Signs of a Collapsed Sewer Line in Your House

Stinky smells and sudden soggy spots on your lawn might seem like the result of something using your yard as a bathroom, but the real culprit could be a collapsed sewer line. Since this line moves your household liquid waste to the municipal sewer line and local treatment plant or your septic system, sewer pipe damage can quickly become a big stinkin' issue. Identifying the signs of a collapsed sewer line in your house helps you address the problem quickly.

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What Is a Collapsed Sewer Line?

A sewer line collapse happens when a sewer pipe becomes damaged to the point that wastewater can no longer pass through it. This can cause wastewater to back up in your home or leak out around the collapsed pipe.

How Does a Sewer Pipe Collapse?

Sewer line collapses can occur for multiple reasons:

• Aging or corroded pipes might collapse and create a blockage.

• Tree roots can grow into the pipe, particularly at the connection between two pipes.

• Moving heavy loads over a sewage line could also cause a collapse.

• Sometimes, debris buildup in the sewer line itself leads to a blockage that puts stress on the pipe's structure.

Determining the cause of a sewer line collapse is key to repairing the problem and preventing future issues.

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What Are the Signs of a Collapsed Sewer Line in Your House?

A collapsed pipe in your sewer system can be a major emergency, but since sewer lines are typically buried underground, it can be hard to locate the problem. Here are some signs of a collapsed sewer line in your house:

Foul Odors

If you smell sewage inside your home, such as an unpleasant scent from your drains or around plumbing fixtures, it could indicate a pipe collapse.

Multiple Clogged Drains

An occasional clogged drain doesn't necessarily mean a sewer system issue, but if multiple drains back up at the same time, it indicates a deeper problem. Drain issues may be accompanied by foul odors, but they can also occur without any other symptoms.

Gurgling Sounds From Toilets or Drains

When you flush a toilet or use a sink or shower, water should drain freely without any gurgling sounds. Gurgling can indicate the presence of bubbles in the drain line, which can be a sign of a collapsed sewer pipe.

Visible Sewage Backup in Drains or Toilets

In general, the water that goes down the drain shouldn't back up into your sink, shower or toilet bowl. Sewage backing up in your home is a major sign of a collapsed sewer line. A sewage backup typically begins in the lowest drains of your home, such as a basement bathroom or ground-floor kitchen sink.

Mold and Mildew Problems

Small leaks caused by sewer line damage could allow moisture to seep into the walls and floors of your home. This often leads to mold and mildew growth. If you see mildew or mold in your home, consider calling a plumber to check for any breaks in your sewage or water pipes.

Yard Damage

If the main sewer line leading from your home collapses, one of the first signs is often yard damage. You might notice soggy spots or lush grass from extra moisture underground. A major sewer line collapse might cause puddles of sewage or bad smells in your yard. Sinkholes could develop as leaking sewage erodes soil beneath the surface, and water damage beneath your home could cause cracks in the foundation.

What to Do If Your Home Sewer Line Collapses

If you notice any of the signs of a collapsed sewer line in your house, the first step is to stop using any affected fixtures and call a licensed plumber to inspect the system and find the exact location of the damage. A plumber can perform a camera pipe inspection — sending a small camera on a flexible line down the sewer pipe to inspect it from inside.

Keep people and pets away from areas where you see or smell active sewage leakage until the problem is resolved. Collapsed sewer line repair costs can vary depending on what part of the system is damaged, the location of the collapsed pipe and whether the plumber recommends repairs or replacement of the entire line.