Sewer backups are one of the most unpleasant things a homeowner can experience. They’re disgusting, they’re expensive, they’re a mess to clean up, and they can cause all kinds of property damage.
The best way of dealing with sewage backup is to stop it from happening in the first place. Fortunately, there are a ton of warning signs before most sewer backups. Learn these warning signs, and you’ll be able to call a plumbing company in Denver before the backup happens:
Your fixtures are draining slowly
When one fixture is draining slowly, that’s probably a problem with the fixture itself. When all of your fixtures are draining slowly, it’s likely there’s a clog in the main line of the sewer – and eventually, that’s going to lead to sewage backing up.
Drains are getting clogged repeatedly
In the same vein as the previous sign, a clog that goes away after you use your handy plunger is no real problem. But when clogs keep coming back again and again, even when you’re not sending anything strange down the drain, it’s a sign that backup is imminent.
Your home smells like sewage
This is probably the most obvious sign – if your home suddenly smells like sewage, it’s very likely that sewage is already starting to back its way up into your home.
Your yard starts looking very healthy in certain spots
“What does a healthy yard have to do with sewer backup?” we hear you asking. Well, sewage is full of the delicious nutrients that plants crave. When there’s a leak in your sewer line, the plants near the leak can grow especially healthy – they’ll become noticeably greener and develop an almost sponge-like texture.
Broken sewer lines get filled with debris, dirt, and other substances – and that leads to sewer backup. If the grass is greener on the other side, you’d better give us a call.
It sounds like there are creatures living in your pipes
Do you hear gurgling or bubbling noises when you turn on your faucet or flush your toilet? Are you worried that The Thing or some other horrible monster has taken up residence in your home?
It might not be a creature from a horror movie, but it could be something almost as terrifying – a sign of sewer backup!
And if you hear skittering, it’s another potential sign of sewer backup – you may have rodents or other creatures that have made their way into your damaged sewer pipe.
Using one fixture affects another
All of the plumbing in your home is connected. But when everything’s working properly, using one fixture shouldn’t have a substantial impact on another. When your sewer line is backed up, however, water won’t drain properly. That means using one fixture can lead to water coming out of the drain of another fixture.
This is a clear sign of imminent sewer backup, and you should call a plumber right away.
In fact, if you’re experiencing any of the signs of sewer backup, calling a plumber is the best plan. Dealing with backups after they happen is a lot more expensive – not to mention a lot messier!
