Homeowners don’t typically think about their local sewer systems. Perhaps when they watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the local sewer flits through their minds, but it’s unlikely. Modern plumbing has become so prevalent in the United States that most people don’t consider their sewage system unless a sewer line bursts, spewing raw sewage everywhere.

Before any issues occur with your home’s sewage lines, learn the subtle hints that reveal a mounting problem. Even though you can’t see a leaking sewage pipe from above ground, you can experience the unfortunate symptoms of the leak. When a sewer pipe leaks, it lets sewage waste travel through the ground, seeping upward. When you spot a puddle of foul-smelling brown or black goo in your yard or near it, you’ve probably spotted leaking sewage.

A cracked sewage pipe emits less overt signals, like a bad smell, and this leak or crack could occur on your side of the sewer line or the city’s side. You only have the legal right to fix the problem if it occurs in the piping on your property. When you suspect a sewage problem and a plumbing professional determines it doesn’t stem from your lines, phone the city hotline to report the problem. It may take the municipal sewer department some time to address the issue, but they usually create a work order the same or the following day of a report.

So, besides this obvious signal that your home needs sewage drainage repair or septic repair, what indicates a huge problem? Next, we explore three answers to the question, “How do you know if your sewer line is broken?”

Residential sewer lines are responsible for carrying all our waste and sewage to its proper place — but as many of America’s sewer lines reach ages of almost 100 years old, sewer line repairs are going to become more common than ever.

As a homeowner, however, knowing how to tell if your own sewer lines need a repair or replacement can be difficult, since you can’t necessarily look at your sewer lines without digging through 12 to 24 inches of dirt.

Could your sewer lines be in dire need of a sewer line repair or cleaning? Find out with this list of the three biggest signs of disrepair in sewer lines:

Fluctuating toilet water levels

One of the first indicators of clogged sewer lines is a change in the toilet water level in your home. If you notice that your toilets’ water levels change frequently, it’s time to call in a professional to repair your clogged sewer line.

Abnormally slow drains

If your sinks and showers take longer than they should to drain, your sewer lines may be in trouble. If water starts to come back up through the drains, this is an even more serious problem and should be looked at immediately. In this case, a trenchless pipe repair or similar procedure may be necessary.

Bad smells and sounds

Typically, sewer lines that have been damaged or corroded will cause bad odors to rise up through your home’s drains, or you may hear clanging noises as water drains down your sinks or showers. It’s important to take action soon after noticing these sounds and smells so the problem doesn’t end up worsening and causing damage within your house.

Have any other questions or comments for us about trenchless pipe repair or water line repair? Let us know by leaving a comment below this article! For more about this, go here.