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How Do I Know if My Sewer Line is Clogged?

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As a homeowner, you come to expect that things will occasionally go wrong. For the most part, it’s usually minor stuff that’s more annoying than problematic—like a leaky faucet or clogged toilet. But there are times when those problems progress from minor to major, leaving homeowners frantic and frazzled.

Fortunately, in many cases, the signs and symptoms indicating a potentially significant problem is on the horizon are apparent before disaster really strikes. Today, we’ll talk about one of those situations—clogged sewer lines—and provide you with a few of the most prominent warning signs that your sewer line may be clogged.

More than one drain is backing up

Experiencing a drain backup in one fixture is unfortunate, but it’s likely an isolated incident. It’s when you start seeing drains backing up in multiple fixtures that we start to think a larger issue could be in play. If your toilets, tubs, showers, and sinks are backing up with water, a clog in the main sewer line could be the culprit. A good way to test for this is to use one fixture and see if a separate fixture encounters a problem. For example, flushing a toilet shouldn’t cause water to come up through the sink.

You hear gurgling

If you hear a gurgling or bubbling sound from your drains or toilets, it could be a telltale sign of an impending sewer backup. While some may believe that these noises are normal, they are not and typically occur because water cannot flow freely through a pipe.

Gurgling is actually an easy-to-detect early sign of a blockage. Paying attention to gurgling is one of the best chances for a homeowner to address an issue before they have sewage on their floor.

You have slow-running drains

Just because your drains aren’t backing up doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods when it comes to clogs in the sewer line. In fact, repeated slow-running drains are a common sign of a sewer line clog. This usually starts to occur in the drain nearest to the sewer line clog before expanding to other drains throughout the home.

If you find yourself constantly having to use a plunger, it may be time to look into the sewer line.

The yard gets flooded

While it’s true that April showers bring May flowers, everyone knows that the wettest month in Baltimore is September. So, if you notice your yard is flooded this spring—and it hasn’t rained lately—a clogged sewer line could be the cause. This typically occurs when tree roots bust through the line, causing not only a clog but a leak.

With nowhere to go but up, water (and waste) seeps through the soil and collects in the yard. Much like we mentioned with those interior drains, leaking water from the sewer line that collects in your yard is likely to give off a foul and unpleasant stench.

If your sewer line is clogged, you need a professional

The skilled professionals at Prime Plumbing are experts at quickly locating sewer line clogs and leaks and working diligently to correct them. These clogs can be caused by any number of factors, from the flushing of inappropriate items to coagulated grease or oil that was inadvertently dumped down the drain.

Sewer Line Cleaning & Repairs

If you are experiencing any of the signs and symptoms we mentioned above, we are here and ready to help.
Remember: Save time, call Prime!

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Locally owned & OPERATED; Founded IN 2012

We take the worry out of things with upfront pricing

OPTIONS TO HELP YOU finance any service needed

Licensed Technicians who treat your home with care

Our maintenance plans make you the priority

Discount pricing for active and retired militaRy personnel

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    More Reviews
    I want give a special thank you to Prime Plumbing Company. Ibrahim and Jalloh worked great as a team converting our home from galvanized pipes to PVC. They worked long days to complete the job. Ibrahim walked me and my family through the entire process and it was neatly done. This is my second time using Prime Plumbing. I will certainly use them again for future projects.
    Theresa Jones
    4 days ago
    Jason was professional, courteous, and thorough. He made certain the drain clog was cleared.
    Robert Labosky
    5 days ago
    Yes! Willie deserves 5!!! STARS ⭐️ and more. Willie fixed my toilet! Willie was on time, professional, neat, considerate, kind and took time to review and research all matters PLUMBING that are valuable to know for future projects including a copy to my email address. I definitely recommend Willie who is a a great asset for PRIME PLUMBING. I’ve had an excellent relationship with PRIME PLUMBING since 2022, from sewer replacement to hot water installation, kitchen faucet replacement, toilet replacement, water pressure testing…. Ask for Willie when you call PRIME PLUMBING for plumbing issues. PRIME PLUMBING’S greatest value is their STAFF! Thanks. Maureen
    Maureen Catherine Martin
    5 days ago
    Ernie and Hailey came out to move our water softener and brine tanks for us. They had great attitudes, completed the job in a timely and efficient manner, and double checked everything was in order and cleaned up before leaving. Thank you both for coming out on short notice and taking care of business!
    Jade Murphy
    5 days ago
    Good service. Very professional. The tech came in my house with Footies over his shoes making sure that my floors stayed clean. The tech did exceptional work. He was also very friendly.
    Dana Mccready
    6 days ago

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