For many people, a bathroom is a location where you may go to be by yourself, unwind totally, and rest in the tub while taking a pleasant bath in a warm environment. Discovering feces in the shower drain, however, is an unpleasant experience and can spoil your mood for the rest of the day.
When there is a blockage in your sewer system, the water will not be able to drain properly. Instead, it can travel back down the pipes until it reaches the drain in the shower. So, when a clog occurs in a sewage system, there is a possibility that feces will come up through a shower drain.
Causes of a Clogged Sewer
Since the sewer system is subjected to everyday use, its operation might eventually be affected and numerous factors can lead to a clogged sewer
Sagging/Faulty Pipeline
If a line is broken, the sewage will not be able to drain through the system as it should, which will result in backups, both immediately and frequently.
Although sagging is inevitable after a long time, it makes the line develop low places that will begin to accumulate waste, which will result in repeated obstructions.
However, If the sewer line is built with the correct slope it can prevent the possibility of sagging.
Mistaking the Toilet for a Garbage Can
Dumping things down the drain can lead to clogged sewer lines, which results in the spewing of feces from the drain. Disposing of biodegradable waste like Human hair, plastics, paper towels, baby wipes, sanitary towels, and chunks of food contributes to clogged sewer lines.
Flushing grease, oil, or other fats down your shower drain can also lead to clogged drains and sewers. When grease or oil cools down and turns solid, it sticks to your pipes. A home should have a garbage can so drop biodegradable waste in the can not in your toilet.
Unlawful Pipework Connections
The sanitary sewer should never be connected to backyard drains, sump pumps, or any other drainage system. Aside from the fact that the connection might violate the municipal sewage management policies, your sewer will get clogged up with trash and silt. You can hire a professional sewer and drain specialist to fix any unauthorized pipework.
Tree Roots
Trees or large shrubs growing near sewer lines can penetrate the sewer lines and cause complications. Roots can travel and may fracture the pipes. When roots enter the pipe, they produce root balls, which obstruct the flow of the water and eventually lead to a clogged sewer.
All of these can cause a blockage in the sewer system, which might result in feces spewing out from the shower drain and other damages.
Can Feces Spew from the Shower Drain Cause More Damage?
Not only will feces coming up from your shower drain create annoyances and inconveniences, but it can also cause significant harm and cost you lots of money if not attended to immediately.
The Shower Drainage System Will Also Get Blocked
Bowel motions cannot be flushed through drainage systems in showers because of the lack of pressure or volume of water. In comparison to the diameter of a drain pipe, a sewage pipe is substantially larger in diameter. Flushing an actual toilet is more effective than using a shower because of its high amount of water. It is, therefore, only a matter of time before your shower drain gets clogged.
Ammonia-like Odor
In addition to drainage problems, the decomposition of the feces in the shower will generate an unpleasant odor in your home.
In this case, it isn’t just your bathroom that’s being affected by the raw sewage – the sewage has entrenched itself in your whole house’s sewer system. This has made all of your drains more vulnerable. Hence, all of your home’s major pipes will be filled with wastewater, causing the smell of sewage to become pervasive in your home.
Expensive Plumbing
Once it gets to this point, it is not just about your bathroom, it is about your home. You have no choice but to fix the plumbing issue, which will cost you more money.
What to do When Feces Spew Out From Your Shower Drain?
Use Drain Snake
Using a drain snake instead of a plunger can assist in dislodging the object, causing clogs in your drain. Plungers are only effective in removing obstacles that are located close to the opening of the drain or toilet. It will not be able to clear the obstruction or reach your sewer line to clear it. But with a snake drain, you have better chances of finding the issue.
Even though drain snakes can be quite useful for removing certain types of obstructions, there are situations in which using one can make the issue worse. If your pipes are old, using a drain snake might scrape out chunks of metal, making the clog much worse and ruining your pipe in the process. Check to know more about drain and sewer pipes
Inspect Your Plumbing Vent
The plumbing vent or the vent pipe is typically situated on the roof, directly above the bathroom, and sometimes in a different part of the house. Your sewer system can incur blockage if the vent pipes get obstructed or jammed. Your sewage line should be able to drain correctly once any blockage is removed (if the problem is from there).
Turn Off the Main Water Valve
By turning off the water at the main valve, you will be able to stop more water from entering regions that are already clogged up, as well as prevent more sewage from backing up into your drains.
Call a Professional Sewer and Drain Specialist
Repairing a clogged sewer line on your own might lead to more damage to your pipes and sewer system. To avoid causing further damages and incurring additional costs, it is best to seek professional help from a reputable sewer and drain specialist immediately. You can get immediate help at N.W. Sewers & Drain.
What to Expect From N.W. Sewer & Drain
At N.W. Sewer & Drain, we have a well-trained and ready-to-move team on standby. We serve the Seattle metropolitan area, including Edmonds, Marysville, Everett, Arlington, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Bellingham, Bellevue, Kirkland, Shoreline, Renton, and Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Auburn and other surrounding areas.
N.W. Sewer & Drain provides top-notch drain cleaning and sewer repair services in the greater Seattle area, and we’ve been in the business for more than 20 years. Contact us today at 206-931-7728 to schedule an inspection of your sewer line and pipes.