An odd smell in the yard? The toilet makes a gurgling noise with every flush? For no apparent reason some part of the lawn has put on a sudden growth spurt and is greener than the rest?
Homeowners will tell you these are the things that get them wondering at night. More often than not they are indicative of a problem with the sewer line. We at Brotherhood Plumbing see our share of such issues in the Greater Baton Rouge area and make it our business to put an end to them for families and companies before they become a nuisance. If any of this is ringing a bell, pick up the phone and call (225) 230-6200.
You do not give your sewer line much thought as a rule, until there is trouble. And when there is, it is not always plain to see right away. But if one knows where to look, the home will offer ample warning.
Slow Drains Throughout the House
A clogged fixture here or there will slow down a drain, but a red flag is raised when more than one does so at once. That is typically a sign the main line to the municipal system is at fault, not an individual pipe.
Keep an eye out for the following:
- Sinks that are slow to empty
- Running the sink and having water come back up in the tub
- A bubbling toilet while the washer is in use
- Standing water which lingers
- Drains that seem to be on a downward trend over the course of a week or two
When you have a couple of these going on at the same time, a professional should be called in.
Foul Odors
There is no place for sewer gas in or about your home. A sound sewer line is sealed and you should be none the wiser. Should you detect it, then a blockage, break or crack is present in the line.
It will be most noticeable in the basement, by a floor drain or in the yard and will likely intensify. Some will put off dealing with the odor of sewage or rotten eggs thinking it will go away, but it is the plumbing’s way of saying something requires your attention.
Unusually Green or Soggy Lawn Patches
This is one of those things that comes as a surprise to many. A leak in the sewer line provides a sort of fertilizer from below; the grass over the crack will be thicker and of a deeper green.
The yard may also have its soft, indented spots even without any rain. If a section of lawn has the consistency of a sponge, odds are you have a sewage leak underfoot.
Gurgling Sounds
Your pipes will tell you what is up. Gurgles from the toilet or drains point to air being where it ought not to be in the line, normally due to a break or blockage mucking up the flow of waste and water. An increase in the volume or frequency of the noise means the problem is compounding.
Frequent Backups
Sewage making its way back into the house is perhaps the most unambiguous of warnings, and it will be in the lowest drains like a ground floor shower or in the basement first.
Be on the alert for:
- Toilets that back up time and again
- Waste water in the tub
- Fixtures that are all affected
- A clog that is cleared only for the backup to return
- Problems of a recurring nature
Beyond being a nuisance, a backup is a health hazard and demands prompt action.
Why These Problems Get Worse
Underground pipes are subject to their share of wear and tear, not to mention tree roots and shifting soil. Here in the Greater Baton Rouge the weather and the ground can be hard on them. What is a minor crack can be a full break in short order, and a simple repair becomes an expensive emergency.
But an early detection of the signs leaves you with options, and a licensed, insured plumber is the difference.
Call Brotherhood Plumbing
There is no point in waiting for the issue to take hold once you have seen the warning. Brotherhood Plumbing is a local concern, fully licensed and insured, and we are on hand around the clock for the residents and businesses of Ascension, Livingston and Iberville parishes and the rest of the Baton Rouge area. Our sewer line experts will put in a free estimate for you, so why put it off? Let us have a look at (225) 230-6200 today before you are faced with a major repair.
