Get matched with top sewer cleaners in Waterloo, IA

The best drain cleaners are biodegradable ones or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Strong, caustic chemicals may seem appealing with promises of unclogging your drain quickly, but liquid drain cleaners can cause damage to your pipes over time. Consider making your own drain cleaner with baking soda and vinegar.

In the majority of cases, homeowners insurance will not cover a main sewer line root clog. The reason is that most insurance companies consider tree root damage to sewer lines as common wear and tear, which is also preventable. However, you may be able to buy optional add-on coverage, such as "service line coverage" or "sewer line endorsements," that would protect against root damage to your sewer line.

It is generally safe to stay in a house that smells like sewage for a short time, but you should get the problem fixed as soon as possible. While the level of sewer gas is usually low enough to only cause minor symptoms, prolonged inhalation can lead to headaches, nausea, or respiratory irritation. High levels of gas exposure can be more dangerous, and high concentrations of methane—a component of sewer gas—can pose an explosion risk in enclosed spaces. If you smell sewer gas in your home, ventilate the area and call a professional to locate, assess, and fix the problem, as it will not go away on its own.

Clearing typically takes 1-2 hours, depending on the blockage size and location.