3 Causes of Perpetually Slow Drains

Usually, if a drain is a bit slow, then you can plunge it or pour some boiling water down it to resolve the problem. But what do you do when all of the drains in your home slow down? Plunging each drain won't help very much since you're probably dealing with a bigger issue. Here's a look at the tree big troubles that can cause multiple, persistently slow drains.

Chances are, there is a blockage in one of the larger sewer lines into which multiple drain lines feed. This type of blockage can be caused by grease, hair, and accidentally flushed items like toys and feminine hygiene products.

A common specific culprit is the main sewer line, which is the large pipe that carries all of your home's waste and wastewater into the municipal sewer system. This pipe is considered your property. It usually runs perpendicular to the street starting from your home to the outside border of your front yard.

Though substances like grease and hair can cause clogs in the main sewer line, tree roots are more often to blame. They grow into the pipe in pursuit of water. Since many sewer lines are made from clay, the roots can easily crack the sewer pipe or reach through preexisting cracks.

These big clogs won't resolve with any amount of plunging, so you will need to call your plumber. They can send a special camera down into the sewer lines to see exactly where the problem is. If you have a clog in a major pipe, they can snake the pipe to remove the offending material. If tree roots in the main line are to blame, they may use a rotating blade to cut away the roots, and then apply herbicides to keep the roots from growing back.

If your home is connected to a septic tank rather than sewer line, multiple slow drains probably indicate that your septic tank is full. In other words, there's too much solid waste in the bottom and not enough space left for liquids.

If the problem has gone on for too long, solids and grease may also have worked their way into the leach pipes and the leach field. When the leach field becomes saturated with grease, water does not flow out of the tank and into the surrounding soil so easily.

Have your septic tank pumped. A professional will remove the solids from the bottom of the tank, leaving more room for liquids, which should speed up your drains. If you have put off pumping for too long, they may need to dig up and replace some of the soil in the leach field if it has become contaminated.

When you think of your sewer system, you probably think of the pipes that carry waste out of your home. But there's another component: the vents that carry air. These vents typically terminate on your roof. They allow gas to escape the system, and if they become clogged, your drains slow down because there's no negative pressure. Sewer vents can become plugged by snow, leaves, or mouse nests.

Your plumber can remove a blockage in a sewer vent quite easily with a plumber's snake. They will send the snake down into the vent pipe and use it to grab and remove anything in its way. Your plumber may recommend extending the vents or putting screens over them to keep them from getting plugged again.

If any or all of the drains in your home have slowed down, reaching for the plunger won’t do any good. Call the experts at JT Sanitation. We'll come assess which one of the troubles above are at fault and correct the problem so you can take showers without six inches of standing water around your feet.