Sewer Maintenance

Sewer Maintenance Can Prevent Expensive Drain Repairs

Preventive drain line and sewer line maintenance methods can help avoid many types of sewer line blockages. These are the most common reasons we see for clogged sewer pipes.Contact us today for preventative maintenance or if you are in need of immediate help.

#1 Using Your Toilet as a Garbage Can

Sanitary sewer lines are designed to accept human waste and other closely related items. It can tolerate toilet paper of course, but only when disposed of properly. For example, do not flush a pile of toilet paper clumped together at the same time. Some baby wipes and diapers are marketed as flushable, but history has proven that to be false. Do not flush anything that a sewer line is not designed to accept. This includes paper towels, tampons, condoms, dead fish, cigarette butts, and cat litter. Those things belong in your garbage can.

#2 Grease

Grease, oil, and fatty substances can accumulate inside the sewer line and cause a blockage. These substances are most likely introduced from the kitchen sink where you routinely throw away food. It is impossible to find out how much grease is in the line unless you use a sewer camera or remove a section of the drain pipe. The best way to prevent this is not to pour any fatty or oily substance into the sink. You can also keep the drain clean by occasionally pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar followed by extremely hot water.

#3 Mud, Leaves, and Other Debris

Sewer lines take all the debris not only from your bathroom and kitchen sink but also from the yard drain areas as well. Water from the yard enters the drain area carrying dust, leaves, and other debris, creating a muddy sludge. Similar to anything else, the mud can accumulate causing blockages, and sometimes flooding the affected area. One of the most effective ways to keep large debris from entering the yard drain area is to use grates, with a fine drain screen on top of the grate.

#4 Tree Roots

When tree roots have made their way into the sewer line, it is difficult to control how fast they grow and the damage they do. The problem starts when roots find a crack or hole in the pipeline, then they find a source of water and moisture to keep the tree growing and nourished. Until the crack or hole is repaired, tree roots will be a continuous and recurrent problem. The best way to prevent this issue is to use copper sulfate crystals to create a poisonous zone around the pipe.