515) 585-4137 for fast help. We start with a camera inspection so we can show you what is wrong before we suggest a fix.

Do you offer free estimates?

Yes. We explain the problem and quote the price before we start. You will see your options before any work begins.

How can I tell a main line clog from a single clogged drain?

A single clog affects one fixture. A main line problem shows up in several drains at once, often with gurgling or a backup in the lowest drain of the house.

Will a camera inspection damage my pipes?

No. The camera is small and flexible, and it slides through the pipe without harm. It gives a clear view of the inside of the line.

Do I need to dig up my yard to fix a sewer line?

Not always. Many repairs can be done with trenchless methods that use small access holes. Severe damage may still need an open trench.