The main sewer line removes the waste from your bathroom, kitchen, and sinks throughout your house. This includes the toilet. The last thing anybody wants is for the toilet to get backed up and stop working. Other problems high on the list of things to avoid include a stopped-up garbage disposal and pooled water in the bathtub when you’re taking a shower.
Unfortunately, sewer lines can clog up. Clogs are oftentimes due to something going down the drain that shouldn’t have. They can also be caused by typical problems associated with piping systems, such as damaged pipes or a problem with the city’s sewer system. However, you can stop clogs before they start by following these tips.
Never Pour Grease Down the Drain
Grease, oil, and fats solidify and get stuck in the pipes. It may seem possible to wash the grease down with hot water. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work. The grease gets washed out of the sink but sticks to the pipes.
Be Careful About What You Flush Down the Toilet
Only flush naturally occurring bodily fluids down the toilet. Foods and ordinary objects don’t dissolve well or simply get stuck in the piping. The result? Clogs and, possibly, damage to the pipes.
Don’t Overestimate the Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are amazing appliances, but they can’t break down everything and some foods get stuck in the pipes. Furthermore, when foods aren’t fully broken down, the leftover particles stick to other foods and can cause clogs. A few foods to avoid include:
- Nuts – they form a paste
- Eggshells – the membranes wrap around the disposal and the broken shells stick to other food waste, eventually clogging the pipes
- Stringy foods – they wrap around the blades
- Bones – they can break the blades or cause the motor to run out trying to break them down
- Tough to break down foods – ex: watermelon rinds because they wreak havoc on the blades and get caught in the pipes
Schedule Routine Maintenance
Scheduling maintenance with a professional will prevent problems with old pipes, damaged pipes, bellied (sagging) sewer lines that occur as a result of changes in the soil, and cracks from overgrown tree roots. These things are hard for the homeowner to see and, therefore, require professional maintenance.
Trust Trenchless Sewer Line Repair
If you’re dealing with a clog and need repairs, call us at The Drain Surgeon and schedule an appointment with the best plumbers in Augusta, GA. We’re a family-owned and -operated business with only highly skilled professionals. Our plumbers will use repair technology to fix or replace your sewer line at an affordable price.