Blog

What to Do If You Have a Backed-Up Sewer Line in Oceanside CA

May 9, 2022

What to Do If You Have a Backed-Up Sewer Line in Oceanside CAThe sewer line removes wastewater from the plumbing fixtures in your home. Unfortunately, this sewer line can get clogged up blocked up, or damaged, preventing the wastewater from properly draining out of the house. When this happens the wastewater can begin to back up into the home, causing all kinds of headaches for the homeowner.

Common Causes of Sewer Backup

There can be many reasons why your sewer line is backing up. Some of the most common causes of sewer backups in Oceanside, CA include:

  • Too much food or the wrong materials washed down a kitchen sink drain
  • Broken or damaged pipes
  • Grease, oil, soap, and other residues
  • Sewer pipe decay and corrosion
  • Unsuitable products (toys, food, diapers, paper towels, wipes, hygiene products, etc.) flushed down the toilet
  • Root penetration
  • Flooding/Backups in the city sewage system

How Do You Know Your Sewer Line is Backing Up

How do you know when your sewer line is backing up? Here are a few of the warning signs:

  • Your drains are moving slower than usual
  • Gurgling sounds are coming from a drain
  • Unpleasant odors emerging from sinks, showers, or drains
  • Water backup into the shower or tub
  • Standing sewage water in your yard

Problems That Can Be Caused by a Backed Up Sewer Line

You need to get that backed-up sewer cleared as soon as possible. A sewer backup can cause thousands of dollars in water damage to your home. But that’s not the worst: it also creates a major health threat for you and your family. The backed-up material releases physical and airborne contaminants into the environment, putting you and your family at risk of gastroenteritis, hepatitis A, salmonellosis, and other serious illnesses.

What to Do When Your Sewer Line Backs Up

If plungers and chemical drain cleaners don’t do the trick, contact 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration without delay. In most cases, clearing a severely backed-up sewage line is a job best left to professionals. A licensed plumber has the experience and special equipment (including cameras that can be inserted into the lines to pinpoint the location and cause of the problem) to get the job done. Depending on the cause of the backup, solutions can include:

  • Removing debris from the sewer and connecting lines,
  • Repairing any broken, damaged, or failing pipes
  • Removing intruding roots
  • Replacing the sewer line

Preventing Sewer Backups

You can help prevent your sewer line from getting backed up by following a few simple rules:

  • Never pour grease or oil down the drain
  • Try to avoid washing food, coffee grounds, etc, down the kitchen sink
  • Only flush toilet paper down the toilet
  • Install a backflow prevention valve
  • Replace an old clay or iron sewer line with a new PVC one

Your First Choice for Plumbing Emergencies in Oceanside CA

If you’re experiencing a sewer line backup or other plumbing emergency, call the Oceanside, CA plumbing experts at 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration. We’ve been providing expert emergency plumbing services to homes and businesses in Oceanside, CA, and surrounding communities since 2012. We’re available 24/7 to fix whatever plumbing problem you may be encountering – in most cases, we can be on-site in an hour or less.

Don’t let a backed-up sewer line put you, your family, and your home at risk – contact 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration through our website or call us at 866-437-0205.