How Do You Know If Your Main Drain Is Clogged?

1. Dark Water. One of the signature symptoms of a main-drain clog is water backing up in your tubs or showers. …
2. Slow-Moving Drains. Take a minute to think about the drains in your home. …
3. Gurgling Sounds. …
4. Clogged Plumbing Fixtures. …
5. Turn Off the Water. …
6. Call a Plumber.

How do you unclog a main drain line?

1. Loosen the cap on the drain pipe. …
2. Allow any sewer buildup to come out of the drain. …
3. Gently feed the auger cable into the main line drain. …
4. Run the auger until the clog is broken up. …
5. Hose out leftover debris. …
6. Pull the auger cable back out of the main line drain.

How do you know if your main line is clogged?

1. Gurgling sounds coming from the toilet. …
2. Multiple slow-running drains in your home (low water pressure)
3. Water coming out of your shower when using the washing machine.
4. Foul odors coming from your drains.
5. Sewage coming back up through drains.

How much does it cost to unclog a main sewer line?

Cleaning a sewer line costs an

average of $323

with a typical range between $175 and $473. Snaking or Rodding: $100-$250 or about the cost of a service call. Fixing main line clogs can run twice as much.

Is my main drain clogged?

Early warning signs of the drain being clogged are

hearing bubbling or gurgling sounds

coming from one or more of your drains. Or your toilet water or faucets may bubble, and waste water may back up into your tub or shower drain when you flush.

Will Drano unclog main sewer line?

NOPE

. Drano

^®

will not damage pipes or plumbing. Drano

^®

products are powerful enough to dissolve nasty clogs, but they will not harm your plastic or metal pipes, so there's no need to worry. In fact, Drano

^®

Max Gel Clog Remover contains a special ingredient that prevents pipe corrosion.

How do you unclog a main drain without a snake?

1. Step 1 – Run Hot Water. Running hot water for 5 to 10 minutes can help shake loose anything that is partially clogging the drain. …
2. Step 2 – Use a Chemical Drain Cleaner. …
3. Step 3 – Apply the Plunger.

Can you snake a main sewer line?

Main sewer snaking can be

done through a ground level accessible cleanout

, a roof vent, or by pulling the toilet and snaking through the flange. Snaking through ground level cleanouts are preferred and usually the easiest way to tackle a tough main sewer clog.

How long does it take to unclog a sewer line?

The acid in these drains destroys the lining of your sewer pipes. That's why smart homeowners choose professional drain cleaners to restore their pipes quickly. Drain cleaning from the professionals just takes a couple of hours. You can expect your cleaning company to finish the task in

less than three hours

.

What causes a blocked sewer line?

Sewer line blockages are usually caused by

a broken sewer pipe or tree roots that have grown into the pipes

. … Tree roots are also a common culprit busting through the pipe and growing into it, blocking the flow. It's also possible a severe clog such as years of grease buildup has blocked the pipe.

How do you unclog a deep clogged?

Pour boiling hot water down the drain. This can dissolve mildew, slime, soap scum, and other similar clogs. Put half a cup of baking soda in the drain, then

pour half a cup of vinegar down after it

. Let this mixture sit for an hour, and then check the drain.

Where is the main drain cleanout?

The cleanout is usually a 4-inch-diameter pipe with a screw cap that has a square knob or indentation on the top. It's most likely going to be popping up from the ground outside your home between the foundation and the street. The cleanout might also be on the side of the home,

closest to the bathroom

.

What happens if sewer line is clogged?

If your main sewer line is clogged, all the sewage and waste water sitting in the pipes have nowhere to escape. Which means, eventually,

the sewage will force its way into a secondary drain

. And when this happens, you'll soon be able to see (and smell) sewage coming up from floor drains.

Will Coke unclog a drain?

Coke. Coke is a lesser-known fix you can find in your refrigerator. Pour a 2-liter bottle of cola — Pepsi, Coke, or generic brand substitutes —

down the clogged drain

. Coke is actually quite caustic and effective at clearing away buildup in your drains, but it's far milder than commercial drain cleaners.

What is the best main line drain cleaner?

• Best Overall: Drano Max Gel Clog Remover. …
• Best for Shower: Pequa Drain Opener. …
• Best for Sink: Rockwell Invade Bio Drain Gel. …
• Best for Septic System: Bio-Clean Drain Septic Bacteria. …
• Best for Garbage Disposal: Green Gobbler Refresh Drain & Disposal Deodorizer. …
• Best for Hair: Instant Power Hair and Grease Drain Cleaner.

Why do plumbers say not to use Drano?

Drano sits in a pipe until the clog dissolves

, continually reacting and generating heat. Toilet bowls can crack. PVC pipes can soften and eventually break. Old, corroded pipes can be easily damaged, and Drano can quickly eat away at the glue holding pipes together.