Dealing with Sewage Coming Up Through the Bathtub: What You Need to Know

Your bathroom is your sanctuary. You step into your bathroom, exhausted at the end of the day. After a long soak in the tub, you emerge clean and refreshed. 

When you discover the horror of sewage coming up through your bathtub, you feel anything but clean. A sewer line blockage is not only sickening to look at but also a health risk. Don’t hesitate to call a professional to take the stress out of discovering sewage coming up through the bathtub.

Our experienced team at King’s Services in Winnipeg, Manitoba, consists of drain-cleaning experts. Call us at 204-633-9010 to schedule professional service and restore your plumbing system.

Common Causes of Clogged Sewer Lines

When you discover a sewer line blockage, it’s important to remember that “it’s all connected.” 

What does that mean? 

Every drain in your home connects to the others via a series of pipes. Your kitchen sink, washing machine, and even your toilet drain are all connected through their drain pipes.

A clog in any one of your drain pipes can prevent water and sewage from transporting away from your home and into the main sewer system. When sewage can no longer move forward, it starts to move backward, causing untreated wastewater to back up into your home. 

How Drains in the Washroom Can Become Clogged

It will come as no surprise to find out there are several ways washroom drains become clogged. Below are the most common reasons for clogs in bathtub drains.

Hair

One of the most common causes of a clog in the bathtub is hair. 

Even short hair forms into hairballs over time. If you have pets, you know how much hair they tend to shed. Regular bathing of your pets in the shower or bathtub can expedite drain clogs. 

Miscellaneous items

Anyone who wears jewelry has experienced the stress of dropping an earring down the sink drain. For instance, maybe your wedding ring slips down the drain just before you can grab it. You can see the diamond glinting in the light but just can’t manage to reach it to pull it out. 

Additionally, if you have children, you know how irresistible it is for them to put toys into the toilet. You turn your back for one minute, and the next thing you know, ten of their toys are swimming in the toilet bowl. 

If any of these items find their way into your plumbing system, they can create clogs and even lead to sewage coming up through the bathtub.

Small Animals 

It’s not fun to think about, but it is possible for small animals, such as mice and rats, to make their way from the main sewer line and into your pipes. 

The last thing you want is a rodent to run amok in your bathroom after climbing through the drain. A professional plumbing technician can remove any vermin and fully assess the clogged drain. 

Early Warning Signs of Clogged Drains 

By staying vigilant, you can avoid ending up with a clogged drain. Long before a drain becomes fully clogged, your plumbing will exhibit signs indicating that there's a problem. If caught early, you may be able to remedy clogging drains before they become a major problem.

Mystery Water

If you start your washing machine and water begins to flow into your bathtub, that is a bad sign. Water backing up into any one of your drains indicates that there is a blockage somewhere in your drain system.

Intermittent Clogs

Your drain should never clog. If you find that, on occasion, your sink becomes clogged, take note. A blockage could be forming within your system. It’s best to have professionals inspect your drains and remove the clog while it's still minor.

Strange Sounds

When you hear babbling, gurgling, or any other strange sound coming from your toilet, sink, or floor drain, that is a sure sign that water is not moving through your pipes the way it should. When it comes to strange sounds, the good news is that sounds are often one of the first signs that something is going awry. 

While gurgling or babbling may happen only once in a while and then stop, it is still an indication of problems within your plumbing system. 

Draining Slowly

A slow drain is something we have all experienced. Clogged plumbing issues begin at the bottom of the system. The drains on the lowest level of your home will begin to show signs of a clog before drains on higher levels. 

What to Do When You Discover a Clog

If you have the unfortunate luck of experiencing sewage coming up through your bathtub, you can take various steps to remedy the situation.

Call an Expert

Anytime you attempt to solve a plumbing problem yourself, there is a chance it could lead to an even bigger problem. Call a professional plumber to diagnose the problem.

Shut off the Water

When water flows up through the drain, the fastest way to stop the flow is to shut off the water valve. Once the flow of water stops, call a professional plumber.

Use a Drain Snake 

A drain snake is an easy-to-use tool that nimbly navigates your pipes to remove clogs. A drain snake is a great tool to have on hand when you discover sewage coming up through the bathtub drain.

If the clog is deep within the pipes, it may be too much for a drain snake to handle. In this case, you should call a professional.

Get Professional Help Today

Typically, any at-home measures you take to remove clogs are temporary. You should always let an expert handle the problem when you have sewage coming up through the bathtub. 

Whatever plumbing problems you have, you can rely on our King's Services team. Whether there is a problem deep within the pipes or you simply have a dirt-clogged drain, our experts are here to help.

Contact us at King’s Services by calling 431-813-5843 and get your plumbing back on the move today.