Get matched with top sewer cleaners in Bad Axe, MI

You should hire a sewer service professional to unclog a main sewer line with tree roots. Tree roots can grow into the main sewer line, and this problem requires a specialized hydro jet, or rooter, that is powerful enough to clear the roots. The tree can also damage the main sewer line, and a professional will need to make repairs or replace the damaged sections. Sewer line replacement costs about $60 to $250 per linear foot.

In most areas, drain cleaning professionals don’t technically need a license, as they aren’t altering your plumbing system in any way. However, we recommend hiring a drain cleaning professional with a plumbing license and certification. Certified plumbers are more likely to provide professional solutions to drain clogs without damaging your system. They’ll also have the diagnostic tools and experience necessary to remove the clog entirely rather than providing a temporary solution, as a handyperson might. Use Angi’s state licensing tool to check your plumber’s professional licenses before hiring.

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.