What To Do If Sewage Starts Coming Up Through Your Bathtub
Sewage coming up through your bathtub is more than just gross. It poses a major health risk as sewage contains harmful bacteria and microorganisms that can be dangerous if exposed to them. While your tub or shower will certainly need a deep cleaning when this occurs, you’ll first need to get to the root of the issue.
If you notice sewage coming up through your bathtub, research Tampa licensed plumbers right away to get it fixed.
The Reason Sewage Is Coming Up Through the Bathtub
The most common reason for sewage coming up through your bathtub is a clogged sewer line. All the sinks, toilets, and tubs connect to a single drain pipe that leads to the sewer line under your house. This drain line carries all wastewater and sewage away from your home to the city’s sewer system.
When the sewer line becomes clogged or blocked, wastewater has nowhere to go but back toward your house. This results in sewage coming up through your drains, often starting with your tub or shower.
The sewer line can become blocked by anything, but the most common culprits include:
●
Hair
●Cooking oils and grease
●Food waste
●Soap particles
●Children’s toys
●Jewelry
●Baby wipes or other non-flushable items
●Dirt
●Rocks
●Tree roots and debris
●Rodents
How To Fix A Clogged Sewer Line
When you experience sewage coming up through your bathtub, it’s always best to contact a professional, like Cass Plumbing. Attempts to fix a clogged sewer line without an experienced plumber often lead to more plumbing damage. However, you can try a few things that may loosen blockages in smaller connecting pipes.
Don’t Use A Plunger
Plungers only work to loosen obstructions near the head of the drain or toilet. It won’t be able to reach your sewer line or unclog the blockage.
Turn Off The Water
Turning the water off from the main valve will prevent excess water from flowing into already backed-up areas. This will also keep more sewage from coming up through your drains.
Check Your Vent Pipe
When vent pipes become clogged or blocked, it can lead to problems with the sewer line. By pulling any obstructions out of the pipe, your sewer line should be able to properly drain. The vent pipe can be located on your roof, usually directly over your bathroom.
Snake The Shower Drain And Toilet
Using a drain snake can help break up the object causing a blockage. By snaking both the shower drain and the toilet, you may be able to fix the issue. You’ll know you’re successful if the tub drains all sewage and wastewater.
Call A Professional – Cass Cass!
If these tactics don’t work, you will need to call a professional plumber, like Cass Plumbing. We will perform a video pipe inspection to find the source of the blockage and determine the best way to remove it. A professional will use a drain snake or conduct hydro jetting to unblock the sewer line and get things back in working condition.
If the obstacle blocking your drain line has caused any damage, you may also need your pipes repaired or even replaced.
Warning Signs To Look Out For
By recognizing signs of a blocked sewer line early, you can prevent pipe damage and sewage backup. Consider these common warning signs to look out for:
Slow Draining Water
If water drains slower than usual, it can indicate a possible blockage. A clogged sewer line will impact a home’s lowest drains first, so you should try to monitor a shower or floor drain on the first floor.
Gurgling While Draining
Listen for gurgling sounds coming from the shower drain or sink, as this is an early warning sign of a clogged sewer line.
Frequent Clogs
If your toilet or other drains continuously become clogged, you need to call a professional to look at it. While you may be able to get the water or waste to drain again, it may only be a temporary fix.
Migrating Wastewater
If you notice wastewater coming up other drains while doing your laundry or after you flushed the toilet, consider this an early warning sign that your sewer line is backed up.
Benefits Of Hiring A Professional – You won’t Go Crazy!
Often, Tampa homeowners will try to fix plumbing issues on their own, thinking it saves them money. However, what they likely fix isn’t the root cause of the problem. It may temporarily stop sewage from coming up through the bathtub, but this DIY work may lead to more costly issues down the road.
When dealing with a clogged sewer line, it’s best to leave the work to the professionals. Hiring a plumber will:
● Prevent permanent or costly damage
● Provide access to the best tools for the job
● Thoroughly remove all blockages or clogs
● Ensure sewage will stop coming up through your drains
Get A Plumbing Quote Today
If your Tampa home needs plumbing repair, call the Tampa plumbing professionals at Cass Plumbing.
The plumbing professionals at Cass Plumbing have been solving plumbing problems throughout the Tampa region for 2 decades. Cass Plumbing has earned an A+ Rating with the Tampa Better Business Bureau, is ranked as the Best Plumber in the Tampa area by Best Plumbers, and has received over 1,000 – 5 star reviews. At Cass Plumbing of Tampa Bay, we are here to serve you for all your plumbing needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
