How Do I Know If My Sewer Line Is Damaged?

Most plumbing problems you see inside the house are easy to recognize: a dripping faucet, a running toilet, a leaky hose bib. A damaged sewer line is different. It’s buried underground, often running under your slab, driveway, or yard—so the warning signs are easy to miss until you’re dealing with a messy backup.

If you live in North Dallas, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Richardson, or nearby suburbs, shifting clay soil, older piping, and tree roots all increase the risk of sewer line problems. The good news: your home will usually give you clues before a major failure happens.

Here’s how to tell if your sewer line may be damaged and what to do next.

What Your Sewer Line Does (and Why Damage Is a Big Deal)

Your home’s sewer line is the main pipe that carries all wastewater from toilets, sinks, tubs, and drains out to the city sewer. When this line cracks, collapses, or becomes blocked, wastewater has nowhere to go but back toward your home.

That can mean:

• Repeated toilet or tub backups

• Sewage coming up in floor drains or showers

• Contaminated soil and strong odors in your yard

• Potential health risks from bacteria and gases

Catching the problem early can save you thousands of dollars in repairs and property damage.

Common Causes of Sewer Line Damage in North Dallas

Homes in the North Dallas area are especially vulnerable to sewer issues because of:

• Expansive clay soil that swells when wet and shrinks during dry spells, stressing buried pipes

• Mature trees whose roots seek out tiny cracks in sewer lines and grow inside

• Older cast-iron or clay piping that corrodes, rusts, or breaks down over time

• Grease and “flushable” wipes that build up inside the line and cause blockages

• Heavy construction or yard work that can accidentally damage buried pipes

Knowing this, it’s important to pay attention to warning signs around your home.

Warning Sign #1: Multiple Slow or Gurgling Drains

One slow drain usually means a local clog—hair in a shower, food in a kitchen sink, etc. But if several drains in different parts of your home are slow at the same time, the problem may be in the main sewer line.

Listen and look for:

• Gurgling noises after flushing

• Water in a tub or shower rising when a toilet is flushed

• Sinks or tubs draining slowly even after you’ve tried plunging

These symptoms often mean wastewater is struggling to move through a partially blocked or damaged sewer pipe.

Warning Sign #2: Frequent Toilet Backups

Toilets are directly connected to your sewer line, so they usually show trouble first.

Be concerned if:

• You have repeated clogs even when you’re careful about what you flush

• Plunging only works temporarily

• More than one toilet in the house backs up within a short period

If multiple toilets and drains are involved, it’s more likely a main sewer issue than just a bad toilet.

Warning Sign #3: Sewage Odors Inside or Outside

You should never smell strong sewer or “rotten egg” odors inside your home or near outdoor clean-outs.

Call a plumber quickly if you notice:

• Persistent sewer smells in bathrooms, utility rooms, or near floor drains

• Strong odors near the side yard, alley, or front lawn where the sewer runs

• Smells that worsen after using lots of water (laundry, long showers, guests over)

Odors can indicate a crack in the line or a loose/broken connection allowing gases to escape.

Warning Sign #4: Wet Spots or Lush Patches in the Yard

A leaking sewer line will sometimes show up in your yard before it shows up in your drains.

Watch for:

• Soft, soggy, or sunken areas in the lawn, especially along a pipe path or near the street

• One extra-green or fast-growing strip of grass compared to the surrounding yard

• Small sinkholes or constantly damp soil even in dry weather

Sewage acts like fertilizer, so those bright green patches can actually be a red flag.

Warning Sign #5: Mold, Mildew, or Staining Indoors

If the sewer line runs under or near your slab, a leak can introduce moisture into the foundation and lower walls.

Signs can include:

• New or worsening musty odors

• Mold or mildew around baseboards or lower walls

• Stains or warping in flooring near bathrooms or utility rooms

These issues don’t always mean a sewer line leak—but combined with slow drains or odors, they’re a reason to investigate.

Warning Sign #6: Rodent or Insect Activity

Damaged sewer lines can create entry points and moisture that attract pests. If you suddenly notice more roaches, drain flies, or rodents, especially around plumbing areas, a broken or leaking line may be part of the problem.

How a Plumber Confirms Sewer Line Damage

Professional plumbers have tools that let them see exactly what’s happening underground without tearing up your entire yard.

Common methods include:

• Sewer camera inspection – A small camera is sent through the line to look for cracks, roots, buildup, and collapses.

• Location equipment – Helps pinpoint the exact spot and depth of the problem so only the affected section is dug up.

• Hydro-jetting – High-pressure water can clear heavy grease, scale, and root intrusions if the line is structurally sound.

Depending on what’s found, repairs may involve a spot repair on one section, or in more severe cases, a full sewer line replacement.

What You Should Do if You Suspect Sewer Line Damage

If you notice several of these warning signs in your North Dallas home:

1. Stop using large amounts of water (laundry, long showers) to reduce the risk of a full backup.

2. Avoid using harsh chemical drain cleaners—they rarely help and can damage older pipes.

3. Call a licensed plumber with sewer camera and repair experience in North Texas soil conditions.

4. Share all your symptoms (which fixtures, when it happens, any odors or yard issues) so the plumber can quickly narrow down the cause.

Catching a damaged sewer line early can mean the difference between a targeted repair and a major excavation or extensive indoor cleanup.

Sewer Line Concerns in North Dallas? We’re Here to Help.

If you’re seeing repeated clogs, strange gurgling, sewer odors, or wet spots in the yard, don’t ignore it. Your sewer line may be warning you that something is wrong.

MRC Plumbing Solutions provides sewer camera inspections, drain cleaning, and sewer line repair and replacement throughout North Dallas, Plano, Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Richardson, Wylie, Murphy, and nearby communities.

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