When the wastewater has no place to go, it will all come back up into the household plumbing system in one way or another. When you have a sewer drain clog, you should not use any of the plumbing in the home until the stoppage is cleared.

Sewer Drain Basics

Homes with city sewer service have a single sewer drain pipe running underground from the house to the street.

The drain pipe is usually 4 inches in diameter but can be as small as 3 inches. The sewer drain pipe under the yard is connected to a main drain inside the house. Each plumbing fixture, including sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets as well as the washing machine, has its own drain that leads to the main drain. If the main drain is clogged, it eventually backs up all of the drains in the house. That's why a sewer drain clog is so serious.

Multiple Fixtures Are Clogged

An obvious sign of a sewer drain clog is when more than one plumbing fixture backs up at the same time. Toilets are often the first fixture to experience problems, but any other fixture can also be involved. If you suspect that you have a sewer drain clog, start by checking the toilet followed by other fixtures in the home.

Unusual Reactions When Using Fixtures

Another good way to determine if you have a sewer drain clog is to check for odd sounds or behavior from your plumbing fixtures, starting at the lowest level of the house.