How do I clear my main line clog?

Author: Hans Treutel  |  Last update: Saturday, August 23, 2025

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.

Can you clear a main sewer line clog yourself?

A sewer line can't clear itself. It must be cleared by a drain/septic cleaner, if that works or an auger. If it's bad you need an electric auger that must be used in your main drain to clear out your whole sewer system. It can clear out stuff in y...

What to do if main water line is clogged?

When you start to notice a drop in water pressure in your home, or if water ceases coming out of some taps entirely, you may have water supply line clogs. Unclogging them requires professional plumbers: there's no plunger you can use to affect an incoming water line!

How do you unblock a main drain pipe?

Mix 1/3rd of a cup of bicarbonate of soda with 1/3rd of a cup of vinegar in a measuring cup. It will fizz immediately, and you should waste no time pouring it down the clogged drain. The fizzing action will help to remove the gunk, hair, and grime that has built up in the blocked drain pipe.

How do you clear a clogged pipe line?

Try pouring hot water down the drain, then follow it with one cup of bicarbonate of soda and a cup of vinegar. Leave it for ten minutes, then chase it with more hot water. A combination of the hot water and the natural cleaner mixture can break blockages up.

It cleans the drain better than a machine. The stench disappears

How to unblock a clogged drain deep in a pipe?

5 DIY Methods to Clear Deep Drain Clogs 🥄
  1. Boiling Water. Boiling water is a simple yet effective method for breaking down grease and flushing away trapped residue. ...
  2. Baking Soda and Vinegar. ...
  3. Plunger. ...
  4. Wire Brush or Pipe Cleaning Tool. ...
  5. Plumbing Snake or Auger.

How do you flush a clogged water line?

Begin the flushing procedure by opening the hot water taps in your bathroom(s). Open ALL hot water sink fixtures, hot water bathtub or shower fixtures. Next, open all other hot water fixtures, such as in kitchens, wet bars, etc. Run all of these hot water fixtures for 15 minutes, then shut the water off.

How do you know if your main pipe is clogged?

Watch Out for These Four Signs of a Clogged Sewer Line?
  • All Your Drains Reek. It's not uncommon to have a single drain that emits a foul odor. ...
  • Your Drains Are Blocked or Slow-Moving. ...
  • You Hear Loud Gurgling Sounds Coming From Your Pipes Throughout Your Home. ...
  • You Have an Unnaturally Lush Landscape or a Smelly, Sunken Lawn.

How do you unblock a mains water pipe?

DIY Solutions for Clearing Blocked Water Pipes

Explore effective DIY methods to clear minor blockages in your water pipes, such as flushing the system with hot water, using vinegar and baking soda, or applying a plumber's wrench to loosen any visible obstructions.

How do you unclog underground pipes?

Use a drain snake

The process of unblocking drains with rods is variously called snaking, cable rodding, augering or rooting. It involves pushing a specialist, heavy-duty metal cable through the pipe to break up the blockage, thus allowing water to flow through.

How do you drain a main water line?

4 STEPS TO DRAIN YOUR WATER LINES
  1. SHUT OFF ALL WATER TO YOUR HOUSE. Begin by shutting off the main water valve. ...
  2. OPEN ALL FAUCETS. ...
  3. KEEP DRAINING. ...
  4. LEAVE THE FAUCETS OPEN. ...
  5. CLOSE MOST OF THE FAUCETS. ...
  6. OPEN THE MAIN WATER VALVE. ...
  7. TURN ON ALL THE FAUCETS.

Is a clogged main sewer line an emergency?

Once there is a blockage, you might quickly smell the foul odor or see water leaking. You certainly will know there is a problem. A sewer line clog is a very serious problem that can be considered a plumbing emergency.

How do I get air out of my main water line?

While these sounds can be scary and seem like serious issues, the cause is usually quite benign. Most often, a loud sound coming from your pipes is caused by trapped air. By turning off your main water supply and running all faucets for 10-15 minutes, you force any trapped air through your water pipes.

Will Drano unclog a main sewer line?

With a clogged basement drain, pouring Drano or similar products down your sewer drain can actually damage your pipes or the glue holding them together, causing more sewer system problems in the future.

How much does it cost to unclog a main sewer line?

You will likely pay around $350 to $650 to have a plumber unclog a main sewer line unless you have complications like serious damage to the line.

Why should you never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.

How do I unclog my main water line?

A plumbing auger — also known as a plumbing snake — and a sewer rod are effective against some clogs in the main drain line. If you suspect a blockage in the main drain line, don't use the plumbing system in your home until it's cleared. Getting more water into the line could cause wastewater backups in the home.

How do you unblock a main pipe?

Your step-by-step guide: How to clear a main sewer line clog
  • Loosen the cap on the drain pipe. ...
  • Allow any sewer buildup to come out of the drain. ...
  • Gently feed the auger cable into the main line drain. ...
  • Run the auger until the clog is broken up. ...
  • Hose out leftover debris. ...
  • Pull the auger cable back out of the main line drain.

How do you unclog a pipe when nothing works?

One option is to use a drain snake or auger to physically remove the clog. Another effective technique is to create a chemical reaction using baking soda and vinegar. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes, then flush with hot water.

How long does it take to unclog a main sewer line?

Clearing a clogged sewer line can take an hour to a few hours, depending on the blockage. If your lines are severely blocked, a video inspection and more advanced techniques may be necessary to find and address the clog.

How do plumbers unblock pipes?

A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.

Where to pour main line cleaner?

FOR A SLOW MOVING MAINLINE: Pour the entire contents of the container into the main line that leads from the house to the sewer or septic system. Use one gallon of Mainline Cleaner for every twenty feet (20') of main line. Use no water for at least three hours or overnight, then flush with warm or hot water.

How do you know if your main water line is clogged?

7 Signs You Have a Water Main Line Problem
  1. Multiple Clogged Drains. It's natural for your drains to get clogged. ...
  2. There's Low Water Pressure. ...
  3. Your Water Is Discolored. ...
  4. Your Fixtures Are Noisy. ...
  5. Your Utility Bills Are Higher Than Normal. ...
  6. Your Yard Looks Flooded. ...
  7. You're Getting Pests.

How do I backflush my house water lines?

This back-flush process involves back-flowing cold water through the hot water pipes in the house and blowing it out through the hot water heater drain at the base of the water heater. It requires the water heater to have a valve shut-off on the cold side water supply pipe of the water heater.

How to remove blockage from a water pipe?

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar: This natural solution can break down clogs without harsh chemicals. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by vinegar. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then flush with hot water. Use a Drain Snake: For stubborn clogs, a drain snake is effective.

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