A professional plumber will use a camera to inspect your sewer line. A proper inspection is vital if you experience slow draining, toilet clogs, or bad odors.
Performing regular sewer maintenance can help you avoid expensive repairs down the road. Strategically planting trees and scheduling routine inspections are important steps to keeping your home’s sewer line in good condition. Visit Website to learn more.
Many people don’t think about their sewer lines until they experience a clog or other issue. While calling in a professional drain cleaner is always a good idea, there are some easy things you can do to keep your house’s drain and sewer lines running smoothly.
All the drains in your house connect to the sewer line at some point, and clogs and other problems can easily affect the entire home. There are a few things every homeowner should know to avoid problems with the drain and sewer lines.
The Most Important Sewer Maintenance Tip
Your home’s sewer line is designed to transport waste from your drains and toilets to the sewage treatment plant or main line. This includes anything that goes down your drains, from food scraps to dirty dishwater and even discharge from washing machines. However, the line is not designed to carry grease and other cooking oil, which can solidify into a dangerous and costly blockage. Instead of pouring grease down the drain, you should collect it in a container and dispose of it properly. You should also never flush paper products like toilet paper, baby wipes, and feminine hygiene items, which can cause serious clogs.
You should regularly clean your drain strainers to prevent hair and other debris from building up in the drains. In addition, it’s a good idea to run water through your sinks and toilets once a week. This will clear out any buildup and help everything flow freely through the pipes.
Another important tip for maintaining your sewer lines is to never ignore any strange smells or sounds coming from your drains and toilets. If you notice a foul odor permeating your house, it’s probably because the sewage is backing up into your living spaces. This can cause serious health and sanitation issues, so it’s important to contact a professional as soon as possible.
If you notice that your water pressure has dropped significantly or is only flowing at a trickle from your showers and faucets, this could be a sign of an ice blockage in your drainage line. Frozen water in a pipe can prevent air from escaping, so it will force sewer odors back into your living space.
Avoid Clogs
If you have a slow draining sink or toilet that won’t flush, it may be a sign of a clogged sewer line. In this case, it’s important to call a plumber right away before the problem gets worse.
The good news is, a lot of the time, sewer clogs can be avoided with simple maintenance and prevention.
One of the major causes of sewer clogs is fats, oils and grease (FOG). These substances can harden inside the pipes and obstruct water flow. To prevent this, never pour FOG down a drain or garbage disposal, and use a sink strainer or grease trap to catch solids and throw them in the trash.
Another common cause of clogs is improper waste disposal. Items like coffee grounds, egg shells and potato peels should not be flushed down the toilet, and large food particles should be placed in a kitchen garbage can instead of the drain. To reduce the amount of waste you send down your drains, use a garbage disposal with a screen or mesh insert to block larger pieces of debris.
A professional plumber can use high-powered hydro jetting to break up and remove stubborn clogs, including tree roots. In addition, to avoid costly repairs and to maintain the integrity of your sewer line, have a plumber regularly inspect your drain lines.
If you have a mature yard, it’s also important to keep trees and shrubbery away from your sewer line. This is because their root systems can latch onto and infiltrate the line, causing blockages. If you must plant trees or shrubs close to your sewer line, choose species that are “sewer safe” and prune them regularly to avoid infiltration.
Another way to avoid clogs is by using a drain cleaner with each flush of the toilet. Many plumbers recommend a chemical solution that dissolves the buildup and keeps your drain lines clean. These products are available at home improvement stores and typically come in liquid, gel or powder form. If you do experience a clogged drain, always flush with water after using the cleaner to ensure it went down completely.
Keep Trees Away From Your Pipes
Tree roots seek moisture and nutrients, which makes them a common culprit of sewer line blockages. When they enter a drain pipe, they expand to fill the available space, clogging the pipe and preventing proper flow. This can lead to a costly sewer drain repair. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep trees away from your pipes.
Start by locating your sewer lines. Contact the city to have a plumber send out a locator to mark where your line runs underground. Next, plant your trees far enough away from the sewer line that their roots won’t be able to reach it. If you have existing trees, consider having them trimmed to reduce their size and root mass.
Keep up with regular maintenance on your sewer line. Hire a professional to snake and clean your pipes at least once per year. This prevents a buildup of rust that can cause your pipes to break down. Additionally, have a plumbing professional install foaming pipe root killer every other month to kill invading roots. These products are designed to target only the root system without damaging your pipes or surrounding plants.
If you suspect your sewer is clogged, look for signs of trouble like slow-flowing drains, multiple fixtures backing up at once, or gurgling noises from the toilet. If you notice any of these problems, call a plumber in Ocala right away to schedule an inspection. Plumbers can use mechanical root cutters to remove invading roots from your sewer lines and can suggest ways to help prevent future problems with your plumbing and sewer system.
If you’re proactive about avoiding obstructions, keeping trees away from your pipes, and scheduling routine inspections, your sewer will run smoothly for a long time. However, even if you’re careful about what goes down your drains, you may need to call a plumber in the future for a sewer drain repair. This is especially true if you have old, crumbling pipes or put too much fat down the drains. But you can save money on costly after hours services calls by catching and addressing issues as they arise.
Schedule Regular Inspections
A well-functioning plumbing system is vital to a comfortable, healthy living or working environment. While most people pay close attention to visible elements like faucets and drains, it is easy to forget about less apparent parts of the system such as the sewage lines. However, neglecting these lines can lead to expensive and disruptive problems. Fortunately, regular inspections can help prevent issues and keep your sewer lines running smoothly.
During a sewer inspection, a plumber will insert a tube equipped with a video camera into your home’s drains. The camera can spot clogs, breaks, and other problems that may be developing. The inspector will then provide a report detailing the results of the inspection.
Sewer line inspections are important for both residential and commercial properties. While a business’s pipes are not as vulnerable to clogs and other problems as those of a residence, they can still suffer from wear and tear over time. In addition, the presence of tree roots can cause damage to the sewer lines. Regular inspections and cleaning can reduce the risk of these problems and prevent sewage backups, unpleasant odors, and other costly problems.
Performing regular inspections of your sewage lines can also help you maintain your property’s value. If you are planning to sell your home, an inspection can identify any potential issues and give you peace of mind that the sale will go through quickly and smoothly. Similarly, if you are buying a new home, an inspection can alert you to any existing issues that you will need to address immediately.
Having a strong record of maintenance can also be helpful if you need to file an insurance claim for repairs. Your insurer will be more likely to approve your claim if they see that you have been proactive in addressing problems with your plumbing and sewage lines. A professional plumber will be able to spot problems before they worsen and perform efficient repairs, saving you time and money. They will also be able to recommend cost-effective solutions that can reduce your need for future repairs.