A broken sewer line can cause serious damage to your home, landscaping, and even your health if not caught in time. If you’ve been wondering how to tell if your sewer line is broken or are starting to suspect something’s off with your plumbing, you’re in the right place.
At PlumbingAmarillo.us, we’ve dealt with all types of sewer line problems, from minor leaks to full sewer line replacement jobs. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the top signs of a broken sewer line and what to do next to protect your Amarillo property.
What Are the Signs of a Broken Sewer Line?
A damaged or cracked sewer pipe can go unnoticed until the symptoms become severe. That’s why knowing the signs of sewer line issues early can save you from costly repairs and hazardous living conditions.
Here are the 10 most common signs of a broken sewer line and what they could mean:
1. Persistent Sewer Odors Inside or Outside Your Home
One of the clearest broken sewer line symptoms is a strong, unpleasant smell. If you notice a persistent sewer smell in your basement, bathroom, or even your yard, it could indicate a sewer pipe leak or sewer line break beneath your home. This happens when sewer gas escapes from cracks in the line—something that should never happen with a properly sealed sewerage line.
2. Gurgling or Bubbling Noises from Your Toilet
If your toilet burps when flushed or you hear a loud noise when flushing, it could point to a main line backup or pipes backing up due to a collapsed sewer line. These gurgling sounds are usually caused by trapped air in a damaged or clogged sewer drain line, indicating a need to inspect the sewer line immediately.
3. Frequent Pests or Insects Appearing Indoors
Have you noticed a sudden infestation of rodents or insects like gnats or beetles? A broken sewer pipe can become an open door for pests to enter your home through cracks in the line. If bugs keep showing up and you can’t figure out why, a damaged sewer line might be the hidden culprit.
4. Multiple Slow or Backed-Up Drains
A single slow drain may be a minor clog, but if all your drains are slow or your toilets and sinks are backing up, this could signal a cracked sewer line or an impending burst sewage pipe. Backed-up sewer line symptoms usually appear in multiple fixtures at once, so don’t ignore the warning signs.
5. Sewage Backups in Tubs or Toilets
One of the most alarming sewer line issues is raw sewage backing up into your bathtub, toilet, or basement. Not only is this disgusting and unsanitary, but it’s also a serious health hazard. If you notice toilets not flushing and wastewater returning instead, you likely have a busted sewer line that needs urgent attention.
Recommended: How to Remove a Bathtub Drain Stopper Like a Pro
6. Mold or Mildew Growth on Walls and Ceilings
Excess moisture from a leaking sewer pipe or sewage plumbing can encourage mold and mildew growth. If you’re constantly battling moisture in certain areas, especially near the foundation or behind walls, this could indicate a leaking septic pipe or sewer line leak under your house.
7. Cracks Forming in Walls or Foundation
How do you know if your sewer line is broken beneath your home? One unexpected sign is cracking in your home’s walls or foundation. A cracked sewage pipe under the ground can cause soil shifting, which puts pressure on your home’s structure, leading to visible damage. Left untreated, this can compromise the safety of your entire property.
8. Extra-Green or Soggy Patches in Your Yard
What does a sewer leak look like on the surface? One clue is extra-lush patches of grass, especially if your lawn hasn’t been watered recently. This could indicate a sewer line leak in the yard, where wastewater is fertilizing your grass—but also contaminating your soil. These signs of a broken sewer line shouldn’t be ignored.
9. Sinkholes or Indentations in Your Lawn
When sewage pipes leak underground, they can displace soil and create sinkholes or soft, sunken areas in your yard. These indentations are clear signs of sewer line problems and often point to a sewer line broken under the house or yard. Immediate sewer replacement may be necessary to prevent further damage.
10. Pools of Sewage on Your Lawn or in Your Basement
Raw sewage pooling on your property is a red-alert emergency. Whether in the yard, basement, or near your home’s foundation, this indicates a burst sewage pipe, a broken sewer pipe under the house, or even a collapsed PVC sewer pipe. If you’re facing this issue, don’t wait—call our team for fast, professional sewer line repair in Amarillo.
Need Sewer Line Repair or Replacement in Amarillo?
If you’ve recognized any of these signs of a broken sewer line, don’t delay. A broken toilet pipe, sewer line leak, or cracked sewer line can cause thousands of property damage if not repaired quickly.
At PlumbingAmarillo.us, we specialize in comprehensive sewer pipe replacement, cracked sewer pipe repair, pipe bursting sewer solutions, and trenchless sewer liner installations. We also help homeowners:
- Locate sewer lines in your yard
- Diagnose symptoms of collapsed sewer lines
- Provide transparent sewer pipe lining costs
- Answer your questions about how to fix broken sewer pipes under the house
Whether you’re dealing with a leaking sewer pipe in the basement, trying to figure out how to know if your sewer line is broken, or wondering how long sewer lines last, we’ve got the expertise you need. We can help with replacing sewer lines from house to main, offering affordable, efficient solutions for any sewer problem.
Get Expert Sewer Help Today
Don’t let a sewer line break turn into a full-blown disaster. Call PlumbingAmarillo.us now for a professional inspection and repair service. We’re your trusted Amarillo plumbers with years of experience in sewer line replacement, sewer repairs, and sewer pipe leaking diagnostics.
✅ Emergency sewer repair available
✅ Affordable pricing & honest estimates
✅ Serving Amarillo and surrounding areas
Contact us today to book your inspection and find out what’s really going on with your plumbing. Your peace of mind is just a call away!