Your main sewer line is what connects your home to either your city’s main sewer system or to your septic tank. Every homeowner should be aware of where your main sewer line is, just in case there will ever be any problems with your plumbing.

How Do I Find My Main Sewer Line?

Here are some tips to help you find your main sewer line on your property.

  • The easiest way to find the main sewer line on your property is to contact your local zoning board or city hall. They should have a map of the sewer lines for each property in their jurisdiction.
  • If you know where your septic tank is located on your property then it’s most likely that your sewer line would run straight from your home to that tank. You can use a long wooden stake to probe the ground in that general area. Normally, sewer lines are buried 12 to 24 inches below the ground.
  • If you are looking for your main sewer line under concrete you can rent and use a tool called a Pipehorn. It uses a high frequency signal to locate underground utilities.
  • You can look for your sewer clean out in your yard. It can be anywhere on your property, close to your home. It’s normally a white pipe with a cap that is sticking out of the ground. That cleanout is attached to your main sewer line.
  • You can certainly call in a plumber who can do this work for you.

How Do I Clear My Main Sewer Line?

The best way to clear out a main sewer line is to use a Hydro Jet Cleaning service. The process is extremely efficient, cost effective and environmentally safe. It’s simply a superior method of cleaning out your pipes, downspouts and sewer lines.

A homeowner can also try to use a snake (aka Auger) but it will have to be a very long one if you are trying to unlodge a clog in the sewer line.

How Often Should Your Sewer Line Be Cleaned Out?

Generally speaking, for most households the sewer line should be cleaned out every 18 – 22 months. So, basically once every 2 years would be a good rule of thumb for sewer lines that see average use.

Naturally, the more people who are living in the house and using the plumbing system, the more usage that sewer line will see so it may be that the line should be cleaned out more or less often.

If you have any questions about your main sewer line or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.