What is a Sewer Drain?
A drain is a pipe that serves only a single building, conveying water and wastewater to the sewer system. A lateral drain is a section of pipe that is positioned outside of the building’s boundary which connects the drains from the other buildings, which becomes the sewer.
Identifying A Blocked Sewer Drain
First things first, we all know how traumatic, upsetting and just downright awful having a blocked drain in your home is. The smells associated with having a blocked drain and the time and effort it takes to try and fix the issue on your own due to the ease and practicality of just ‘doing it yourself’.
If a blocked sink is the issue you face then hopefully it’s a simple case of using a drain unblocker which will dissolve any food or other biological substances causing the blockage to clear from the pipe and once again allow the flow of water to pass through the pipes.
If you’re unlucky enough to have a blocked toilet then il refrain from bothering you with the gory details as I’m sure you are well aware of the problem you’re facing without even mentioning the stench and the fact that your facility is now unusable until the blockage has been cleared.
If you’ve tried plunging the blocked toilet, using any unblocking chemical solutions and the blockage is still present then you may have a sewer drain blockage.
Symptoms of a Sewer Blockage
A sewer blockage can be a pressing issue, made worse by misdiagnosing the issues in your home as separate problems and not linked to a much larger and more consequential concern such as a sewer blockage. A sewer blockage can be an unrealised stumbling block and the source of many home-based dilemmas.
This occurs due to the path of the wastewater having nowhere to go but back the way it came which can mean wastewater coming back up into your toilets, sinks, bathtubs or floor drains, meaning that the blocked toilet/sink you can’t seem to unclog, could in fact be a symptom of a sewer blockage.
Signs You Have a Blockage in the Main Sewer Line
When you’re trying to confirm whether or not you have a normal run-of-the-mill blockage or a much more concerning and problematic blockage in the main sewer line then there are a few things you can do to help you verify the extent of the issue you’re facing, such as:
- Toilet – Firstly it’s always best to check your toilets if you suspect a main sewer line blockage as toilets have the most direct path to the main drain and uses the biggest drain pipes of any in the home, if flushing your toilet results in incomplete flushes or it makes noises when you let the sink tap run then this would be a sign of a blocked sewer line.
- Bathtub – Another very clear indicator of a substantial blockage further down the line is your drains for your bathtub or shower. As they are at a lower level than your sinks so will be one of the first fixtures in your home to be affected as when the wastewater backs up it will cause the lower shower trays and lower level bathtub drains to fill with wastewater. This also has the potential to be extremely unhygienic so contacting professionals should be high on your priority list.
- Sink – Another sign to look out for is the possibility of air being trapped in the plumbing system. for example if running the sink tap affects the water level in your toilet or causes the toilet to gurgle and bubble.
Whatever you do, if you are experiencing a sewer blockage then it will most likely not just be affecting you and your home as the sewer line joins onto many other drains from other houses in your street. So checking with neighbours if they are experiencing similar issues can help. Our professionals at Shell Drainage are always on hand to offer you advice or assistance, call now on 07568 225199 and book your appointment in Manchester or any of our other locations and avoid any unnecessary time-consuming issues we can fix now.