Main sewer lines · Yuma, AZ
Sewer line cleaning in Yuma. Every drain backing up? It's the main line.
Your main sewer line carries everything out of the house. When it clogs, water has nowhere to go but back up through your lowest drain. Stop running water and call.
What the main sewer line does
Every sink, tub, toilet and appliance in your home drains into branch lines, and those branch lines all feed into one larger pipe: the main sewer line. It runs under your slab and out through the yard to the city sewer, or to a septic tank on many properties outside city limits. A clog in a branch line affects one fixture. A clog in the main line affects all of them.
Common causes of main line clogs in Yuma
Tree and shrub roots
In a dry climate, roots go where the water is. A sewer line with a cracked joint leaks a little moisture and nutrients, and fine roots find their way in. Inside the pipe they grow into a net that catches paper and waste. Palms, mesquite, citrus and ficus are common in Yuma yards and can all cause trouble when planted close to the line.
Grease and scale
Grease from the kitchen doesn't always stop at the sink. It can coat the main line for many feet, and Yuma's hard-water scale gives it a rough surface to stick to. Over years, the opening shrinks until a normal load of laundry is more than the line can handle.
Pipe sags and shifting soil
If a section of pipe settles, it forms a low spot (a "belly") where water and waste sit instead of flowing. Heavy monsoon rain and soil movement can make this worse. Bellies cause clogs that come back again and again in the same place.
Things that shouldn't be flushed
Wipes, paper towels, feminine products and grease can pass a toilet and still lodge in the main line, especially if roots or scale are already narrowing it.
How a main line gets cleared
The technician accesses the line through a cleanout, a capped pipe usually found near the house or in the yard. Knowing where yours is saves time. From there they use a heavy-duty sewer machine with a cutting head to break through the clog and cut roots, or hydro jetting to scour the full pipe. Many technicians follow with a camera inspection so you can see what caused the clog and whether the pipe itself is damaged.
If sewage is coming up into your home: stop using water, keep kids and pets away from the area, and avoid touching the water without gloves. Sewage carries bacteria. See our emergency drain page for more.
Will it come back?
If the clog was a one-time thing, like a wad of wipes, clearing it may be the end of it. If it was roots, a sag or heavy buildup, it's likely to return. Ask the technician what they saw, whether they recommend jetting or a camera inspection, and what a repair would involve if the pipe is broken. Getting video of the line gives you something concrete to compare quotes against.
Sewer line questions
Before you call
Where is my sewer cleanout?
Look for a capped pipe, usually 3 to 4 inches across, sticking a few inches out of the ground near the foundation or in the front yard. Some homes have one inside, in a garage or utility area. If you can't find it, the technician will look for it.
Is the main line my responsibility or the city's?
In most cities, the homeowner is responsible for the line from the house to where it connects with the public sewer, often near the property line. Check with the City of Yuma Utilities if you're unsure where your responsibility ends.
I'm on septic. Is this the same thing?
Not exactly. If your home drains to a septic tank, a backup can mean a clogged line to the tank or a tank that needs to be pumped. Tell the technician you're on septic so they come prepared.