You can put up with a leaking tap.
You can live with low water pressure.
One plumbing problem very few people can tolerate, however, is a blocked sewer pipe.
Lots of things go down your pipes into the sewer (much of it unpleasant!)
When your sewer pipe is blocked, wastewater has nowhere to go… except back to where it came from!
The result? Gurgling noises, overflowing drains and a foul odour stinking up your entire house.
Take it from us, it’s not a pleasant experience!
Oftentimes, these nasty experiences are the result of a blocked sewer pipe.
While you might be able to unclog a toilet or drain by yourself, when it comes to sewer pipes, it’s best to leave it to a professional to get your water flowing again.
But how can you tell when it’s a problem with your sewer pipes, and not a problem with an S-bend, for instance?
And most importantly, how can H2-Pro’s local Eltham plumber fix it before things get even worse?
But first, an important message about Yarra Valley Water’s new sewer connection
Many homes around these suburbs are also ready to connect to Yarra Valley Water’s new sewer system.
If your property is affected, you will have received a letter from YVW. Find out more about what you need to do here.
What does your sewer line do?
Few of us put much thought towards where our wastewater go once it enters our drains or pipes – many of us take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach towards our greywater.
Whether it’s your kitchen sink, shower or toilet, it all goes to the same place: the main sewer line. Water from your home (and homes around you) are transported via the main sewer to treatment or disposal facilities.
And connecting your home plumbing system to the main sewer line is your home sewer pipe.
Drains in your home are connected to this pipe, with wastewater from the entire house flowing through this pipe to your sewer. A blockage in this pipe can completely disrupt the outflow of water from your home.
Why does this matter?
Simply put, in most houses the sewer connection is a single point of failure for your entire plumbing system.
Individually, your drains might be fine, but a block in your sewer connection stops all the other drains in your house from letting water flow out.
Not to mention, it prevents you from using your home’s plumbing fixtures completely until the blockage is resolved.
Very few of us can live without running water… if your sewer connection raises problems, it’s time to call an emergency Eltham plumber! Call now: (03) 9844 1444.
How can I tell if my sewer connection is blocked?
While the consequences of a blocked sewer line aren’t pleasant, fortunately for you, the signs of a blocked sewer line are pretty difficult to miss.
Water overflowing is a dead giveaway for a blocked drain or pipe.
But when every drain and sink is backing up, that’s an unmissable sign the issue lies with your sewer connection. After all, it’s highly unlikely that every single drain in the house would block at the same time!
This can cause dirty water to flood back into your home if left unsolved. Needless to say, problems like these can cause water contamination and health hazards.
Another symptom of a blocked sewer connection is gurgling sound every time you flush or turn on a tap anywhere in your house.
A partial block can cause water to drain slowly – if the accompanying air bubbles can’t leave your house via the sewer line, they find another way:
back the way they came.
Finally, a sudden foul odour can also be a sign of a sewer line blockage. Without an exit to flow out of, waste water sits in your pipes – and oftentimes, that means a truly nasty smell!
Why is my sewer connection clogged?
One of the most common causes of clogs we see at H2-Pro is the mistake of treating your drains and toilets as an extra rubbish bin.
Believe it or not, a lot of the stuff we assume is flushable really isn’t.
Specifically, items like:
- Tissues
- Wet wipes
- Earbuds
- Cotton wool balls
- Cooking oil and grease
- Sanitary products
These are common culprits in many cases of drain blockages. And if they get far enough, they can often cause blockages in your sewer connection too.
Of course, in many houses the sewer connection isn’t the same as your run-of-the-mill pipe. Sewer connections usually use pipes with a wide diameter.
A lot of wastewater flows out via this connection – that’s why wider pipes are picked for the job.
Of course, they’re not invincible. Mother nature is a force to be reckoned with. In many cases, tree roots can find their way into your sewer line, and settle in this perfect breeding environment.
Fixing a blocked sewer connection: can it be done?
Fixing a blocked drain or toilet isn’t that hard if you have a plunger and a bit of patience.
When it’s your sewer connection line that clogs however, that’s when you run into issues.
Whatever you do, never try to clean out your sewer line yourself. Not only is it messy work, but sewers are a hotbed of toxic gases – we don’t mean to alarm you, but these gases can kill.
Fortunately, your plumber in Eltham is more than capable of fixing your sewer connection pipe safely and effectively!
How our local plumbers fix a blocked sewer connection
We begin with an inspection to determine exactly where the blockage is. If it turns out the problem is on public land, it’s your water company’s responsibility to fix. Get on the phone and alert them to the problem immediately.
If the problem is on your block of land, however, your plumber will move on to clearing your sewer connection.
We have a range of tools at their disposal to clear blockages. Augers are dedicated blockage removal devices that can twist and bend to fit into your pipes to clear them.
Anyone can buy one from Bunnings, however the augers qualified plumbers use are much more capable – many plumbers use augers that are up to 20 metres long (or more) to reach and clear blockages.
All we need to do is find an access point (usually on the outside of you house) and get to work!
Contact our Eltham plumber to check and fix your sewer pipe
If you live near Eltham, Warrandyte or the surrounding suburbs and are experiencing sewage problems, get in touch with our friendly H2-Pro team!
If you’re sick of dealing with blocked drains and an indescribable stench throughout your home, book a visit from H2-Pro today!
Call us on (03) 9844 1444 for all your piping problems or reach us here with your questions.
