Solving Soap Suds in the Drain

 

Do you run the dishwasher and see soap suds come up the drain in your Sacramento home? You are not alone. Soap bubbling up the drain is one of the most common plumbing issues that homeowners face. The issue can usually be resolved without a major investment. If you are handy, you can tackle the issue on your own. If not, our Sacramento plumbing team can come in to give you a hand. 

Causes

When water and suds are unable to drain from a sink and the soap suds bubble back, the problem is usually due to an incorrect pipe installation or an obstruction in the local or main sewer line. Common sources are:

• A design flaw in having too short of connecting pipes from sink to main drain pipe.
• A clog that causes water and soap suds to bubble back up a drain.

Pinpointing the exact location of the clog is key to fixing the drainage problem.

Locating the source

Look under your sink for the pipe installation. If they are installed horizontally there is nowhere for pipes to drain. The drain needs some slope to properly drain the suds from your dishwasher. A plumber can add pipe to resolve this moving water down and away from the drain.

Drain clogs that cause soap suds to bubble up your drain can take place at two possible locations, locally or at the main sewer line. Bubbling issues that only take place in one location of your home usually points to a local clog. Local clogs usually result from a blockage in a single drain, such as a the kitchen sink, or in the sewage drain line from a particular room that connects to the main sewer line. If bubbling issues occur at one or more drainage lines, this often points to a clog in the main sewer line. 

Clogs can either be partial or full, depending on how backed-up soap suds and water eventually behaves in the drain. If soap suds bubble slowly but eventually drain away, the the clog is more than likely partial. If bubbled up soap suds never drains away, then you more than likely have a full clog on your hands. 

The solution

Commercial drain cleaners are pretty much ineffective on clogs that cause soap suds to bubble up the drain. If your clog is local, a simple hand auger should be able to clear the clog and resolve any bubbling issues. Hand augers are not long enough to reach clogs in the main sewer line. So, if your clog resides in the main sewer line, it is best to call the professionals at Ace to take care of drain cleaning.

We offer 24/7 emergency service for all of your plumbing needs. Call today!