Signs the main sewer line is blocked
A clog in one sink stays in that sink. A clog in the main line affects the whole house, because every drain empties into the same pipe on its way to the city sewer. Watch for:
- Sewage or gray water rising in a tub, shower or floor drain
- More than one fixture draining slowly at the same time
- Toilets gurgling when the washer drains or a sink runs
- Water coming up in the shower when you flush
- Sewer odor inside the house
- Water around an outdoor cleanout cap
In a single-story home on a concrete slab, which describes much of Tempe, the lowest drains are usually the shower, the tub and any floor drain. That is where a main line backup shows up first.
What to do right now
- Stop using water. Every flush, shower or load of laundry adds to what is backing up. Ask everyone in the house to hold off.
- Skip chemical drain openers. They rarely clear a main line and they leave caustic water standing in the pipe for whoever opens it next.
- Find your cleanout if you can. It is usually a capped pipe of 3 to 4 inches near the foundation or in the front yard. Do not open it if water is standing in the house, since it can release sewage under pressure.
- Keep people and pets away from sewage. Treat backed-up water as contaminated.
- Check with neighbors. If homes around you are backing up too, the problem may be in the city main, which the City of Tempe's Wastewater Collection group maintains.
How a main line clog gets cleared
A contractor will usually access the line through a cleanout, clear the blockage with a cable machine or a water jetter, and then run water to confirm it drains. If the same line keeps clogging, a camera inspection shows why: roots, rust scale, grease, a sag, or a broken section. Knowing the cause decides the fix, whether that is hydro jetting, root cutting, descaling or a repair.
Who is responsible for the line?
In Tempe, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer line that runs from the house to the city's sewer main. If that line clogs or fails, the repair is the owner's cost. The city maintains the main itself.
Serving all of Tempe
Emergency Sewer Backup Clearing is available to homes and businesses across Tempe, including North Tempe (85281), Central Tempe (85282), South Central Tempe (85283), South Tempe (85284).
Emergency Sewer Backup Clearing FAQ
Why is sewage coming up in my shower or tub?
Those are usually the lowest drains in the house. When the main line is blocked, wastewater from the rest of the house has nowhere to go and rises at the lowest opening first.
Is a backup in multiple drains always the main line?
Usually. A single slow drain is often a local clog, but several fixtures backing up together, or a toilet gurgling when another fixture drains, points to the main line.
Should I use a drain cleaner or rent a snake?
Chemical openers rarely reach or clear a main line clog. A rental cable can work on a simple blockage, but it can also get stuck or push through a root mass without clearing it. If sewage is in the house, calling a pro is the safer move.
How do I know if the problem is the city's sewer or mine?
If neighbors are having the same problem at the same time, the city main may be involved, and the City of Tempe's Wastewater Collection group handles that. If only your home is affected, the blockage is most likely in your own line.