A slow drain or a sewer smell can be a simple fix or an early warning of a bigger sewer line problem. The key is figuring out whether it's one fixture or the whole house.
One slow drain
If only one sink, tub or shower is slow, the clog is usually close to that drain:
- Bathroom sinks and showers: hair and soap scum
- Kitchen sinks: grease, food scraps and coffee grounds
- Tubs: hair, plus hard water scale narrowing older pipes
Try first: remove and clean the stopper or drain cover, use a plunger, or use a simple drain snake. Avoid chemical drain cleaners. They can damage older pipes, rarely clear the clog fully, and make the job harder and less safe if a plumber has to open the line.
Several drains slow or backing up
This usually points to the main sewer line rather than a single clog. Warning signs:
- The lowest drains in the home (basement floor drain or shower) back up first
- A toilet gurgles or bubbles when the washer drains or another fixture runs
- Water backs up into a tub when you flush
- Slow drains throughout the house at once
Common causes in older Wasatch Front neighborhoods include tree roots, a belly (sagging section) in the line, and cracked or collapsed pipe. Stop using water and call a plumber. Running more water can push sewage back into the home.
Sewer smell inside the home
- Dry trap: floor drains and unused showers lose the water seal that blocks sewer gas. Run water for a minute to refill it.
- Toilet wax ring: a failing seal at the base of the toilet, often with a wobbly toilet
- Vent problems: a blocked or damaged plumbing vent
- Cracked drain or sewer pipe
A persistent sewer smell shouldn't be ignored.
How Aireo helps
We find the cause instead of just clearing the clog. Our licensed plumbers use drain snaking, hydro jetting and sewer camera inspection, so you can see what's happening in the line. For damaged sewer lines, we offer repair and trenchless pipe lining as an alternative to digging up the yard.
Our plumbing dispatch fee is $29, applied toward any repair you approve. New customers get $50 off their first plumbing service (see specials). You get a written quote before any work begins.
See drain cleaning and sewer repair, or call (385) 324-7301. Phones are answered 24/7.