Express Sewer & Drain Blog

A broken sewer line can be costly and messy in your Sacramento home or business. Knowing the signs of a broken line, as opposed to an occasional clogged drain, can help you prevent a minor problem from becoming a major, expensive project.

Your sewer line is part of your plumbing system and carries wastewater from your kitchen and bathroom sink, shower, tub, dishwasher, and washing machine. It's important to note that if left unattended, a broken line can cause flooding from backed up sewer water to occur.

Clogs in Multiple Drains

It's not unusual to have a clogged kitchen sink due to food and grease washed down the drain. Bathroom sinks, tubs, and showers often become clogged from hair and soap scum, and a quick plunge will have them flowing quickly. That is, unless you have a bigger problem than a clogged drain.

Tip: If you have a clogged tub, a quick way to determine whether it's a clog or if you have broken sewer line is to fill the tub until the water backs up and then flush the toilet. If water does not come up into the tub, the clog is isolated to the tub drain and not due to a broken sewer line. You may be able to remove the clog yourself; however, you may also need help from a professional who has tools for restoration projects.

If just one sink, tub, or shower drains slowly, they may be the only fixtures clogged. If a plunger or drain cleaner does not clear the problem, call to Express Sewer & Drain and bring a plumber to your door who can determine if you have a clogged drain or a broken sewer line.

Mold Growth

Mold growth in ceilings, walls, or floors can be a sign of a broken sewer line inside your home. Mold requires a humidity level above 55% in order to grow, and the added moisture of a broken sewer line can contribute to this environment.

Mold growth combined with sewer odor calls for professional help – make sure you have a plumber with the right equipment, experience, and expertise to find your sewer line leak. If you find moldy areas in your home that are not due to water infiltration from another source, be sure to have the mold inspected as soon as possible.

Wet Spots in the Yard

Soggy, low spots in your lawn can indicate a broken sewer line. If the area is wet and soggy with not odor, you may have a broken water or irrigation line. On the other hand, if you have a soggy place in your yard that smells and is drawing insects, you likely have a broken line and will need the services of Express Sewer. We specialize in trenchless sewer line replacement and can repair or replace your broken sewer line and have your water flowing freely.

Trenchless sewer line replacement is less invasive than many other methods of repair and will not leave a long, open trench in your yard, disturb your landscaping, or require moving part of the parking lot at your business. Most trenchless sewer line replacement jobs require just two small holes when using the trenchless method of sewer line repair.

Do you Think you Have a Broken Sewer Line?

If you think that you might have a broken sewer line, then contact Express Sewer & Drain for an assessment the plumbing system in your Sacramento home or business. Using detection equipment like video sewer line inspection, trenchless sewer line repair techniques, and other modern plumbing solutions, we can help you get your water flowing again, whether the problem is in your water pipes or your sewer lines.