A mainline is the sewer line (or main sewage pipe) between your house and the street. All sewage/waste from your home gets eliminated through this line.
For example, after waste is placed into a toilet, it is flushed. The waste is then pushed through the mainline into the public sewer system. Some examples of what clogs a mainline include:
- Toilet paper, baby wipes, napkins
- Broken or collapsed sewer lines
- Tree roots
Typically, a backup will occur at the line’s lowest point, such as a basement floor drain or basement bathroom. These out-of-sight fixtures are why most backups aren’t usually noticed until it’s too late.
By the time you do see the problem, it’s because the basement has already begun flooding. A potentially lasting problem, the real threat of mold and disease, extends to your property and possessions. These need to be remediated.
The immediate attention of a plumber is required to stop the damage as quickly as possible. In a drain backup situation, everything affected by the sewage (walls, furniture, etc.) will need to be removed and sanitized, and materials replaced.
For more information, read: “3 Common Causes of Drain Backups.”