Your sewer lines are buried underneath your property. They run from your home to the city sewer or septic tank. When these lines become damaged or clogged, they can burst and lead to sewage backups and pooling water in your lawn — which is not only a smelly nuisance but also a health hazard.

By learning to recognize the warning signs of sewer line issues, you can help prevent a damaged line from becoming a costly catastrophe.

Indoor Warning Signs

1. Sewage Backups

If you’re experiencing frequent sewage backups despite your attempts to clear your sewer line, you may have a more serious problem on your hands.

2. Unpleasant Odors

Sewage odors around your property are generally a sure-fire signs you have a ruptured sewer line or clog somewhere in your sewer line. A plumbing contractor can inspect your sewer lines with a video inspection camera to be sure. This doesn’t require digging.

3. Slow Draining

If one of your toilets or sinks is slowly draining, you likely have a clog somewhere. However, if you have several drains in your home that aren’t draining properly, it’s likely you have a problem with your drain line. All of your drains go into this mainline, so if you’re dealing with several plumbing problems all at once, you may need to have your sewer line inspected and/or replaced.

Attempting to resolve this issue yourself with chemical drain cleaners is not only ineffective for this type of problem, but you may potentially damage your pipes.

Outdoor Warning Signs

When a sewer line suffers a crack or ruptures, you may see evidence on your lawn. Pay attention if you notice any of the below signs.

4. Pools of Wastewater on Your Lawn

Sewage pooling on your property is often the most obvious sign you have a sewer line break. This can also be a sign of a clogged drainfield, if you use a septic system, or a mainline issue if you are connected to the municipal sewer.

2. Soggy Patches on Your Lawn

Do you have soggy patches on your lawn? This means there is a lot of water beneath. If you can’t account for the extra moistness in your lawn, it’s highly likely the pipes underground are damaged.

3. Lush Patches of Grass

When a sewer line breaks, wastewater is released in the soil on your property, fertilizing it. So if you have patches of grass that are more thick and green than the rest of your lawn, you may have a sewer line problem.

Experts in Sewer Line Line Replacement

A damaged sewer line can contaminate your groundwater and flood your property with wastewater, not only causing extensive damage but also putting your family’s health at risk.

Whether you want to learn the condition of your pipes or need your sewer line repaired or replaced, you can count on the plumbing contractors at D&F Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. We’ve been getting the job done right since 1927!