technician works on Sever-Damage-to-Sewer-Lines

Boston Sewer and Drain Cleaning

Written by Anthony Trust 1 on June 8, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized.

Most homeowners rarely think about their home’s sewer pipes until it’s too late. Eventually, they end up encountering a sewer drain clog. The Boston sewer main drain is a very important part of a home’s plumbing system. The bad thing about it is that since it’s not visible, people tend to ignore it.

The main Boston sewer line may be the biggest and most important piece of plumbing in your entire home. Between improper and bad usage of these pipes and drains, the main sewer line can take a beating. Here are some answers to the top questions regarding a home’s sewer main drain.

How do you fix a Boston Sewer Main Drain Clog

Usually, a tool called a drain snake can locate and break up a clog in a branch drain line. However, a clog in the sewer main is something much more complicated and serious which requires the use of a sewer drain snake which is used through a main clean-out fitting.

There will be cases in which you will need a professional plumber, for example when there’s no cleanout, the process of clearing a sewer stoppage would be more difficult to do by yourself.

Boston Sewer and Drain Cleaning

How to Spot a Clean-Out

To find out if you have a clean-out you will have to look for it. Every house is built differently so it’s not that obvious to find it at first. Don’t worry if you don’t know where to look it’s quite unnoticeable at first. The first place where you want to look for the clean-out is somewhere near the bathroom, also a clean-out that is outside is probably hidden by landscaping. If your house has a basement the main clean-out could be set into the concrete slab, near the foundation walls. Once you know where to look it’s going to be way easier to find the sewer clean-outs.

What should I do if I don’t have a clean-out?

If you have sewer drain clogs often then having a clean-out is very important. You should consider having a main clean-out installed if you do not have one. It’s less expensive than having your main line snaked, also it can serve as a release when the main line is backed up, which will allow water to leak outside – instead of flooding your house.

What to do if the Main Drain Line cannot be cleared?

If you’ve tried using a sewer drain snake and failed your next move should be to call a professional plumber. If the plumber you called tries and fails to snake out the main line you should call another plumber for a second opinion before deciding to have the main drain replaced because it can be very expensive to upgrade.

When is the best time to replace your main line?

This can be a matter of perspective. If your main line backs up, it’s just a matter of having the sewer main line snaked once every year or two. But if it backs up more than once a year, then it would be worthwhile to have the area where the problem is dug up and repaired or to have the line replaced. There’s a big difference in price between choosing to snake the line vs. digging up the line and either replacing or fixing it.

How do I prevent Sewer Main Clogs?

Tree roots and collapsing pipes may be a problem dealing with sewer main drain clogs but other causes may be preventable. There are a couple of things you can monitor to prevent frequent clogs. One very important preventive measure is to know what goes down the drain. Solid objects that you may throw in the toilet can become lodged and cause a sewer stoppage. It is also not advisable to throw oils and excessive food down the kitchen drain as it may contribute to sewer main drain clogs.

When is the Homeowner responsible for clearing clogs

The cause of the stoppage and the location of it will normally determine who is responsible for the repair. It is advisable to check with your city before having any work done to your sewer main drain. Not always but in some cases, the town or city will fix the problem if the cause is on their end.

Here are some indicators that a repair or replacement procedure is required:

A Sagging Sewer Line:

This problem is out of the homeowner’s control, sagging sewer lines happen over time. This problem with the pipe occurs when a part of it has sunk due to soil or ground conditions.

Severe Pipe Damage:

Sever Damage to Sewer Lines

When sewer pipes break or become ruptured, the sewage is not able to properly drain through the system which leads to immediate and frequent backups. Common causes of sewer pipe damage include:

-Corrosion of an older pipe – causes the pipe to collapse.
-Leaking joints where the seals between sections of pipe have broken allowing water and sewage to escape.
-Sewer pipe rupture due to shifting soil, settling, increased traffic on the ground above, or use of heavy construction equipment above ground.

Here are some warnings signs that indicate you may have a sewer line issue:

-Your lawn starts changing:
Sewer lines typically extend from homes through the front yard and into the city’s sewage system. Go outside and try to see if you can notice any of these changes to your lawn.
-If you find a soggy patch of grass when it hasn’t rained or snowed recently, it may be sewage from a broken sewer pipe.
-If you have a break in your sewer line, you’ll see an indentation on your lawn.
-Weird reactions when using plumbing fixtures:
-One thing to look for when you suspect a sewer drain clog is any unexpected or unusual reactions when using plumbing fixtures.
-You may have a problem if flushing the toilet causes water to back up from your tub or shower.
-Toilet water starts to bubble.
-Hearing a gurgling noise as the toilet flushes.

If any of this happens you should contact a plumber.