Clogged Sewer Line

A clogged sewer is a problem which needs immediate attention as it can lead to a stinker of a situation, if not unclogged in time! There are some simple techniques of clearing a clogged sewer line. Knowing some can come in handy when you face a potential stinking situation. In this article, I explain some of the standard sewer clearance techniques.

The water drained from sinks, toilets, showers and every other water outlet in your house is ultimately routed through a sewer line to a cesspool or a bigger sewer. Sometimes due to the creation of blockages in these lines, by objects which aren't normally supposed to be forced through the drain, it becomes clogged. Water starts regurgitating from all the drain holes in the house due to such a blockage. This obstruction can be of various sorts.

One of the most common ones is the accumulation of food items, toilet paper or the growth of tree roots inside the sewer. The blockage due to food items can be avoided by the use of a strainer at the drainage outlet and avoiding forcing down non-perishable objects like plastic. Some of the major causes of blockage are cooking oil and coagulated grease. The only way out is overcoming the obstruction that is clogging the line.

How to Fix a Clogged Line?

There are many ways of clearing a clogged line. Which technique you should use wholly depends on the kind of obstruction that is blocking the line. Unclogging a drain is one of the most fundamental of plumbing jobs. Here are the standard techniques used by plumbers.

Use a Chemical Cleaner
One of the first thing to try out when it comes to clearing a sewer line is pouring a chemical drain cleaner chemical. These are acidic chemicals that can effectively clear out any organic obstruction by dissolving them. These chemicals are generally available in hardware stores. Follow the directions by the manufacturer and pour the chemical down the clogged drain. Small organic obstructions are generally cleared by these chemicals.

Using a Force Ball Plunger
If that doesn't work, then you can use a force ball plunger to push the obstruction down and clear the line. Pour some hot water down the line and then apply the force ball plunger several times. The pressure this simple tool generates can drain out obstructions quite easily. Keep repeating plunging action until the obstruction clears out.

Using A Snake Tool
If the obstruction is in the form of grown tree roots, then they are unlikely to yield easily to simple methods. In case of root growth causing obstruction, you need to use a snake tool which is normally used by plumbers and normally available in hardware stores. First you need to locate the clean out plug which can give you access to the drainage line. This is generally located in the basement. Once you locate, it, you'll need a wrench to loosen and open it.

Place a bucket below the plug and loosen it slowly. Some waste may leak out, which you can collect in the bucket. Once the leakage has stopped, remove the plug fully and insert the snake tool inside and push it in as much as you can. Locate clockwise as you insert it in and push until it hits an obstruction. Keep pushing and rotating until the obstruction is cleared out. Remove the snake and then seal the plug back in place.

Use of a Power Rotor/Rotating Saw or Jet Hydrovac
If none of the above methods work, you may have to use some high power tools to get the obstruction to clear out. Tools like power rotors and rotating saws available in hardware stores can effectively be used clear out any kind of obstruction. These need to be inserted in the drain line like the snake tool and they help in clearing out the obstruction by grinding it out. Another power tool used in case of extremely clogged lines is the Jet hydrovac that uses a high vacuum to pressurize any obstructions out of the clogged line. These jet hydrovac devices are costly and are generally used by professional clean up companies. So in case of extreme clogging, it is best to take help of professional plumbers or cleaning companies.

Preventive maintenance in the form of avoiding the pouring of food items (leftovers, grease and cooking oil), fitting of sewer hole strainers, regular periodic cleanups will ensure that you do not face a clogged line situation. Make sure that you follow these simple measures and you won't have to worry about clogged drains ever!