Drain The Main

As a homeowner, there’s a good chance you know your way around some common plumbing tools–including plungers, liquid drain cleaners, and maybe even a plumber’s snake–to deal with clogged sinks or toilets. These types of clogs rarely need the expertise of a licensed plumber. However, if you find yourself plunging your toilets and sinks more frequently than you think you should, you might have a blocked main sewer line.

Simply put, the main line is the line that runs beneath your yard. It carries wastewater from your house and dumps it into your septic tank or the municipal sewer system. A blocked main line is a major plumbing problem. “This is a problem you should not attempt to fix yourself,” explains Master Plumber Alan Burkhalter, founder of local Alan’s Plumbing. “Here are some indicators that you might have a clogged main line. If you experience any of these, give a plumber a call ASAP!”

Gurgling. If you hear gurgling from your sink or toilet, that’s a sign that something is amiss with your main line. As clogs build within the line and the water is trying to drain, it can cause bubbling or gurgling sounds.

Drains run slowly. Oftentimes, a drain may run slowly because of a small clog such as hair in the bathtub…these are easy to remove. However, if several of the drains in your home are running slowly, that’s a symptom of a clogged main line.

Foul odor. If your drains smell bad and you haven’t put anything particularly odorous down the sink or garbage disposal, that could be a sign of a clogged main line.

What causes a clogged main sewer line?

“Most of the time, it’s flushing inappropriate items (like feminine hygiene products and disposable diapers) down the toilet, tree root infiltration, or the age and condition of the pipes. Our team can repair your clogged main line by locating the clog and determining what caused it. We

by Amy Sharp

have access to rooters, hydro-jetting, and commercial-grade chemicals to dislodge the clog. If the tree roots have grown into the pipes, it may be necessary to excavate your yard to repair the pipes…and if necessary, have the tree removed.”

Alan’s licensed team includes his brother Chris and his son Luke, both of whom are also Master Plumbers. Alan’s son Beau is journeyman-licensed and studying for his master plumber license. His son Jake is an apprentice close to his journeyman license. Journeyman-licensed plumber Jaime, tradesman-licensed Trevor, and plumbing apprentice Christian complete this local plumbing team.

If you suspect you may have a clogged main sewer line, get in touch with Alan’s Plumbing right away. The longer you wait, the worse the clog will get, and the more expensive it can be to repair.