A nightmare scenario for homeowners; the gurgling sound in your bathtub, which is not draining properly, is followed up by the appearance and smell of a brown or black liquid sludge backing up out of the drain. This means that you have a clogged sewer line.
There are two reasons for this problem. The first is a clog in the sewer line, which is typically an accumulation of hair, grease and other products that have gone down your drains and are now coagulating together and blocking up your sewer drain. The other possible reason for this problem are tree roots that have wormed there way into the sewer line and are also clogging or choking it up.
The reality is at this point you need to call in a professional plumber to determine which the problem is and fix the issue, speedily. The problem has gone beyond what you as a homeowner can likely fix.
Grease and hair build up, combined together, are a very common cause of blocked sewer lines. They are insidious because they happen gradually over time. Most homeowners put way too much grease, butter and other greasy cooking by products down the disposal, and think because they are rinsing it away with hot water there should be no problems.
The problem is that the clog occurs well away from where the grease and hot water go down the disposal, perhaps 25 feet or further away, where the hot water is no longer nearly as hot and the grease can start to congeal and gradually cause a clog. Add in hair and other refuse and the clogging process speeds up. The worst case end result is a clogged or blocked sewer line which can cause a sewage backup into your home.
As usual prevention is the solution. We need to stop put grease, butter, oil and any other greasy solid or liquid food byproducts down the disposal. Either scrape these items into your trash or an empty can and throw it out. Wipe excess grease off of your plates and silverware, with a paper towel, before rinsing them under the sink. Do not put items such as coffee grounds, kitty litter, motor oil, banana peels and orange peels down your drains or disposal.
These basic preventative measures can make the difference in developing a clogged sewer line, and possible sewage back up into your Erie, CO home.