Sewer line problems: when every drain is slow

Signs it is the main line

• Two or more fixtures are slow at the same time, especially on the lowest floor.
• The toilet gurgles or bubbles when the washer drains or the tub empties.
• Water comes up in the shower or tub when you flush.
• A sewage smell outside, or water standing at the cleanout cap in the yard.

If you see these, stop running water, including the dishwasher and washing machine, until it is cleared.

Common causes

• Grease and wipes. The City of Newberry says grease cools and builds up in pipes, and that wipes, even "flushable" ones, tangle into clogs.
• Tree roots entering joints in older clay or cast-iron lines.
• A sag or break in the pipe, where waste settles and builds up.
• A problem in the public main, which can back up several houses on a street at once.

Who is responsible?

The pipe from your house to the public sewer is generally the owner's to maintain. The Newberry County Water & Sewer Authority's rules make customers responsible for piping on their side of the point of delivery. Inside the City of Newberry, ask City of Newberry Utilities (803-321-1018) where its responsibility ends on your street. If neighbors are backing up too, call the utility first; a blocked main is theirs to clear.

What a plumber will do

A plumber will open the cleanout and run a cable or water jetter to clear the line, and should offer a camera inspection if it keeps happening. The video shows roots, a belly or a broken section, and where it is, so only that part has to be dug up or lined.

No cleanout?

Older homes may not have an outdoor cleanout. Adding one makes future clearing faster and cheaper, and keeps the plumber from pulling a toilet to get in.

On septic?

Slow drains on a septic system can mean a full tank or a failing drainfield instead. Septic systems in Newberry County.

If sewage has already come into the house, sewer backup safety and insurance.