Sewer Line Problems: Warning Signs, Causes and What to Do

Is it the main line or just one drain?

This distinction saves time and money.

• One slow drain (a single sink or tub) is almost always a local clog. See clogged drain.
• Several drains slow or backing up at once, especially the lowest ones in the house, points to the main sewer line that carries everything out to the City's sewer.

Quick checks

1. Run the bathroom sink, then watch the toilet and tub. If the toilet gurgles or water rises in the tub, drainage is blocked downstream of both.
2. Flush a toilet and watch the shower or tub drain. Water coming up there is a classic main line sign.
3. Run the washing machine drain cycle and check the lowest drains in the house for backup.
4. Check the cleanout. Most homes have a sewer cleanout: a capped pipe, usually 3 to 4 inches, in the yard near the house, or occasionally by the foundation. If the cap is loose or you can see water standing in the pipe, the blockage is further out toward the street.

Warning signs of sewer line trouble

• Multiple slow drains throughout the house
• Gurgling from toilets or drains when other fixtures are used
• Sewage odor inside or in the yard
• Backups in the lowest drain, often a ground-floor shower or tub
• Toilets that don't flush fully or need plunging repeatedly
• Soggy, greener or sunken patches in the yard along the sewer line's path
• Repeated clogs that come back soon after clearing

Common causes

Tree roots

Roots are drawn to moisture and nutrients in sewer lines. They enter through joints and small cracks, then grow into a mesh that catches paper and waste. Repeated clogs every few months are a strong hint.

Grease, wipes and paper products

Cooking grease hardens in the line. "Flushable" wipes don't break down like toilet paper and snag on anything rough. Together they form stubborn blockages.

Pipe damage and shifting

Pipes can crack, separate at joints, or develop a low spot ("belly") where waste settles. Ground movement is a known factor in clay-heavy soils like the Blackland Prairie soils around McKinney. Older lines are more vulnerable.

Pipe age and material

Most McKinney homes were built after 1990, and newer homes are more likely to have plastic sewer lines. Homes in the historic district and older neighborhoods may still have older materials, such as cast iron or clay tile, which have their own failure patterns. A camera inspection tells you exactly what you have.

A problem on the City side

Sometimes the blockage is in the public sewer main, not your line. If you suspect a City sewer main is overflowing (for example, sewage coming from a manhole in the street), call the City of McKinney's Water/Wastewater line on 972-547-7360. The City lists that number for overflowing wastewater mains, and it is answered 24/7 by the City.

What to do right now

1. Stop using water, including dishwashers, laundry and toilets, until the line is cleared. Every gallon you use has nowhere to go.
2. Don't use chemical drain openers. They rarely clear a main line and can damage pipes and endanger whoever works on it next.
3. Clean up any backup safely as described above.
4. Call a plumber. Tell them it's multiple drains, which drains, and whether you know where the cleanout is.

How sewer problems are diagnosed

Clearing the line

A plumber will usually clear the blockage first, using a drain machine (an auger or "snake") through the cleanout, or water jetting for grease and roots. This restores service.

Camera inspection

A waterproof camera on a cable is fed through the line. It shows:

• roots and where they're entering,
• cracks, breaks and separated joints,
• low spots where water collects,
• the pipe material and condition,
• the distance and depth of any problem, so repairs can be targeted.

Ask for a copy of the video and a written summary. It's useful for comparing quotes and for your records.

Repair options

What's needed depends on what the camera shows:

• Routine cleaning if it's a grease or wipes clog in a sound pipe
• Root cutting, sometimes followed by maintenance cleaning
• Spot repair of one damaged section, which involves excavation at that point
• Trenchless options such as pipe lining or pipe bursting, which can replace or reline a pipe with less digging, where the line is suitable
• Full replacement of badly damaged or collapsed lines

Digging requires planning. The City of McKinney says to call Building Inspections before digging deeper than 6 inches, and Texas requires calling 811 before digging 16 inches or deeper. A licensed plumber handles permits and utility locates. See sewer line repair for more on how repairs are chosen.

Prevention

• Only flush toilet paper. No wipes, even ones labeled flushable, no paper towels, no hygiene products.
• Keep grease out of drains. Let it cool, then put it in the trash.
• Be thoughtful when planting trees near the sewer line's path.
• If roots are a known issue, ask a plumber about scheduled maintenance cleaning.
• Know where your cleanout is and keep it accessible, not buried under mulch or landscaping.