It’s true that it’s easy to forget what goes down our drain but as responsible homeowners, we should be aware that all that we flush may greatly affect our sewer line in the long run. Remember that sewer pipes are solely for disposing of wastewater, human body waste, and toilet paper. So how can you maintain a smooth-flowing sewer line?
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Below we’ve provided some ways to keep your sewer system hassle-free.
Inspect
Your responsibility as a homeowner is to familiarize yourself with how your sewer system runs and regularly check for any signs of sewer line issues. Look for tree roots that could sprout up and wreak havoc on your pipes. Make sure to examine your sink plumbing carefully for leaks and cracks which could cause potential damage to your property over time.
Additionally, try also to inspect any broken or exposed pipe connected to your water heater, garbage disposal, or refrigerator. Learn to maintain your appliances to keep things in check. Know how to identify any signs of water leaks such as stains on your walls or ceilings, mildew growth, or any water pooling around the floor.
Always check your cleanouts. They’re typically found right outside your home in the yard and it provides direct access to your sewer line. Make sure they’re full of water and all caps are tight and secure. You may pour a little amount of bleach inside if you notice any smell.
Clean
By calling a professional to drain clean your sewer line regularly, you’ll likely avoid costly repairs caused by ruptures. Experts do not advise the use of chemical drain cleaners to fix severe blockages. They’re considered toxic and dangerous since they may warp or damage pipes like plastic and old metal piping. Plus, it could disrupt the good bacteria that help breakdown waste. If this happens, you might end up requiring more additional maintenance.
You can practice cleaning your plumbing system by using natural products that you can find in your kitchen such as vinegar and baking soda. Pour one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of white vinegar down the drain. After an hour, flush it with warm water. This technique can unplug debris and buildup. Try doing this once a month to keep your drains flowing in optimal condition. It typically works for showers, tubs, and kitchen sink drains.
Know how to properly care for your garbage disposal to keep it from clogging. Running cold water in operating garbage disposals may help push foods through and this will prevent any blockage.
Limit
Fat, oils, and grease buildup in the sewer pipes is the number one cause of backups. To prevent this from happening, scrape all food sauce and dressing in the trash before washing. You can run cold water before, during and after running the garbage disposal. Stringy foods like celery, banana peels, corn husks, to name a few should be avoided in the garbage disposal as they are very hard to grind and may possibly cause clogs. Other foods to avoid in the garbage disposal are egg shells, coffee grounds, and starchy foods like pasta and rice. These foods may cause build up over time and could cause clogging.
Always take care of your toilet and watch out for what you flush down the drain. Small items such as dental floss, rubber bands, wipes, cigarette butts, hair, and other things that are not supposed to be flushed into the toilet cannot break down enough to go down the drain completely. These non-flexible materials could get caught in the line and accumulate forming severe blocks. The use of one-ply toilet paper dissolves faster at the same time clearing the pipes quickly. If you follow these habits you’ll reduce the risk of blockage to your system and maintain an efficient sewer line.
Looking for Expert Plumbers to Help you maintain your Sewer Lines? Call The Pipe Doctor!
The Pipe Doctor provides different sewer services such as sewer repair, sewer inspection, sewer cleaning, and sewer replacement in Seattle, WA. If you are looking for affordable and reliable plumbing and sewer experts, don’t hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email!
The Pipe Doctor
12345 Lake City Way Ste 311 Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 676-2192
thepipedr@gmail.com