One of the most important systems in your home is your wastewater disposal system. From time to time, unwanted debris can clog your drain or sewer line. Let’s explore some of the most common indicators that it’s time to get professional drain cleaning service to remove that clog before the problem gets any worse.

Slow Draining

One of the first signs of a problem with your plumbing system is that your tubs, sinks, and showers are draining very slowly. This will happen as debris builds up inside your drain or sewer line and causes a restriction in the flow of water. You never want to put off getting drain clearing service when you’re experiencing slow drainage, as it won’t take long before that partial clog turns into a complete clog that causes a backup of sewage into your home.

Frequent Clogs

It’s typical for homeowners to experience clogs in their sinks or toilets that require the use of a plunger. While plunging will certainly remove some of the clog, if you’re plunging regularly, it’s likely there’s a deeper issue at play. Drain clearing will remove any debris to help flush out that area and prevent future clogging from happening.

Drain Odor

Your drains should have a neutral smell coming from them. If you notice that your drains have a constant foul odor like sewage or rotten eggs, it’s an indication of debris trapped in the line. This could be food waste, grease, or any other debris that’s been flushed down your drain. A lot of the time, you may even experience small drain flies, as they’re attracted to the sewage-like odor.

Gurgling Noises

One very odd sound that may come from your plumbing system is a gurgling noise. You’ll tend to hear this a little bit after you flush a toilet. The gurgling sound is created by air that naturally travels down the sewer line when you flush, but hits a clog in your line. The air will turn around and travel back up through your plumbing system and out of the toilet. Getting professional drain-clearing service promptly will help to avoid a backup of sewage in your home.

Standing Water

A very obvious sign you have a problem with your sewage line is standing water. This will start at fixtures closest to the sewage line. This is most noticeable in your sinks and tubs but can also happen in any of your plumbing components like your washing machine. When you have standing water, it’s a key indication that you have a full blockage in your drain or sewer line that needs to be removed promptly.

Wet Lawn

If you have trees that grow near your sewer line, their roots will be attracted to the wastewater inside. Anywhere there is a slight crack in the sewer line, the tree root will enter and eventually expand, pushing that crack larger and larger. Eventually, the crack can get so large that it allows raw sewage to seep out of the line. This becomes prominent when you see visible wet spots on your lawn in the area just above the sewage line.

You may notice that the grass becomes greener and denser in those areas due to the natural fertilizer. Unfortunately, sewage isn’t filtered enough when introduced directly into the soil to be safe before it hits the groundwater supply. This can allow these unintentional sewage leaks to contaminate your local groundwater supply and render it undrinkable. This is why it’s so important you get professional drain cleaning service as promptly as possible.

What Is Drain Cleaning Service?

Drain cleaning is where one of our plumbers will utilize specialized plumbing equipment to inspect and remove any debris inside your drain or sewer lines. Depending on the location of the clog, its material makeup, and the state of your piping, we’ll let you know what we believe the best option is to address the problem.

A popular option is hydro jetting service, which is where we use high-pressure water to effectively scour the inside of all your piping to remove the debris. This offers a long-lasting fix and greatly reduces your risk of experiencing a clog anytime in the near future. Hydro jetting service can be done on all different types of piping, such as PVC. However, if your existing piping has an extensive amount of damage, it may not be the best option due to the high-pressure water.

Routine Maintenance

One of the best things you can do to prevent clogs in your sewer or drain lines is to invest in routine maintenance services. We recommend having one of our professionals come out and perform hydro jetting service on your plumbing system every year. This will help remove any debris that would otherwise lead to clogs and can give you peace of mind about the state of your wastewater disposal system.

What Not to Put Down Your Drain

Apart from annual drain cleaning service, there are things you can do as a homeowner to reduce your likelihood of experiencing a clog in your sewer or drain line. One of the absolute best things to do is to be mindful of what you’re putting down your drains. Avoid the big three: grease, fat, and oils.

These all will solidify as they travel down your drain and turn into a gel-like substance that will attract other debris in your wastewater. Instead, opt for having a disposal container in a convenient location in your kitchen you can use to allow these materials to harden before you throw them out in the trash.

Avoid putting down items like coffee grounds, eggshells, seeds, fruit pits, and even fruit rinds. If you do experience a clog in one of your sinks or showers, opt for using a cup or standard sink plunger. If you have a clog in the toilet, you’ll need to purchase a specific flange plunger that better creates a tight seal around the curved toilet bowl.

Avoid putting any sort of chemical drain cleaners down your drains. These are very harsh chemicals that can actually damage your drainage lines and fittings. Consider purchasing drain strainers, as these are simple options that will catch unsavory debris before it can go down your sewer line. Aim to have a drain strainer in all your sinks and showers.

When it comes to bathroom etiquette, there are a few key items you never want to flush. One of the first is flushable wipes even though their name suggests otherwise. Contrary to what you may think, flushable wipes don’t break down easily and are a big cause of unintentional sewer blockages. Some other key items to avoid flushing include paper towels, dental floss, and feminine hygiene products.

Reliable Drain Cleaning Service

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating provides reliable drain cleaning service for the Hanover, MD area. We can also assist with all your sewer line maintenance needs. Simply call our office today to book your next service appointment.