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Gross! It’s one thing if your bathtub is draining slowly, but when it’s spitting things back at you – especially foul and dangerous sewage – that’s a whole other issue that needs to be resolved immediately. For starters, sewage contains harmful bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms and exposure to these pose a major health risk. Second, any home damage caused by sewage will have to be much more carefully disinfected and restored. Oh, and there’s the smell!
So what’s the cause of a sewage backup in bathtubs? In most cases, it’s because the main sewer line is blocked and preventing sewage and other water from draining properly.
What Does the Sewer Line Do?
Your home’s bathtub drains, sinks, shower drains and toilets all connect to one or more larger drains within the home, which carry water and sewage to the sewer line. The sewer line essentially runs from your home, under your yard and connects to the city’s sewer system. If the sewer line is clogged or blocked, however, then water can’t freely move away from your property. And if this happens, it’s likely to back up into your home through the drains, which may include the bathtub.
How do Sewer Lines Become Clogged In a Bathtub?
Sewer lines may become clogged for a number of reasons. Often, some water can flow around these obstructions, however the blockage can become more significant over time. Here’s a look at some of the key causes of sewer line blockages:
- Tree roots growing into the line
- Obstructions from “unflushable” items, like baby wipes, personal care products, children’s toys, toilet scrubbers, etc.
- Grease buildup
- Sewer line damage
How to Clear a Clogged Sewer Line
Contrary to what you may believe, you’re not going to be able to clear a sewer line by plunging the toilet or your bathtub drains. Plungers only work to clear blockages near the head of the drain or within the toilet, not all the way down to the sewer line. In order to clear a sewer line blockage, you’ll need to call a professional plumber.
Upon arriving at your home they’ll take steps to clear the sewage backup in your bathtub, and then conduct a camera sewer line inspection to identify the source of the problem, and determine the nature of the sewer line clog. Depending on what they find, they’ll either snake it or deploy hydro jetting to clear it. For example, if tree roots are causing the blockage, they’ll likely need to be removed via hydro jetting. If it’s a soft block however, a drain auger will likely clear the blockage. In dire cases, such as severe root intrusion or a sewer line collapse, a more intensive sewer line repair or replacement may be necessary.
Contact Us Today
For more information on why your bathtub or any other household drains are backing up with sewage, contact us today. We’ll arrive at your property quickly, confirm that the sewer line is the likely culprit and work to clear the blockage immediately. If the sewer line isn’t the cause, we’ll be sure to figure out what is. Contact Fix & Flow today for more information.