Your drain pipe might be the reason why sewage is backing up into your bathtub
Have you noticed a large pool of questionable water in your bathtub after you flushed the toilet? Besides being absolutely disgusted, you probably also suspected something’s not quite right.
What causes this nasty plumbing problem? The most likely culprit is a clogged sewer line.
In this blog post, we’ll explain:
Let’s start by looking at how a clogged sewer line can cause water to back up in the tub.
Need a plumber to clear the sewer line? Call Red Cap Plumbing or request an appointment online. We’ll quickly dispatch one of our Tampa plumbers to find and clear the source of the clog.
The drains that connect to all of the plumbing fixtures in your home (toilets, sinks, bathtubs, etc.) feed into one main sewer line. The main sewer line carries waste away from your home and into a city wastewater treatment facility.
Normally, when your drains and the main sewer line are clear of debris, water flows quickly and effortlessly out of your home when you flush the toilet (as seen in the image below).
Diagram of a healthy drain system
However, if there is a clog in the main sewer drain line, wastewater will get directed to the next opening. In this case, the nearest escape path is your bathtub (see image below).
Diagram of main sewer line clog
Unless the clog is very severe, the water in your bathtub should eventually empty out within a few minutes and go back into the main sewer drain. But it still leaves an undesirable mess in your tub.
Besides water backing up into the bathtub, you’ll also know you have a sewer line clog if you notice the following signs:
What causes sewer lines to clog up in the first place? Let’s take a closer look …
Several things can cause a sewer line to clog, including:
One of these issues likely explains why your sewer line is clogged, but how can you fix it?
For clogs in the main sewer line, you’ll need to contact a plumber for a professional drain clearing.
Here’s why: Deep underground clogs in the main sewer line are difficult to reach. To reach the clog and clear it, the plumber will need to use advanced equipment.
First, the plumber will perform a video inspection using a drain camera to find the exact location of the clog. Then, depending on the location and severity of the clog, the plumber will use one of the following tools to clear the clog:
Tree roots taken from plumbing pipes with an auger
Call Red Cap Plumbing or request an appointment online. We’ll quickly dispatch one of our skilled plumbers to unclog your sewer line.
Learn more about what to expect when you hire us by visiting our drain-clearing page.