What does it mean when water is coming up from your bathtub?

When dirty sewer water is coming up through your tub’s drain, the plumbing issue is in your main sewer line. This means no amount of plunging the toilet will remove the clog. Instead, you’ll need to call a professional plumber to fix your plumbing problem.

What causes water to come up through drain?





Water coming up the drain into a sink typically indicates a clog somewhere, including locations such as the sink trap, the main drain line, the garbage disposal or the vent pipe.

How do you know if your main drain is clogged?

Early warning signs of the drain being clogged are hearing bubbling or gurgling sounds coming from one or more of your drains. Or your toilet water or faucets may bubble, and waste water may back up into your tub or shower drain when you flush.

How do I fix water coming back up drain?

Quick Fixes for Sewer Backups

  1. Use a Plunger – the easiest and most available drain opener around. …
  2. Buy a Liquid Drain Cleaner – to unclog a sink or bathtub. …
  3. Release Pressure – by turning off the water at the main supply first. …
  4. Chemical Drain Cleaning – help with tree roots blockages.

How do I stop water from backing up in my tub?

Install Hair Traps for Simple Protection. While hair most commonly causes clogs, if enough hair builds up in the pipes, it can cause a significant clog that causes backup to occur. The easiest way to avoid this issue is by using a hair trap.

How do you fix a sewage backup in a bathtub?





Call a Professional

A professional will use a drain snake or conduct hydro jetting to unblock the sewer line and get things back in working condition. If the obstacle blocking your drain line has caused any damage, you may also need your pipes repaired or even replaced.

Is it normal to see water in shower drain?

Yes it’s normal and what you want. It’s called a P-trap and the water sitting in there seals out the sewer gasses.

How do you unclog a main sewer line?

Your step-by-step guide: How to clear a main sewer line clog

  1. Loosen the cap on the drain pipe. …
  2. Allow any sewer buildup to come out of the drain. …
  3. Gently feed the auger cable into the main line drain. …
  4. Run the auger until the clog is broken up. …
  5. Hose out leftover debris. …
  6. Pull the auger cable back out of the main line drain.


Why does my tub back up when I run my sink?

What causes drains to backup into a bathtub? The base of the bathtub is usually lower than that of the toilet or the sink, which gives water flow less resistance. Liquids will take the path of least resistance, so when a drain starts to clog, water will backup into a bathtub first.

Can a sewer line unclog itself?

2. Call a Plumber. It’s technically possible to clear out some small sewer line clogs yourself, but this is rarely advisable. The problem with DIY repair is that the majority of sewer line clogs are caused by broken pipes, tree roots and other issues deep within your plumbing system.

Does washing machine drain into sewer line?



Washing machine drains are fed by an electric pump, which moves water from inside the cleaning drum, through a flexible drain hose on the underside of the machine, and out into your home sewer system where it makes its way out of the house.

How do you know if your sewer line is leaking?

Symptoms of a leaky sewer pipe

  1. The sound of trickling water. If you hear water trickling somewhere, check the toilet and make sure all the faucets are off. …
  2. Damaged floor. …
  3. Bad smells. …
  4. Cracks in foundation or walls. …
  5. Unusually healthy vegetation. …
  6. Rodents or insects. …
  7. Moldy walls. …
  8. Sluggish drains.

What are signs of sewage backup?

Early signs of sewer backup

  • Gurgling sounds coming from a drain.
  • Unusual odors coming from the sinks, showers, or drains.
  • One or more drains moving slower than usual.
  • Water backup into the shower or tub.

When my washer drains my tub fills up?



If the water draining out of the washing machine causes the toilet to overflow or backs up into the tub or shower, it’s a good sign the sewer drain is clogged. (Note: This symptom can just be a washing machine and shower problem and not a sewer drain clog.

Will Drano unclog sewer line?

Bust a Sewer Clog With Enzyme-Based Drain Cleaner

It’s hardly ever a good idea to put Drano or a similar product in the toilet because it contains sodium hydroxide, which generates heat and can damage the pipes.

Where is the P trap located?

The P-trap is the P-shaped section of pipe in the line that runs from the bottom of your sink to the wall. It’s shaped this way to trap sewer gasses and prevent them from coming out the sink as well as to catch debris that’s been washed down the sink, such as hair or food scraps.

Do bathtubs have P-traps?



Yes, a bathtub does require a p-trap. P-traps are also necessary for a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink, a shower drain etc. Plumbing codes require p-traps on all wastewater lines. A bathtub p-trap is part of the bathtub drain and serves the same function as it would for any sink or area with a drain line.

How do I know if my P trap is clogged?

Signs your P-trap may be blocked

  1. Your drain isn’t clearing after you’ve done everything to clear the clogged drain. …
  2. You smell a foul odor throughout your home. …
  3. You hear a gurgling noise from the sink or tub.
  4. The water in your toilet seems weak, and the bowl isn’t refilling quickly enough after a flush.