SERVING 
A collapsed sewer line is no fun for anybody.
Sewer line issues can result in damage to your home, not to mention serious inconveniences (e.g. not being able to use any water). Busted sewer lines can also make your home smell terrible, and nobody wants that!
If you think you may have a sewer problem, keep reading. We’ll go through some tell-tale signs of a broken or collapsed sewer line on your property.
Why do sewer lines break or collapse?
Sewer lines can break or collapse for a variety of reasons, but age and material type are among the more common causes. Many sewer lines on older properties were made from less robust material than what we use today. Over time, these pipes can deteriorate and collapse.
In other cases of sewer line failure, the pipes weren’t installed properly. Poor installation can result in cracks, damage, and, ultimately, total collapse of the sewer line.
And then there’s the issue of tree root intrusion, which is common on older properties with large trees. As they grow, tree roots can break into old, brittle sewer lines and destroy them.
Regardless of the cause, you want to know how to identify a collapsed or broken sewer line as soon as possible! That way, you might avoid some of the more inconvenient, expensive (and smelly) problems it can cause.
Here are seven signs that you may have a broken or collapsed sewer line.
1. Sewage backup in your drains
When this happens, there’s almost definitely a problem with your sewer line.
A broken sewer line can’t drain, so sewage might back up into your lower level drains. People tend to see this with basement floor drains since the lowest level of your home is the first place any sewage would reach.
In homes without basements, you might see sewage backup in first-floor sinks or showers. But in these cases, there’s a good chance you’ll see other signs before any sewage actually appears in your home.
Speaking of…
2. Sounds and odors
When you’ve got a collapsed or broken sewer line, you may hear gurgling sounds coming from your drain. That’s the sound of water struggling to make its way through your pipes.
You might also notice foul odors coming from your drains. If there’s a sewer line issue, this is the smell of sewage and wastewater that’s sitting in your pipe because it can’t drain to the city sewer system.
Most of the time, you’ll notice these things before the problem gets so bad that there’s sewage backup in a drain. Not always, but usually.
A quick, important note: Any time you notice sewage smells or gurgling sounds from your pipes (and visible sewage backup, obviously), the first thing to do is stop running water and flushing toilets! Turn the water completely off if you have to! The more water you run, the worse the problem will become.
Of course, when you notice bad smells or gurgles from your drains, you might also have…
3. Slow draining sinks and showers
Sometimes, you don’t hear or smell anything coming from your plumbing fixtures. You just notice that it takes a long time for water to drain. And this is true everywhere–not just in one sink or shower.
When you have slow drains throughout the house, you could have a sewer line problem. While you might just have a clog in a relatively accessible area of the main drain line–not your sewer pipe–it’s best to err on the side of caution here.
After all, a clog is still a clog. You’ll want to remove it no matter where it is.
When you notice this or any of the issues we’ve discussed thus far, it’s essential to figure out what’s going on. A licensed plumber can perform a sewer camera inspection to discover exactly what’s happening with your sewer line, whether that’s a blockage, pipe damage, or something else.
4. Clogs in more than one drain
This problem is related to slow draining fixtures. Sometimes, you won’t have a slow drain–you’ll have sinks and showers that don’t drain. At all.
One clogged drain usually isn’t a big deal. You might have to remove a clump of hair or use a plumber’s snake to bust up a small, localized blockage.
But if you’ve got multiple clogged drains that all seem to have clogged at the same time, it usually means there’s a sewer line problem.
The best course of action is to stop running water and call a licensed plumber to perform a sewer camera inspection.
5. Unusually lush areas in your yard
You know what your yard looks like. If something about it changes suddenly, you’ll notice.
So if you walk out one day and realize there’s an area that seems strangely lush–greener than the grass around it, for example–that usually isn’t a matter of chance.
It might mean your sewer line is broken.
We realize this sounds kind of gross, but biological waste (i.e. sewage) actually functions as a fertilizer and can facilitate plant growth. Think: using manure as fertilizer. It’s essentially the same thing.
This is a sign of a potential problem with your sewer line. It might mean that the line is broken. At this point, it might just be cracked.
While a cracked line is less serious than a broken line, you definitely want to address it before it collapses. Because if it does, you might end up with…
6. Standing sewage in your yard
It’s as gross as it sounds.
A common sign of a broken or collapsed sewer line is pooled sewage in your yard. You will see it and you will smell it. So will the rest of the neighborhood.
In some cases, you’ll notice a sinkhole forming before you actually see any sewage. Then, as the hole caves in deeper, you’ll start to see moisture and smell whatever escaped from the pipe.
When this happens, things are usually pretty serious. You’ll want to call a licensed plumber ASAP.
7. Increased pest activity
This one isn’t always indicative of a sewer line problem, but we decided to include it anyway. There are lots of reasons why rats or roaches might suddenly appear on your property, many of which have nothing to do with a collapsed sewer line.
However, increased pest activity sometimes does indicate a sewage leak.
These little critters live in and travel through sewer lines. So if there’s a broken or damaged area in your sewer system, you might see more of them.
Needless to say, this is a health hazard. These pests might be tracking little bits of their, um, home throughout your living space. And that’s gross.
So if you’re seeing more pests all of a sudden, try to figure out the cause right away!
Worried about a broken or collapsed sewer line? Here’s what to do
A sewer line problem is a hair-on-fire plumbing emergency. Whether the line is broken, compromised by tree roots, or even just cracked, it’s not something to ignore. It won’t go away. In fact, it will only get worse with time.
At PV Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we’re drain and sewer specialists. Our team can identify any kind of sewer line blockage or damage and point you to the best possible solution for your home.
If you live in Metro Atlanta and think you may have a sewer line problem, call us today at (404) 798-9672 or fill out the form below to get in touch!
