Most drain problems start small: a sink that empties slowly, a gurgle, a faint sewer smell. The guides below explain what usually causes each problem, the safe checks you can do first, and the signs that mean it is time to call a plumber.
Common drain and sewer problems
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Clog Deep in the Drain Pipe: Signs of a Main Line Problem
When a clog is past the trap, or several drains are slow at once, the blockage is in a branch or the main sewer line.…
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Garbage Disposal Not Working: Humming, No Sound or Not Draining
A disposal that hums is usually jammed; one that is silent usually needs its reset button or has no power. The manufacturer steps to fix…
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Kitchen Sink Clogged? How to Find Where the Clog Is
A clogged kitchen sink is usually grease and food in the trap or the branch line. How to tell where the clog is (one side,…
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Sewer Smell in the Basement: Floor Drains, Rain and Backups
Basement sewer smells usually come from a dry floor drain trap, a loose cleanout cap, a sump or ejector pit, or a sewer line problem…
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Sewer Smell in the Bathroom: What Causes It and How to Fix It
A bathroom that smells like sewer gas usually has a dry shower trap, a leaking toilet wax ring, a dirty sink overflow or a venting…
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Shower Drain Clogged: Hair, Soap and Slow-Draining Water
Most shower clogs are hair and soap scum within a few inches of the drain. How to clear it without chemicals, why it keeps coming…
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Why Does My House Smell Like Sewage? Causes and Fixes
A sewer smell in the house usually comes from a dry drain trap, a blocked plumbing vent, a failed toilet wax ring or a sewer…
Before you start
Clogs and sewer smells usually come from one of four places: a blockage in the fixture trap, a dry or damaged trap, a blocked or missing vent, or a problem in the main sewer line. If several drains back up at once, or water comes up in a floor drain or tub when you flush, suspect the main line and call a plumber.