5 Warning Signs of a Broken Sewer Line Under Your House

A broken sewer line under your house is a serious plumbing emergency. Left ignored, leaking raw sewage can erode the soil under your home, leading to major structural foundation damage and severe health hazards from toxic sewer gas.

Unfortunately, because sewer lines are buried deep underground, a break can go unnoticed for weeks. Here are the 5 most common indicators that your sewer line is compromised:

1. Frequent Drain Backups and Slow Drains

If only one toilet is clogged, it is likely a local blockage. But if multiple fixtures in your home back up simultaneously, or if sewage overflows into your bathtub when you flush, the main sewer line is blocked or collapsed.

2. Rotten Egg Smell (Sewer Gas)

A properly sealed sewer system keeps odors out. If you notice a persistent smell of mold, sewage, or "rotten eggs" in your basement, yard, or bathrooms, it means sewer gas is escaping from a crack in your line.

3. Soggy, Over-Green Spots in the Lawn

Is one spot in your grass unusually green, lush, and damp compared to the rest of the yard? Sewage acts as a potent fertilizer. A cracked pipe under the lawn will saturate the soil, feeding the grass above it while creating smelly, wet spots.

4. Indentations or Sinkholes in the Yard

When a sewer pipe breaks, the escaping water washes away the surrounding soil. This causes the ground above it to settle, leaving dips, indentations, or even dangerous sinkholes in your yard.

5. Foundation Cracks and Sinkholes

When pipes leak under concrete slabs, the water ruins the foundation. If you see cracks forming in your concrete floor or walls, or if your flooring starts to warp, you need immediate slab leak detection.