Common Drain and Sewer Woes for Triangle Homeowners
Strange gurgling from the toilet? Water in the kitchen sink will not go down? A foul odour is wafting up from a floor drain and you cannot put your finger on the source of it?
You would be hard pressed to find a homeowner in Durham or the wider Triangle who has not had a similar experience. JD Service Now has been putting an end to such drain and sewer troubles in the area since 2005. Pick up the phone at (919) 680-1634 and we will have a conversation about what you are up against.
There is a tendency for these problems to make themselves known when it is most inconvenient. But they are usually preceded by warning signs one can get to know. We have put together some of the more frequent issues we come across in homes around the Triangle and the reasons for them.
Slow Drains and Clogs that Return
In most cases a slow drain is due to a blockage in the fixture itself. Should you see a number of drains running slow, however, look to the main line.
The following are what we normally find causing clogs:
- Hardened grease and oil in the kitchen pipes
- The accumulation of hair and soap in a tub or bathroom sink
- Bits of food the disposal has let through
- “Flushable” wipes which do not break down as advertised
- Years of mineral deposits from hard water
An over the counter chemical might open a clog for a couple of days but it does little to address the underlying issue and can take its toll on older piping if used too often.
Tree Roots and the Sewer Line
Our neighborhoods in the Triangle are all the more enjoyable for the mature trees, yet those very same trees can be a nuisance below ground.
Roots seek out the moisture of a sewer line and will grow through any loose joint or small crack until there is a tangle of them. In the older stock of homes in Durham, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough this is a prime reason for a serious backup. You will know if roots have intruded by:
- Backups that persist after you have cleared them
- Toilets that gurgle when water is run in another part of the house
- A host of slow drains
- An uncharacteristically green or sodden patch of lawn above the sewer
- The smell of sewage in the yard or around floor drains
Pipes that are Old or Damaged
Decades old sewer lines are still under the ground in many a Triangle home. With time clay and cast iron will corrode, shift or crack.
Then there is the clay soil of North Carolina; it swells and shrinks with the changing wet and dry seasons and exerts a constant pressure on what is buried. A pipe without a problem one year can have a sag or crack the next, trapping waste.
Heavy Rain and the Aftermath
When the storms come to the Triangle, rain is quick to tax the drainage system. Backups that coincide with a big rain suggest water is getting into your line via a faulty connection or crack. It is best to deal with it promptly; a flooded line is a health hazard as much as an annoyance and can become a mess in no time.
Early Indicators: Odors and Gurgling
Before the plumbing gives way to a complete backup it will give you some indication. Heed the following:
- An indoor smell of rotten eggs
- Drains and toilets that bubble or gurgle
- Water standing by a floor drain
- Fixtures that are taking longer to clear than they did a few weeks back
- Two or more drains having trouble at once
It is better to spot these early and have a cleaning done than to face an expensive repair later.
Making the Call
A plunger and some patience will suffice for the odd minor clog. For anything involving the main line or a recurring problem with multiple fixtures, a licensed and insured technician is called for.
We are a locally owned operation at JD Service Now. Our technicians have in excess of 100 years of experience between them and we are rated 4.9 stars on Google by 5,000 reviewers. We are one team for HVAC, electrical, plumbing and drain and sewer work.
Wherever you are in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Durham or the rest of the Triangle, ring us at (919) 680-1634 for a drain or sewer issue. Our emergency service is on hand 24/7.