Think of the sewer line as a pipe that leads wastewater, including sewage, away from your house. The thing about the sewage line is that it can break or damage over time, which is why, as a homeowner, you should always be proactive.
In other words, you should be aware of the signs of a sewer leak before it turns into a bigger problem.
Detect the Smell of Sewer Gas
As a homeowner, you should know the difference between sewer gas and natural gas. Natural gas smells like rotten eggs – sewer gas smells like sewage. If your sewer lines are backing up and sewer water starts backing up in the form of coming up the bottom of your toilet or in the shower – you will be able to detect it through the smell.
Understand the Purpose of P-Traps
However, there might be another factor that could cause that. Underneath all the sinks and drains, you have something known as the “p-trap.” The purpose of the p-trap is to work as a water barrier that prevents sewer gas from coming straight up out of your faucet.
Old p-traps can wear out over time. They can get tiny holes in the bottom, causing the water to drip out, which causes the sewage gas to come up. Another thing that can happen is if you have a floor drain and the p-trap is installed in the floor drain, the same thing can happen with that.
One of the biggest reasons is that if you have a washing machine set up but you don’t use it, there is a p-trap in the wall, and you might smell sewer gas.
Pour Water in the P-Traps to Eliminate Sewage Smell
So, if you smell sewer gas, the first thing that you should check is to pour water in all your p-traps and look underneath your sinks to assess whether water is leaking out in any of these visible p-traps. If not, and you can still sense the sewage smell, it might be time to opt for a Complete Sewer Line Replacement and get rid of the sewage smell for good.
Septic Tank Cleaning
When it comes to the sewage line, you should also keep an eye on the septic tank. Watch out for pooling water, as it could mean that there is an issue with your septic drain field pipes or the septic tank itself. There might be a full tank or a clog in the septic tank.
Has your lawn suddenly gotten overly healthy without you paying much attention to it? If yes, you should consider cleaning the septic tank because the grass over the septic bed should look the same as the grass that is everywhere else on your lawn.
If the grass is overly green and lush in that specific area, there is a high chance that the septic system is overflowing in this area. So, as a homeowner, you should watch out for signs that could indicate that you need to call a plumber for septic tank pumping or cleaning.
