Albuquerque Sewer line clogs often seem to come out of nowhere. But there are usually a few common reasons they happen.

Let’s walk through the top causes of sewer backups so you can get your plumbing back in order ASAP.

Clogged Pipes

Your main sewer line is a lot like the smaller drain pipes in your home. It’s just a wider pipe buried outside. Sewer clogs happen the same way as sink or tub clogs. Stuff that shouldn’t be flushed or poured down the drains builds up over time. Eventually there’s enough gunk that it plugs up the flow.

Fat and grease from cooking are big troublemakers. They look liquid going down, but then coagulate into nasty blockages.

You may be able to avoid backups by watching what goes down your drains. Don’t pour grease or fat. Throw away unsuitable items instead of flushing them. And have your sewer pipes cleaned every year or two to clear out any buildup before it causes a real problem.

Tree Roots

Here’s a surprising reason your sewer line may clog: roots from nearby trees. Root systems usually extend far beyond the visible tree canopy above ground. The roots creep into small cracks or gaps in sewer pipe joints.

As the roots grow bigger, they take up more and more space inside the pipe. Eventually they plug up the line completely so no waste can get through. The clay or iron pipes in older systems are especially vulnerable. Roots can completely crush old clay lines from the outside too.

Even trees that seem far away from your plumbing could be guilty! If you have large trees on or near your property, roots may be destroying your sewer line. You won’t know until the backup occurs or a plumber inspects the line. Professional sewer jetting can clear roots, but they’ll just grow back if pipe damage isn’t repaired.

Old Pipes Fail More Often

If your Albuquerque home is older, you likely have clay or iron sewer pipes. These materials just don’t hold up as well over many years of use compared to modern PVC plastic. Old pipes are a lot more likely to crack, collapse, or build up blockages that lead to sewer backups.

Watch for these warning signs that your aging sewer line needs attention:

• Cracks along the pipe path through your yard
• Roots visibly growing into the line above ground
• Soggy soil above the buried pipe
• Sewer gas smell coming from drains

If you think your old sewer line is failing, get it inspected ASAP before a total clog happens! A plumber can run a camera down the line to check for damage before it leads to a backup disaster. Replacing badly damaged lines now can save you big time later.

How to Contain a Sewer Backup until the Plumber Arrives

If you already see or smell sewage backing up in your home, you need to act fast. The goal is to contain the spill and minimize how far it spreads. Here are the steps to take right away:

• Stop using all water until the clog is cleared. Flushing just pushes more waste into the backup.
• Call a 24 hour emergency plumber right away. Get an experienced sewer repair company on the job.
• Use towels, rags, plastic sheeting to soak up the sewage and slow its spread.
• Move furniture or valuables away from the backup if possible.
• Open windows to ventilate the area until plumbing help arrives. This lets smelly sewer gas escape.
• Carefully clean up the mess once the plumber has fixed the problem. Wear protective equipment to avoid contaminated water contact.

Fast action gets your home cleaned up and back to normal faster after a sewer clog creates a backup.

Call Us Today!

As you can see, there are a few common causes for sewage backing up in an Albuquerque home’s drains. Sewer problems are super stressful, unhealthy, stinky messes! Don’t wait if your drains start burping up nastiness.

The experts at Day & Night Plumbing are available 24/7 to solve your sewer disaster quickly. We have all the gear and skills to:

• Unclog blocked pipes
• Inspect your sewer line and find issues
• Repair or replace damaged sewer pipes
• Remove root blockages
• Perform preventive sewer maintenance

We can even assist with biohazard cleanup if sewage has spread through your home. Our technicians are trained to restore plumbing and homes after sewer backups.

Don’t live with flooding, odors, and contamination – call Day & Night Plumbing right away! We serve all of Albuquerque and surrounding areas. Reach our office anytime 24/7 at 716-824-4408. We’re ready to help with your sewer emergency!