Most people don’t think about how their homes are connected to septic tanks or municipal sewers and how important that connection is. The sewer pipe is integral to the function of your home’s plumbing and interior drainage systems. At times, it may get damaged or start to leak, which can have a serious impact on your home.

If you begin to see signs of a broken sewer pipe, or have any other sudden issues with your home’s plumbing, call on a professional from Hicks Plumbing. Our trained and certified emergency plumbers have over 30 years of experience in sewer pipe repair, plumbing replacement, and water appliance installation. Our customers throughout Reston, VA, and Northern Virginia repeatedly call on us for our friendly and efficient service whenever they’re in need of a professional plumbing technician.

Here are some signs to look for if you think you have a broken sewer pipe:

A Pungent Odor in Your House

Among the first signs of a broken sewer pipe is an awful smell coming from your sink, toilet, bathtub or any other drain in your home.

The scent is often described as having the smell of “rotten eggs”. This is because the gas coming backing up from the sewage line is hydrogen sulfide, a highly-flammable and toxic gas.

The smell often means that there is a defect or leak in your sewer pipe, which means you’ll need to call on an expert emergency plumber to fix it as soon as possible.

A Gurgling Sound in Your Bathroom

Another sign of a broken sewer pipe is an unusual sound coming from your toilet after flushing, which is often recognized as a loud gurgling.

This sound often occurs because a small leak or crack in your sewer pipe is letting in a pocket of air, which then becomes trapped inside the pipe. The air then gets released once you flush your toilet.

While it can be potentially irritating, it does mean that your sewer pipe has been damaged and will get worse if left unaddressed.

Sewage Backup

If you are noticing that most, if not all, of your home’s drains are becoming backed up or blocked, then you may have a clogged or broken sewer line. The wastewater in your plumbing system drains into the sewer pipe.

So, when it is obstructed in any way, that wastewater eventually makes it way back into your home’s sinks, toilets, and tubs, which will then require days worth of cleaning and scrubbing to avoid the smell and potential water damage.

Once you notice even the smallest amount of sewage backing up in several areas of your home, call on an emergency plumber as soon as possible.

A Number of Pests in Your Home

Finally, if you start to see bugs infesting your kitchen or bathroom, you may have a problem with your sewer line.

A breakage or hole in the sewer pipe will allow for cockroaches, sewer flies, and even small rodents to enter, eventually leading them to your home through your indoor drains.

So, if you notice a greater number of pests than before, you’ll need to call a professional to make repairs to your home’s sewer pipe.

Hicks Plumbing: Dependable Emergency Plumber in Reston, VA

Look for the signs above and you may avoid the damaging implications of a broken sewer pipe. Make sure you have a reliable emergency plumber in mind. Hicks Plumbing has provided quality plumbing services to residents and businesses throughout Reston, VA, and Northern Virginia. Our responsive and dedicated service speaks for itself in the number of satisfied customer testimonials and referrals we’ve received. Contact us at (703) 803-7466 for more information and to contact an emergency plumber when needed.