7 Signs Your Sewer Line Is Broken (And What to Do Next)

Most Tempe homeowners don't think about their sewer line until something goes wrong. By the time sewage backs up through a floor drain, the problem has usually been building for months. The good news is that a broken sewer line gives off plenty of warning signs — if you know what to look for.

1. Multiple slow drains at once

A single slow drain is usually a local clog — easy fix. But when the kitchen sink, both bathrooms, and the laundry drain are all slow at the same time, the problem is almost certainly in the main sewer line. All of those fixtures drain to the same lateral.

2. Gurgling sounds in toilets or drains

Air trapped in a partially blocked line makes a gurgling or bubbling sound when you flush or run water. The sound is the air finding its way around the obstruction. If you hear it, call us.

3. Sewage smell inside the house

A functioning sewer line keeps sewer gas contained. If you smell raw sewage inside your home — especially near floor drains, toilets, or the garage — either the water trap in a drain has dried out, or you have a cracked pipe that's letting gas escape.

4. Wet or soft spots in the yard

A leaking sewer line saturates the soil around it. If you notice grass growing greener or faster in a strip across your yard, or a soft or sunken patch of ground, that's often a broken sewer lateral weeping below the surface.

5. Sewage backup at the floor drain

Floor drains in garages, laundry rooms, and basements are the lowest point in the house. When the main sewer line is blocked, sewage backs up to the lowest drain first. If you see water or sewage pooling at a floor drain, stop using all water immediately and call us.

6. Rodent activity

Rats are attracted to sewer systems. A cracked lateral gives them a path from the city main into your yard — and sometimes into the house. If you're seeing unexplained rodent activity, a camera inspection of your sewer line is worth doing.

7. Foundation cracks or settling

A leaking sewer line under or near the foundation erodes the soil that supports the slab. Over time, that erosion causes settling and cracking. It's a less common sign, but if you have unexplained foundation movement, have your sewer line inspected before any structural work begins.