Are you a homeowner experiencing severe plumbing problems? Good news—you don’t have to go through this ordeal alone. Our experts at KB Complete in Kansas City, MO, have some helpful tips if you have sewage coming up through your bathtub. If the approaches we offer don’t work, please contact us for professional assistance and we’ll be happy to help our loyal customers.

The Most Common Reason for Sewage Backup

If you have sewage coming up through your bathtub, the most likely reason is a clogged sewer line, which could be caused by numerous different situations. Your home’s sinks, toilets, and bathtubs are all connected to a single drainpipe that leads to the sewer line beneath your home. This drain line transports your home’s wastewater and sewage to the city’s sewer system. When the sewage system becomes obstructed or clogged, wastewater has no choice but to return to your home. This results in sewage backing up into your drains, typically beginning in the shower. The sewer line can become blocked by many different things, but the most common perpetrators include:

• Hair
• Soap Particles
• Food Waste
• Cooking Oils/Grease
• Dirt/Rocks/Debris
• Baby Wipes
• Non-Flushable Items
• Jewelry
• Children’s Toys
• Rodents/Pests

Significant Warning Signs

It’s important to recognize the warning signs and identify the concerns that are significant so you can prevent your pipes from getting damaged. You don’t want to experience sewage backup in your home, so if you can keep it from happening, that is always preferrable. Be on the lookout for these signs.

-Frequent Clogs—If your toilet or other drains are consistently and continuously becoming clogged, you need to call a professional plumber to examine the situation with an expert eye and determine the problem. By using a plunger or liquid chemicals from the store, you may be able to get the drains functioning again, but it is likely only a temporary fix that ignores the more pressing problem.

-Slow Draining Water—You might have a blockage in your pipes if your water is draining more slowly than usual. Remember that a clogged sewer line will affect the lowest drains first, so try to pay the most attention to your first floor.

-Gurgling Sounds While Draining—Be sure to listen for strange sounds such as gurgling coming from your sinks or shower drain. This could be an early indication of a clogged sewer line.

-Migrating Wastewater—If your wastewater is coming back up through other drains, like your tub/shower or your laundry room, this is a warning sign that your sewer line is backed up and needs professional attention. If this is the case, contact our experts today.

How to Effectively Fix a Clogged Sewer Line

Always contact a professional if sewage begins to emerge from your bathtub. Inexperienced attempts to repair a clogged sewer line can result in more plumbing damage. However, there are a few things you can attempt to unclog the tiny connecting pipes.

-Turn Off the Water—You’ll want to prevent excess water from flowing into areas that are already backed up, so to stop the situation from worsening, you should turn the water off from the main valve.

-Avoid Using a Plunger—Plungers are handy to loosen a clog or obstruction that is close to the head of the toilet or drain, but won’t actually reach your sewer line, so it can’t be used to unclog the blockage.

-Snake the Shower Drain and Toilet—Utilizing a drain snake can help break up the blockage. You might be able to resolve the problem by snaking both the toilet and the shower drain. You’ll know your efforts are successful if the tub effectively drains the sewage.

-Check Your Vent Pipe—If your vent pipes become blocked or clogged, it can cause problems with the sewer line. In situations where you can see the obstruction and pull it out of the pipe, your sewer line should be able to drain properly again. (Usually, the vent pipe is located on the roof, directly over the bathroom.)

-Call a Professional—If these approaches don’t work or you’re still experiencing problems, you should call a professional plumber. Please contact one of our experts at KB Complete. We can perform a camera drain inspection with our state-of-the-art tools to find the source of the blockage and effectively determine the best way to resolve your specific plumbing issues. We can use our own drain snake or our hydro-jetting system to unblock your sewer line. It is also a great idea to call in the professionals so we can repair or replace your pipes if they’ve suffered any damages.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional

As a homeowner, you are welcome to try to resolve your plumbing issues on your own, but if you get overwhelmed or discouraged, we urge you to contact a professional plumber. There are many benefits to having an expert look at your system. They have the tools and the training to handle any situation with ease and expertise. They can help prevent damage and unnecessary expenses to save you money. They will thoroughly remove all blockages and restore your system to functioning properly again and ensure that sewage will stop coming back up through your drains. You present our experts at KB Complete with your plumbing problem and we will resolve it. It will be our top priority to earn your complete satisfaction with our service.

When you have a plumbing issue, including sewage backup, please call (816) 207-3129 to reach the professionals at KB Complete in Kansas City, MO. We guarantee exceptional service on every job.