What Sets Us Apart
There are few plumbing problems more disruptive than a damaged sewer line. It’s the one part of your home you never see, yet it carries everything out and away. When it starts to fail, the effects spread fast from slow drains, strange smells, to backups that always seem to come back, no matter what you try.
The trouble is, most homeowners don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s already grown underground. What starts as a small issue can quietly turn into a major repair that affects your whole property.
Understanding the early signs can make all the difference between a quick fix and a full-scale replacement. Before a small problem becomes a big one, here’s how to tell when your sewer line needs attention.
1. Slow Drains Throughout the House
When water takes forever to go down, and it’s happening in more than one fixture, that usually points to a blockage in the main sewer line. Over time, grease, soap, and debris coat the inside of the pipe, narrowing the passage until wastewater can’t flow freely.
If left alone, that buildup hardens and can cause the pipe to burst under pressure. Chemical drain cleaners only make things worse by eating away at the pipe walls.
What to do: A professional sewer cleaning clears the blockage completely without damaging the line. If the issue returns, a sewer camera inspection can check for cracks or tree roots causing repeat clogs.
2. Gurgling Sounds from Drains or Toilets
Gurgling means air is trapped somewhere it shouldn’t be. When a sewer line is partially blocked, the water pushes air back through the system, creating that bubbling sound after you flush or drain a sink.
It’s an early sign that the line is struggling to move wastewater smoothly. If ignored, pressure builds up behind the blockage until the water has nowhere else to go, usually back into your home.
What to do: Schedule a sewer inspection right away. A professional can identify whether it’s a simple clog or a bigger structural issue.
3. Unpleasant Odors Indoors or Outside
That unmistakable sewer smell means something is leaking. When the line cracks, sewer gases escape through the openings and find their way into your home or yard. Besides being unpleasant, those gases can also pose health risks.
Even a small leak can allow waste to seep into the soil, softening the ground and inviting more problems.
What to do: A sewer camera inspection can pinpoint exactly where the leak is coming from. Once found, targeted sewer line repair can seal the damage and stop the odor for good.
4. Water Backing Up in the Tub or Toilet
When water comes up instead of going down, it means the sewer line is blocked. This happens when the main line has collapsed or is completely clogged by debris, grease, or tree roots. Once it reaches this point, plunging or snaking won’t solve the problem.
What to do: Stop using your plumbing immediately to prevent contamination. Call for professional sewer services to clear the line safely and inspect it for further damage.
5. Puddles or Soft Spots in the Yard
If certain areas of your yard stay damp even when it hasn’t rained, wastewater might be leaking underground. As the water escapes, it softens the soil and creates dips or soggy patches above the damaged section. Sometimes you’ll even notice unusually green grass in one area, which means that it’s getting “fertilized” by the leak.
What to do: Have a plumber perform a full sewer camera inspection. It will confirm whether the moisture is from a sewer leak or another source. Fixing it early prevents sinkholes, contamination, and structural damage to your yard.
6. Frequent Clogs and Recurring Backups
If you’re constantly dealing with clogs that come right back after cleaning, the problem isn’t your drains but the main line. Wastewater that can’t move freely will keep forcing smaller clogs throughout the house.
Over time, that repeated pressure can cause the line to collapse.
What to do: Get a complete sewer cleaning and inspection. Clearing surface blockages won’t help if the real issue lies deeper in the line.
7. Cracks or Sinkholes Near the Sewer Line
Visible cracks in the driveway or small sinkholes forming near the sewer line are serious warning signs. They indicate that wastewater has been leaking long enough to wash away the supporting soil. If ignored, this can cause major ground collapse or foundation damage.
What to do: Schedule an emergency sewer repair. A sewer camera inspection will confirm the exact location and extent of the break before excavation or pipelining begins.
Don’t Wait for a Full Backup to Happen
A damaged sewer line can cost thousands to fix, and the cleanup that follows can cost even more. The longer wastewater sits underground or backs into your home, the more it damages flooring, drywall, and insulation. What starts as a small clog can turn into a full restoration project.
Routine sewer cleaning and inspections are the easiest ways to prevent that mess. At Anytime Drain Cleaning, Sewer Repair and Pipelining, our licensed plumbers use advanced equipment to find and fix problems early. We handle everything from basic cleaning to complete sewer line repair, so your system keeps flowing the way it should.
If your drains are slow, your yard is soggy, or the smell won’t go away, don’t wait until you’re standing in a backup. Call Anytime Drain Cleaning, Sewer Repair, and Pipelining today for a full sewer camera inspection and peace of mind that your line is in good shape.
