Sewer Line Problems: Signs you need sewer repair
Have you noticed your drains behaving differently lately, or perhaps your basement giving off a strange odor after the rain? You should really take note of that, as that is your sewer line trying to tell you something. Most homeowners will simply shrug off those small indications for months, or even years before they find themselves in the situation of having their basement flooded without realizing how bad it became.
In Toronto, there is such a thing called Sewer Repair, and most people simply neglect to care until they have no other choice, and that is why they end up in such situations. The pipes that run underneath your property are old and buried, making you unaware of their existence. However, once you learn about the signs, you will be able to detect the problems early on saving yourself tons of money and stress.
What Does a Sewer Line Even Do
Imagine your sewer line being that one pipe that links all plumbing connections in your household—such as the toilets, showers, laundry room, and sinks—to the main sewer line of the city. Anything that is flushed out or drained from any plumbing fixture in your house ends up passing through this one pipe. Thus, when there’s a clog, leak, or collapse in this pipe, it will be an indication of something much larger happening.
Early Signs You Shouldn’t Brush Off
Some symptoms are clear and dramatic. Other symptoms come stealthily over time. These are some to be aware of.
- Plumbing fixtures backing up simultaneously rather than only one plumbing fixture
- Your toilet making gurgling noises when you operate the washing machine
- Sewer odour around the yard, the floor drain in the basement, or even the kitchen sink
- Toilet flushing causing water to back up in the tub
- Grass outside that is abnormally lush and soft compared to the rest of the lawn
- Cracks in the foundation walls that didn’t used to be there
6 Signs You Need to Check If You Need Sewer Repair
Sign 1: Slow Drains That Just Won’t Quit
When you have a single clogged drain, that can mean several things, like a clog, hair, or grease. However, when your kitchen drain, your tub in the bathroom, and even your toilet start draining slowly all at once, then you know for sure that your sewer line is having trouble moving the waste from your home.
Sign 2: That Weird Smell You Can’t Place
If there is a sewer odour inside the home, specifically around floor drains or even in the basement, it could indicate that some sort of leakage of gas is occurring through either a break in the pipe or a seal. Not only does this smell awful, but it can actually pose a health hazard after a certain period of time.
Sign 3: Gurgling Toilets and Weird Noises
Have you ever flushed the toilet only to hear a peculiar gurgling noise coming from somewhere else in the drain system of the house? This is caused by the presence of trapped air which is trying to escape back through the drain pipes due to inability to vent out.
Sign 4: Water Backing Up Where It Shouldn’t
If pushing the toilet’s handle makes the water level increase in the bathtub, or your washer drain gets backed up to another fixture, there is a problem in the sewer line. In such cases, it would be more sensible to call for an emergency plumber in Toronto than to try to fix the problem on your own using a commercially available snake.
Sign 5: Soggy Yard or Random Sinkholes
Take a stroll on your property from time to time. If you come across patches of mushy soil, or even worse, if you spot little dents and sinkholes appearing, chances are that there may be a sewer leak causing all the dirt to become softened. This one tends to get overlooked because people think it’s drainage or poor soil.
Sign 6: Cracks in the Foundation or Basement Walls
Just because there are cracks doesn’t mean you have sewer problems; settling is natural for any home. However, if you find that new cracks are forming along with a musty smell or even dampness in the basement, then that might be an indication that there’s a leak from a sewer line.
Why This Happens So Often in Toronto Homes
Most homes in Toronto, particularly those located in old neighbourhoods, use clay and cast iron sewer lines which were installed many years ago. The materials are prone to movement, cracks, and root invasion over time. When you consider the freezing conditions in Toronto, it should not be surprising at all that sewer line repairs are a frequent job for plumbers in the city. If your house was built prior to the 1990s and has never been checked, then this may just be what you need to do.
When You Should Actually Call a Professional
If you are experiencing multiple signs from the list above, it is time to quit your guesses and have an inspection done properly. Hire a professional plumber in Toronto who will perform a camera inspection of your line and see what the exact problem is, rather than just poking around without any understanding of the situation. There are cases when you mustn’t wait a day:
- Sewage backing up into your house
- An overwhelming sewage odour inside your house that won’t disappear
- More than one drain backing up simultaneously
- Water pooling in the basement without an apparent cause
Final Thoughts
Your sewer line is an unsung hero working silently in your home for decades, and, likely, you never pay attention to it until it becomes problematic. Fortunately, your home is usually more than willing to warn you about potential problems long before any major disaster takes place. Slow drains, odours, unusual gurgles, and wet spots on your lawn are all symptoms of some kind of problem that are not just a coincidence.