At My South Pasadena Plumber Hero, we answer questions for our customers every day. Many of our customers’ questions have to do with drainage issues. Recently, a customer asked us the following question:

When I do several loads of wash within a few hours, the my toilet starts to back up. When I only do one load, nothing happens. What’s going on with my plumbing? Do I need a plumber?

This is a classic sign that you probably have a clog in the main line. Anytime other drains in the home start to back up when a water-using appliance is being operated it’s a sign you need a main line clean out.

Can I Clean the Main Line Myself?

This is another question that we’re asked often. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Main line or sewer clean outs are professional jobs that only licensed plumbers should perform. The good news is that My South Pasadena Plumber Hero can help you with this job quickly and for less than you imagine.

Additional Signs of Sewer Clogs

A toilet backing up when the washing machine is being used is only one sign of a clogged sewer. You might have no problem using your washing machine, but have other issues that require your immediate attention. Below are other situations that indicate your main line has issues. If you notice any of the following, call one of our Pasadena plumbers for a sewer inspection:

• Sewage odors coming from any drain in the house
• Sewage odors outside around where the sewer line is buried
• More than one drain backing up in the house at one time
• Recurrent clogs that don’t respond to plunging
• Continuing drain problems and you have older sewer pipes

Whenever you think there’s a sewer problem, call an experienced plumber right away. Sewer issues can get out of hand very fast. The sooner a homeowner calls for sewer services, the less costly the repairs may be.

Preventing Sewer Backups

No one wants to deal with a main line clog. It’s messy, time consuming, and costly. Fortunately, many backups are preventable.

The best way to avoid backups is to be careful about what goes down the drain. Remember, every ounce of water or other substance that is flushed or rinsed down the drain goes through the main line. Therefore, it’s important to flush wisely and use as few chemicals as possible.

Another way to prevent backups is to restore old sewer lines. Many people live in older homes with their original sewer pipes. These pipes may have cracks or other damage that invited root intrusion, critters, and dirt into the pipe, which can all cause blockages. Restoring older pipes by relining them through a trenchless pipe lining process call cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining is the best way to keep drainage issues from affecting older sewer pipes.

Schedule a Sewer Inspection

It’s impossible for people to know the condition of their sewer pipes without professional help. At My South Pasadena Plumber Hero, we offer sewer camera inspection services to help you stay on top of any potential problems in the sewer line.

For more information about sewer inspections, sewer clean out, or other sewer services, call us today to schedule a consultation with a licensed plumber in South Pasadena, CA.