Signs Of A Sewer Drain Blockage.

A sewer drain blockage is a very serious problem that can be considered a plumbing emergency. Since the water has no place to go it will all come back up into the household plumbing in one way or another. When you have a sewer drain blockage you should not use any of the plumbing in the home until the stoppage is cleared.

If you suspect that you have a sewer drain blockage it is important to confirm this and clear it right away.
There are several ways to verify a sewer drain blockage.
Signs that you may have a sewer drain blockage:

Multiple Fixtures Are Blocked -

A very obvious sign of a sewer drain blockage is when more than one plumbing fixture backs up at the same time. The toilets in particular are affected by this, but other fixtures can also be involved. If you suspect that you have a sewer drain blockage start by checking other fixtures in the home.

• Toilets - Toilets have the most direct path to the sewer and the biggest drain line in the house, so if there is a problem with the sewer drain you will notice it here. It is rare to have a main line sewer stoppage and the toilets are working correctly.

• Tub and Shower - Other drains typically affected by a main line stoppage are those in the tub and shower. This is due to the fact that they sit lower down than say a sink drain. Check whether the tub and shower drains are blocked if you suspect a sewer drain blockage.

• Strange Reactions When Using Fixtures - The next thing to look for when you suspect a sewer drain clog are any unexpected or unusual reactions when using plumbing fixtures.

• Flush The Toilet - If flushing the toilet results in water backing up or coming up into the tub or shower this is usually a clear sign of a sewer drain clog. The flushed water that can not go down the sewer drain flows back up the pipes and comes out at the lowest point which is usually the shower drain.

• Run The Sink - Another strange reaction to look for is trapped air in the plumbing system. Do this by running water in the sink closest to the toilet for a minute or so. If the toilet bubbles or you can see the water level in the toilet rising then the clog is very likely in the main sewer line and not in the toilet.

• Washing Machine - An unexpected sign of a sewer drain clog can happen when you run the wash machine. If the water draining out of the washing machine causes the toilet to overflow or backs up into the tub or shower it could be the sewer main.

Note: This could just be a washing machine and shower problem and not a sewer drain clog. If the toilets are still flushing fine while this occurs then this is likely due to a washing machine stoppage and not a sewer main.

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