Few home repairs are more painful (or odorous) than a blocked sewer pipe. Prevention is critical to keeping underground sewer pipes clear and functioning smoothly as they transport wastewater from your plumbing to a septic tank or municipal sewer system.
Regular Maintenance and Inspection
Often, homeowners only think about sewer lines when they have a problem. However, regular sewer line maintenance and inspection can be key to catching potential issues before they become emergencies. Here are some steps to take for routine maintenance:
Clear tree roots
Tree roots can cause significant damage to sewer lines. Unfortunately, they are naturally attracted to water sources, meaning they will quickly find a sewer line that has even the smallest leak. Once they’ve made contact with the sewer line, tree roots will start to penetrate the sewer lines leading to clogged or even broken pipes. Preventative maintenance by conducting camera inspections followed by cleanings when needed, will prevent drainage issues before they occur.
Keep P-traps full
Ensure the p-traps within your drain lines are kept full. P-traps are designed to prevent sewer gas/odors from emitting back into your home, as odors cannot travel through water. P-traps within drain lines that don’t get a lot of action (think about your guest bathroom, or maybe the floor drain that your water softener dumps into from time to time) tend to dry out over time. Pouring one gallon of water down these drain lines will help prevent sewer gas/odors.
Regularly clean drains and pipes
You don’t need to save drain and pipe cleaning for a clog. Regularly clearing these will keep them flowing smoothly and clear out minor clogs before they become noticeable problems.
Prevent inappropriate waste disposal
Minimize the type of waste you dispose of through your pipes. For example, don’t flush wipes down your toilet (no matter what the package tells you). In the kitchen, refrain from disposing ANY food waste/debris, whether you have a garbage disposal or not. Disposing of food waste in the kitchen sink can lead to a drain blockage in the future
Proper Waste Disposal Practices
It’s so easy to toss something in the toilet or down the garbage disposal and walk away. But if you aren’t careful, all those things you dispose of and forget about can add up to a massive clog that backs up your sewer line.
In general, try to minimize what goes down the toilet to waste and toilet paper. (One-ply is best for your pipes.) The same goes for your garbage disposal – ideally, only water will flow down your drains. Here are some things you should avoid flushing or disposing of down the drain:
- Greasy foods
- Oil
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds
- “Flushable” wipes
- Feminine sanitary products
- Dental floss
- Gum
- Paper towels
- Cotton balls
Instead of putting foods down the garbage disposal, scrape them into your garbage can—or, better yet, compost them. You can also save grease and oils in a jar to either dispose of or use for cooking (this can be particularly beneficial for collecting and using bacon grease!). Everything else can be disposed of in the garbage or recycled instead of being flushed down the toilet.
When to Call A Professional
Even with preventative measures, sewer emergencies can happen. Suppose you’re noticing a flooded, foul-smelling yard, interior water damage, or draining difficulties that aren’t going away with a standard drain cleaning solution. In that case, it’s time to call a professional who can identify the source of the problem and quickly get to work fixing it. Left unchecked, a small sewer leak can become a massive problem for your home.
Don’t Wait for A Disaster
If you’ve never given your sewer lines much attention, don’t fret. Marvel Sewer and Drain can help by taking a proactive approach to preventing sewer blockages. Our preventative camera inspections can indicate potential issues, including tree root invasions, blockages, sewer line corrosion, broken sewer pipes, and old pipes that are no longer up to code. Let us help you fix your sewer lines before disaster strikes. At Marvel Sewer and Drain we have an Annual Preventative Maintenance Program, we’ll give you a call each year when you’re about due for your next drain cleaning, & as long as you keep up with your appointments each year, you’ll receive a 20% discount as a kudos for being proactive!
Contact us to learn more. Whether you’re already dealing with a backup or you’re looking to do some preventative drain cleaning care, we have the tools to save the day. With Marvel, you’ll get the grime-fighting combination of passionate people equipped with top-notch technology.
When to consider having Marvel out for a drain cleaning: https://marvelseweranddrain.com/drain-cleaning/