Signs of a Sewer Line Problem at Home

Clues inside the house

• Toilets gurgle or bubble when the washer drains or the tub empties.
• Water rises in the basement floor drain or shower when upstairs fixtures run.
• A sewage smell near the floor drain or cleanout.
• Several fixtures slow down at the same time.
• Drain cleaning helps for a few weeks, then the problem returns.

Clues outside

• A soft, wet or unusually green patch in the front lawn over the sewer route.
• Sinking soil or cracks in the driveway near the line.
• Sewer odour near the foundation.

Common causes in Brampton

Older homes in Bramalea, Peel Village and downtown often have clay or cast iron laterals that crack and let roots in. Newer homes can have belly sections where soil settled and pipe sags. Grease and wipes cause trouble in any age of house.

What to do

1. Reduce water use until the problem is checked.
2. Arrange a camera inspection to see the inside of the line.
3. Decide on cleaning, spot repair or replacement based on what the camera shows.

Our sewer line repair page explains each option.

Questions we will ask on the phone

Which fixtures back up, and in what order? Does it happen after laundry, after rain or randomly? Has the line been cleared before, and what came out? Is there a cleanout you can reach? The answers help us arrive with the right machine and, if needed, the camera, so the first visit can end with a clear answer instead of a guess.

Ready when you are. One call, a real plumber, an arrival window.