The City's Utilities Department cleans sewer main lines using a high-pressure water sprayer. While conducting this activity, our machine can create positive and negative pressures in the sewer line.
These pressures are normally released through the manholes and the roof vents on the house’s sewer line. If the house’s vent line is obstructed, the pressures will take the path of least resistance. This path can be through your floor drain or toilet. Air is the only thing that gets released. However, it will move any standing water in its path and release sewer gas into your home.
This is not a common occurrence, but does occasionally happen. Putting water in all of the drains in your house (especially lower-level floor drains) will stop the further release of sewer odor into your home. Clean-up is typically minor and is left to the home owner. Keeping your sewer and vent line clean will help prevent this from happening and minimize the chances of a backup caused from a blockage. After cleaning your sewer line, please call the City's Utilities Department so staff can make sure the debris from your line won't block the main sewer line.