What to Expect from Your Plumber during a Sewer Line Blockage Repair

During a sewer line blockage, you will instantly notice the mess, either by seeing the leaking water or perception of the putrid smell. Such blockages are regarded as plumbing emergencies, and your best bet is to call a plumbing company as fast as you can.  What will the plumber(s) do on arrival?

The first step the plumber will take is to ensure all sources of water into the sewer are blocked off until they have isolated the cause of the problem. Then they will work out where the line is located and find all the different drains that are connected to the sewer line.

They will check the plumbing fixtures. Qualified plumbers will not force anything through the clogged sewer line, They will professionally check fixtures like the toilet, sinks, tub and shower sinks and garbage disposals (where available) to isolate the problem point. Experienced hands usually pinpoint the problem at this point.

When the plumber suspects that the sewer line is only blocked and not completely broken, the next step is to use a plunger to unclog waste and debris. Small blockages are usually dealt with in this manner. It is why most people have plungers in the home. In fact, you should consider using a plunger in the plumbing fixture that is backing up before calling in a plumber. If the blockage is minor, the plunger is usually enough. For bigger problems, on the other hand, the plumber will use special equipment like sewer jet nozzles and air bust drain cleaners to break up clogged waste and debris.  Crude plumbers may use the DIY method of mixing hot water and vinegar and pouring it down the drain. This method could work in some cases but you would have to wait several hours for a result.

If the sewer line is broken or busted, the plumber will recommend a repair. In some cases, the repair will require cutting through walls.  For harder to reach lines, it is often difficult to know where to begin with the process for the uninitiated, but professional plumbers have the right tools to quickly inspect the line and get to work.  Top companies have leak detection equipment and sewer line inspection cameras that can be used to map out the location of the sewer line. Where there are no signs of leaks, the plumber may use leak detector devices (usually non-intrusive) to pinpoint noise such as loud gurgling (a perfect indicator of clogging). During camera inspections, your sewer line is analyzed from the area backing up, to isolate any problems inside of the piping system.  Plumbers using inspection equipment charge a little bit more than others, but the inspection is vital for a comprehensive solution to your sewer line problems. Camera inspections enable the plumber to pinpoint parts of your building structure that have to be dug up to effect a repair.

During sewer line blockages, there is usually the temptation to find solutions solely on your own. This is possible when the sewer line structure is obvious and when blockages are minor. Unfortunately, many buildings feature an elusive plumbing system that requires the experience of a qualified plumber. Calling an expert plumber during a sewer line blockage repair is your surest way to get your sewer system back to optimum functionality and avoid spending more money than necessary as a result of costly mistakes.