Tips For Fixing a Backed Up Main Drain Line

Having one clogged drain is bad enough. In any case, one clogged drain may still be fixed easily, as the blockage could just be limited to that particular drain. However, when all your other drains are showing signs of being clogged, there’s a possibility that your main drain line may be backed up.

Ideally, fixing a backed up main drain line should be left to professional plumbers. However, if you want to give it a try, here are some useful tips for fixing a backed up main drain line.

Try Clearing the Individual Drains First

For this task, you can use a plunger to try and clear any given drain. For a clogged tub or sink, pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar might help. You can also try a drain snake to try and dislodge the blockage. If none of these work, then it’s time to try fixing a backed up main drain line.

Find the Sewer Cleanout

A sewer cleanout is a capped pipe that gives people access to a sewer line for cleaning. They can be hard to find though, so you’ll have to spend some time looking for one. You can look for one in the front yard, the sides of the house especially where bathrooms are located and inside the house near or behind toilets. When you find one, remove the cleanout plug.

Use Hot Water and Drain Snake to Remove Clog

Pour hot water down the cleanout while using a drain snake at the same time to try and remove the clog in the mainline. You may also use a plunger with the drain snake at the same time.

Find and Use the House P-Trap

A P-trap is a pipe that is made up of a tailpiece, the curved trap piece, and a drain elbow. It is usually U-shaped and can be found in the drain line that has the cleanout plugs. Use a drain snake as well to try and dislodge the blockage in the main drain line.

If all of your efforts still do not take care of the backed-up toilets, sinks, and tubs, it’s time to throw in the towel and call a professional plumber. They have the skills, training, experience, and tools necessary to locate and fix a backed-up main drain line. Professional plumbers can do the job quickly and efficiently without causing damage to any other component of your plumbing system.