How to Unclog the Main Sewer Drain

Clogged sewer drains need to be cleaned.

When the main sewer drain plugs up, every drain in the house will not drain or drains very slowly. Tree roots are the main reason that most sewers plug up. They can find the smallest crack or crevice and push their way inside. If left to grow long enough, the thread-like root grows, filling up the inside of the pipe. This is when you need to buy or rent a snake from most home building centers to clean out the pipe so the water flows through easily.

Things You'll Need

• 5-gallon bucket
• Large pipe wrench
• Snake
• Towels
• Gloves

Instructions

1. Locate the cleanout plug on the sewer main. Most are located in the area where the main sewer drain leaves the house. Others are on the outside of the house. There is a long PVC pipe coming out of the ground that leads right into the sewer pipe.

2. Place an empty 5-gallon bucket directly below the plug to catch any water and waste that comes out.

3. Loosen the plug with a large pipe wrench, but do not remove it just yet. Allow the pipe to drain into the bucket.

4. Remove the drain plug when no more water or debris comes out.

5. Insert the end of the snake or cleanout tape into the place where you removed the plug. Rotate the wheel of the snake clockwise, which will push the tape forward along the drain. If you are using an electric snake, turn the machine on after you have the end inserted in the hole.

6. Keep pushing the end of the snake along the pipe. When it meets resistance, reverse the direction of the end, bringing it back toward you, and push it forward again. Keep doing this forward, backward motion until you feel no resistance.

7. Rewind the snake out of the drain. Be sure to place your bucket underneath to catch the tree roots or other debris that come back with the snake end.

8. Wrap teflon tape around the threads of the sewer plug to make removal of the plug easier should you have to remove it again.

9. Turn the drain plug back into the sewer pipe tightly. Do not leave it loose. Water waste or sewer gas can leak through.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep some old rags nearby while bringing the snake out of the pipe. Use them to wipe the snake, keeping the potential mess to a minimum.

• If the snake does not clean the drain to your satisfaction, the blockage may be on the city's main sewer system.

• Wear rubber gloves when working with the sewer to protect your hands.

• Wear goggles to protect your eyes from sewer water.

References

• Fix-It-Yourself Project #101
• San Diego Plumbing and Heating
• Plumbing-1