How To Unclog Main Drain

Unclog The Main Sewer Line With A Snake

The best way to unclog the main drain is to use a professional plumbing snake system. However, if youre a first-timer, its important that you know how to use a plumbing snake, because it can actually damage your pipes if used improperly. We recommend always seeking the help of a professional plumber rather than attempting to snake your plumbing system on your own.

Belly In Sewer Line Cost

Bellied or sagging pipes have to be replaced, which costs between $1,500 and $3,000 depending on the size of the pipe that needs replacement. When the soil or ground around the pipe softens, the pipes start pressing into them and sag, which creates a negative slope in the pipeline. This belly disrupts the normal flow of water and collects water, debris, and sediment, which accumulates and clogs the pipes.

Unclog The Main Sewer With A Plumbing Snake

A plumbing snake or auger is a useful and inexpensive tool you can rent or buy at a hardware store. Hand-crank models are small and portable, while electric versions are more robust and have a longer cable. Depending on how deep the obstruction is, you may need an electric drain snake to unclog your sewer line through the cleanout plug. If you have no experience with this equipment, consider leaving the job to a professional plumber.

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S To Unclog A Main Drain Line

Fortunately, if you notice that your main sewage line is clogged, there are several things you can do to remove the block. You can start by taking these steps:

1. Get an auger and an adjustable wrench. Put on a pair of goggles and rubber gloves .

2. Locate the clean-out plug. Its usually on a large sewage pipe in your basement, garage, or the space in your yard near the your house.

3. Once you find the plug, place a bucket underneath it if its positioned vertically. The bucket will catch any waste water that will pour out of the plug.

4. Remove the plug using your adjustable wrench.

5. Once the plug is open, put the cable end of your auger into the opening. Push until you feel that it has reached an obstruction. Use the augers handle to ensure that the tip of the cable digs deep into the blockage.

6. When youre sure that the tip of the auger has attached itself into the clog, push and pull to break the blockage.

7. Check your plumbing fixtures if they drain properly.

Remember: these steps wont work if the clog in your main drain is caused by a tree root. You also have to take note that major clogs wont be unblocked by just an auger. So, if youve taken the steps above but to no avail, its definitely the right time to call a professional plumber.

Tips To Prevent Future Sewer Line Clogs

While it is important to address any issues with your main sewer line as soon as possible, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent future clogs from occurring. For example, regularly inspecting your drains and pipes for damage or blockages can help you spot potential problems before they become more serious.

Additionally, using drain guards and grease traps can help reduce the amount of solid waste and debris that accumulates in your sewer line. If you notice that your main sewer line has become clogged over time, be sure to regularly conduct basic drain maintenance in order to prevent future clogs from occurring. This can include using a drain cleaner, removing hair and other debris from drains, and running water through your pipes to flush out any buildup.

Additionally, remember that only toilet paper and human waste should go down toilet drains. Drain pipes can often be clogged when you flush feminine hygiene products like sanitary pads, thick paper towels, food, and other toiletries.

If you are unable to clear the blockage on your own or if you suspect that a more serious problem has developed with your main sewer line, it is best to consult a professional plumber.

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The Plumber Will Handle The Problem

Once a plumber knows the cause of the blockage and where its located, they can begin to fix it. Plumbers have specialized tools to help clear problem clogs, such as a hydro jetter or more industrial drain snake. If they can unblock the pipe that way, then the cost should be minimal.

If the problem is a broken pipe or tree roots, then the repair will be costly. Your plumbers will need to dig up the area around the pipe, clear the blockage and replace that section of pipe. The job can be even more difficult in winter months when the ground is harder.

If there is any way the plumber can fix the problem without digging up your yard, theyll try it. They may bring in a large truck that can shoot high-pressure water into it to clear the clog.

Unfortunately, a main sewer line blockage isnt something you can wait on repairing. A home needs water and drainage for normal, day-to-day living.

If you cant afford the total cost of the job, check if your homeowners insurance can help or if the plumbing company has payment options.

How Much Does It Cost To Have Drain Cleaning Done In Your Home

In Colorado, the average cost for drain clearing ranges from $100 to $500. The price varies depending on factors such as the severity and location of the clog.

But the good news is that we’ll clear your main drain for just $93. And the best part? If we cant clear the clog in your main sewer line, the call is free.

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How Do You Clear A Main Line Block

To clear a block in the main sewer line and stop it from wreaking havoc on your plumbing system, there are a few ways to unclog the pipe.

You could try chemical cleaners specially designed for these kinds of blocks, or you could try some of the many different tools available to you that are also designed specifically for this task.

Why Is Water Flowing Out Of The Floor Drain In My House

As the name would suggest, floor drains are secondary drains that are commonly installed on the floor in places where standing water could become dangerous or hazardous. Floor drains commonly function as a secondary gateway for excess water to flow out of an area. If your floor drain backs up or becomes slow to drain, its most likely because your plumbing system has a main sewer line clog.

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Remove The Cleanout Plug From The Drain Pipe

After identifying your cleanout, its usually easy to unscrew the cleanout plug by turning it counterclockwise with a wrench or locking-jaw pliers. However, if you own an older home, you may face a rusted-in plug. In that case, use a cleanout plug wrench with a long handle for extra leverage to loosen the plug. This universal wrench will accommodate various plug sizes and configurations, allowing you to loosen and remove your cleanout plug with ease.

What Should I Do If My Main Drain Is Clogged

Many homeowners have experienced a clogged drain and have given little thought to it. Drain cleaning products are a fast a cheap DIY option that usually gets the job done. However, a main drain clog is usually a sign of something more serious and should be addressed by a professional plumber as soon as possible. Main sewer clogs will usually cause water or sewage to back up out of a drain, toilet or some other part of your plumbing system, and can be a very unpleasant experience.

What is a main drain?

The sewer main drain is a very important component of your homes plumbing system. If you think of the drain system in the house like you would think of a tree, the main sewer line drain would be the trunk, and secondary drains to the toilets, sinks, and bathrooms would be the branches. The secondary drains all connect to the main sewer drain line that transports the wastewater to your homes septic tank or the citys sewer system. Unfortunately, since this is not visible, many homeowners do not know much about a main sewer line drain, or what to do if that main drain is clogged.

What are the warning signs that my main drain may be clogged?

How do I fix a main drain clog?

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How To Get Rid Of Clogged Drain

Simply pour some hot water down your clogged drain and follow it up with equal parts baking soda and vinegar , cover the drain with a plug if you have one, let it sit for 20-30 minutes, then follow it up with more hot water to clear the clog.

Similarly one may ask,what can i pour down a drain to unclog it?

Follow these easy steps to unclog your drain:

Likewise,how do you unclog a drain at home naturally? Pour 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down drain. Plug drain, and let sit for one hour. Then, pour a pot of boiling water down drain. Repeat if necessary.

Accordingly,how do you unclog a main drain without a snake?

How to Unclog Main Sewer Line Without a Snake

Does Coke clear blocked drain?

Coke or Pepsi are great for vanquishing a clog! Coke and Pepsi are loaded with phosphoric acid, which breaks down buildup that can clog your drains! Phosphoric acid can even remove lime scale and other tough buildup that regular cleaners struggle with.

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What Should You Do If Sewage Is Coming Out Of Your Sewer Cleanout Pipe

After you find your sewer cleanout, look and see if you see sewage standing in the sewer cleanout. If sewage or dirty water is coming out of your homes sewer line cleanout, or if there is water standing around the cleanout pipe, this confirms you have a main sewer line clog. You should immediately call the professionals at Plumbline to clear the main sewer line clog of your Colorado home.

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Do Regular Sewer Maintenance

Almost every homeowner has dealt with a clogged drain. Solving the problem usually requires snaking the drain, but not always. Sometimes the issue is much worse than you might realize and could result in a costly affair at some future date, such as paying a plumber or drain-cleaning service over $500 to clear your line.

The best way to avoid major expenses is to implement a sewer-maintenance program, including identifying common causes of a clogged sewer line and how to prevent them. Some preventive practices include paying attention to what you flush down the toilet, using food strainers or hair catchers, flushing your drains once a month, etc.

How To Clear Floor Drains And Main Drainpipe Blockages

For clogged floor drains, such as those in basements and showers, a garden hose can be effective in unclogging drains, especially if the clog is not close to the opening. Attach the hose to a faucet, feed the hose into the drain as far as it will go, and jam rags around the hose at the opening. Then turn the water on full force for a few moments.

If you suspect a clog is in the main drainpipe, locate the main clean out. This is a Y-shape fitting near the bottom of your home’s soil stack or where the drain leaves the building. Set a large pail or container under the clean out, and spread plenty of papers and rags around the site to soak up the backed-up water.

Using a pipe wrench, slowly unscrew the clean-out plug counterclockwise, trying to control the flow of water that will seep from the clean out. Once the flow has stopped and you’ve cleaned up the flooded site, insert the auger to remove the debris.

If you still haven’t located the blockage, another place you can try is the house trap. This is a U-shape fitting installed underground. You can locate it by finding two adjacent clean-out plugs in the floor, if the main drain runs under the floor. Again, place papers and rags around the site before opening the clean out nearest to the sewer outside.

The drain trap is an integral part of your home’s drainage system. We’ll show you how to replace a drain trap in the following section.

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How To Unclog Main Sewer Line Without A Snake: Baking Soda

A plumbing snake provides a mechanical option of unclogging the main sewer line. However, if the mechanical option is unavailable, using baking soda to deal with the problem might be the best idea.

Baking soda is a natural remedy packed with more potency to help you unclog your clogged main sewer line drains. This is a more effective unclogging method than hot water because the combination gives you better results especially when dealing with more stubborn clogs that do not loosen easily.

All you need to do is take a cupful of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Consequently, pour a cupful of white vinegar down the same drain. Thereafter, wait for around 10-15 minutes for the baking soda and vinegar solution to break up and clear the clog.

After those 15 minutes, run some hot water down the drains to check if the clog has cleared. A mixture of baking soda and white vinegar works to unclog your main sewer line by reacting inside the drains to break the clog down and consequently clear it away.

Sign #: Multiple Drains Are Backing Up

Your homes drain lines carry wastewater away from your home and are designed like a treethe trunk is the main sewer line while the branches are smaller, secondary drain lines that connect to each water fixture .

Every water fixtures drain eventually connects to the main sewer line, a blockage in that main line will affect various drains in your home. The visual will help you understand how your home drains and show how a main backup can impact multiple drains in your home.

To diagnose check the following water fixtures:

If more than one drain is slow moving, gurgling, smells bad or has water backing up, you most likely have a main sewer clog.

You see, your homes drain lines carry wastewater away from your home and are designed like a treethe trunk is the main sewer line while the branches are smaller, secondary drain lines that connect to each water fixture .

And because every water fixtures drain eventually connects to the main sewer line, a blockage in that main line will affect various drains in your home.

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Using Household Tools To Unclog A Drain

How To Unclog Main Sewer Line Without A Cleaning Snake

by MD Sewer | Jun 24, 2022 | Blog |

Have you ever had to deal with a clogged main sewer line? Its not a fun experience, thats for sure. Trying to figure out how to unclog it can be tricky, too especially if you dont have a cleaning snake. But dont worry, were here to help! In this post, well show you how to unclog main sewer line without a cleaning snake.

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Preparing To Unclog The Line