Why a Sewer Main Is Important

Every house has plumbing that is connected underneath by a single pipe. This pipe drains all water and waste and removes it from the house. It’s called the sewer main and if you have a home or apartment that is connected to the city sewer you have a main pipe. Even if you have a septic tank, you still have a main pipe that connects to the septic tank and removes waste away from your house and into the tank.

If you have a clogged sewer main line, you’ll find out in a hurry. If it’s not unclogged quickly, you could have serious problems ranging from sinks, showers, and toilets that won’t drain to water and sewage that backs up into your washing machine. Sewer main clogs go beyond mere inconveniences. These clogs can be downright dangerous for the health and safety of the residents who live in the house. Only professionals should try and clean these clogs since they are usually filled with toxic sludge that could harm unprotected homeowners. 

Keep reading to find out what and where your sewer line is, reasons to have it serviced, and how to prevent clogs from occurring. 

How Does Your Sewer Line Work?

The sewer main line is probably the most important pipe in your entire home’s plumbing. Why? Because it’s through this pipe alone that all water and waste is removed from your house and sent either to the city’s sewer system or your septic tank. 

No matter whether you have two stories or one, every single pipe from your upstairs shower to your downstairs kitchen will eventually connect to this main pipe. When you flush the toilet, take a shower, and wash your face at night, all the water goes down your pipes and out the sewer line. 

Because it carries all water and wastes away from your house, this is one of the most important parts of plumbing there is. If a sink or shower gets clogged, it will pose a serious inconvenience. If, however, the sewer main gets clogged up, your entire house could cease functioning as you know it.

Signs You Need Sewer Service

Homeowners have to call plumbers for sewer services for a variety of reasons. Here are just a few:

• Toilet Backup: If your sewer line gets too clogged, your toilet won’t be able to properly flush away waste.
• Shower and Sink Backup: If left long enough, you could experience having water unable to drain from sinks and showers.
• Sewage Leak: Sometimes, when backups are bad enough, sewer lines could experience a break, a crack, or could even burst under too much pressure causing a sewage leak in the house or yard.
• Backflow: When water cannot flow down the drain into the sewer, you could potentially have water and waste flowing back up through your clean water pipes, contaminating them and making them dangerous to use.

Prevent a Sewer Main Clog

If you want to prevent a clog from occurring in your sewer main, there are several things you can do to help. First, only flush toilet paper. This might sound obvious but substances other than toilet paper are responsible for a vast majority of clogs in household plumbing. Even things labeled “flushable” such as wipes should not be flushed.

Household plumbing was not made to handle anything other than toilet paper. Secondly, only pour water down your drain. Never place liquid fat, grease, or other oily substances down your sink. These eventually stick to the pipes and cause clogs over time. Finally, if you experience slow draining, have a plumber out to look at your plumbing and perform maintenance.

Trusted, Reliable Plumbers

Bud’s Plumbing and Repair Service proudly serves homeowners in Evansville, IN, for all plumbing and repair needs. They have been voted the best plumber in the tri-state area for three years in a row. Always expect honest opinions, accurate diagnosis, and cost-effective solutions when you hire Bud’s Plumbing and Repair Service.

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