When it comes to your household plumbing system, one of its most important parts is your drainage system. One thing that no homeowner wants to deal with is a sewer line backup. Here, we’ll provide you with our best strategies on how to avoid experiencing this problem at your home.
Use Care When Flushing
One of the most crucial things you can do to avoid a sewer line backup is to be mindful of what you’re flushing down your toilets. Many homeowners are confused when it comes to flushable wipes. Contrary to what their name suggests, these wipes actually don’t deteriorate very quickly and can clog your sewer line. It’s best to avoid using them. Other items you want to avoid putting down your toilets include feminine hygiene products, paper towels, and even diapers.
Use Appropriate Sink Etiquette
You also need to take care of what you allow to go down your sink drains. You should never pour grease, fats, or oils down your drains, as they will solidify and create a gel-like substance that will attract any particles going down your pipes. Some other key items to keep out of your sink drains include rice, eggshells, coffee grounds, and seeds.
Install Shower Drain Strainers
While you might not give it a lot of thought, your shower could be contributing to your sewer line clog. When items like hair and soap scum go directly down your drain, they can adhere together and form a blockage. One of the absolute best ways to prevent these unsavory items from going down your shower drains is to use a drain strainer.
This is a mesh screen that sits over your drain and catches all of this unwanted debris so that you can simply throw it in the trash instead of allowing it to go down your pipes. Drain strainers can also be a great addition for your sinks.
Get Routine Drain Cleaning Service
One of the best ways to be proactive in preventing a sewer line backup at your home is to get routine drain cleaning service. Using a service like hydro jetting can scour the inside of your sewer line and remove any built-up debris. This will greatly reduce your chance of experiencing a clog, which can go a long way in providing you with peace of mind.
Manage Stormwater Runoff
When the summer season brings along with it some nasty rainstorms, it’s important to effectively manage your water runoff. All your gutters should have a downspout that shoots water well away from the foundation of your home. This will help prevent water from accumulating near your sewer line and entering through any cracks or other defects.
Install a Backwater Valve
One key addition to help prevent sewer backups in your home is a backwater valve. This is perfect for when summer storms may overwhelm your municipal sewer supply, as it prevents water from backflowing into your actual sewer line. As with any addition to your plumbing system, it’s important to have a professional check your valve each year to ensure that it’s working correctly.
Update Your Sewer Line When Necessary
Sewer lines have a finite lifespan and will eventually need replacement. The key is to replace this component of your plumbing system before it completely collapses to prevent unfortunate issues like a total backup. This is where getting routine inspections can help, as you can learn from one of our plumbing professionals when it’s likely time to make an upgrade.
Catch Early Warning Signs
In most cases, your sewer line will develop a smaller clog that gets larger over time. If you can successfully identify when you have a smaller clog, you can remove the issue before it turns into a complete backup of your sewer system.
We highly recommend watching out for slow drains, gurgling toilets, foul sewage odors, and even dark green spots on your lawn near where your sewer line runs. If you experience any of these early warning signs, it’s best to call so that we can remove the partial clog before it gets any worse.
Reliable Drain Cleaning Service
Drain Doctor Plumbing & Rooter provides reliable drain cleaning service for the Covina, CA area. We can also help with all your sewer line repair, replacement, new installation, inspection, and pipe lining needs. Call us today to schedule your next drain service consultation.
