Dealing With Chronically Clogged Sewer Lines

How to Respond to Sewer Line Backups 

Sewer lines have to be reliable to keep the home sanitary and safe. When sewer lines get fouled by grease, hair, and scum or damaged from tree roots or wear and tear, clogs can form that allow sewage to back up into the home. Cleaning up after such a disaster is a huge headache, so homeowners should take care to prevent sewer line clogs and deal with potential clogs quickly. Here is a quick guide to help ensure the sewer line stays reliable. 

What Causes Frequent Sewer Line Backups?

tree roots Sewer line backups are always the result of clogs, and clogs occur any time the water flow is impeded in a sewer line. Obstructions may form with tree roots invading cracked or damaged sewer pipes and prevent debris from flowing away, or they may occur with pipe shifts due to unstable soil conditions. Commonly, dirty piping that is fouled with hair, grease, and soap scum can slow down effluent enough that a clog slowly forms. Additionally, outdated piping materials or collapsed lines can allow clogs to form such that sewage backups occur regularly. 

Sewer Line Clog Solutions 

Using the same plumber for drain and sewer cleaning is always a good idea so the same people can gauge the extent of a sewer line problem. If they have to visit a property for sewage backups repeatedly, they will likely start to look for underlying problems that may be contributing to sewer line clogs. 

Depending on the cause of a sewer line clog, plumbers may choose from a few options to make repairs. Often, they will start by simply using hydrojetting to clear the pipe. If the problem persists, they may look for damage in the piping and recommend sewer line repairs to replace the section of the sewer pipe. If the damage is widespread, the plumbers may recommend replacing the entire line, recommending trenchless pipe repairs in some situations.

Preventing Sewer Line Clogs 

clog

Sewers already have to handle a wide variety of waste under normal circumstances, so homeowners should lighten their load by keeping certain things out of the sewer line. The only things that should go down a sewer line are: 

  • Reasonably-sized toilet flushes
  • Kitchen sink effluent
  • Bathtub and shower water
  • Dirty dishwater from dishwashers
  • Water from clothes washers

Anything that falls outside the bounds of these waste sources should be discarded in the garbage. To protect sewer lines from clogs: 

  • Scrape dishes into the garbage
  • Run the garbage disposal if food waste ends up in the kitchen sink
  • Discard grease and food scraps into the trash
  • Provide trash cans for wipes and bathroom trash 
  • Install hair catchers in tubs
  • Keep large plants away from the path of sewer lines

Homeowners can avoid most sewer line problems by following these dos and don'ts. If they still occur, a plumber can be called for hydro jetting service or trenchless pipe repairs for major sewer line replacement.

About 2 Plumbs Up Plumbing & Remodeling

2 Plumbs Up Plumbing & Remodeling provides preventive care for plumbing and recommends routine drain cleaning and hydrojetting for clog prevention. Their teams of professionals offer the highest level of service, and they don’t charge extra for overtime. Call today for a sewer line service in Rancho Cordova, CA.  

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