As a homeowner, dirty water coming up through your shower drain and into your bathtub is never a good sign – especially if it reeks of raw sewage. Most commonly, when something like this happens, it’s a sign of a larger issue such as a drain clog. A sewer drain clog is a serious issue as it could cause sewage backup to come out of your drain.
What Is “Dirty Water”?
Dirty water refers to any water that has been previously used and not treated. There are different types of dirty water, including blackwater, brownwater and greywater. Your toilet, sink, and bathtub drain all feed into the sewer line, and if that water is coming back up the drains, you could experience some serious sanitation issues. Failing to address these problems immediately could lead to severe damage.
When dirty water comes up in your bathtub, it is usually considered a sewer line problem. The sewer line connects to your toilet, sink, bathtub, and shower and runs outside to your septic tank or the city’s sewer system. A sewer line clog can be caused by tree roots, flushed items, or grease buildup. First, it’s important to know that no amount of plunging will dislodge the clog in a sewer line. Plungers are for clogs in the toilet itself, not the sewer line. In the case of tree roots, the roots should be cut out of the pipe and the pipe would need to be repaired. If you suspect you have a clogged sewer line, it’s important to call a professional plumber as soon as possible.
Fixing A Clogged Drain
- Video Inspection
- Hydro Jetting
- Drain Cleaning Snake
- Main Line Replacement
Through today’s technology, skilled plumbing professionals like FloHawks can perform a video inspection of your plumbing system to locate and determine the condition of deteriorating and corroded pipes. After we have assessed the issue with our plumbing cameras, we can easily determine how to clear the line.
Hydro jetting is an effective solution to stubborn clogs. Slow drains are common first signs that your pipes have accumulated buildup. While many homeowners turn to do-it-yourself products to unclog drains, it’s important to understand that sometimes these chemicals can cause more harm than good and can also damage your septic tank system. Hydro jetting is an environmentally preferred way to clear your lines without the use of harsh chemicals. Before resorting to a major plumbing procedure like pipe replacement, having a hydro jet clean problem pipes can save you a lot of time and money.
A drain snake is a long flexible metal cable with a spiral of metal at the end and is fairly low-tech. This tool is sent down into the drain and breaks up any blockages that may be in the pipe. A drain snake is perfect for small clogs or for instances when objects like toys or other items are dropped into the drain.
In some more extreme cases, the clog is caused by root infiltration in the mainline. This happens when tree roots and/or debris make their way into the line that leads to the septic tank or sewer through cracks. Our trained technicians can dig out the affected mainline and replace it with a new one and then bury it once again.
Your family’s health and safety are our top priority, so we’re here for any emergency plumbing situations that may arise. Call us today at (800) 356-4295 or use our online scheduler here.
