Your sewer line is an essential part of your plumbing system. It safely carries waste away from your home, providing you with a hygienic home environment. Ensuring that it can do its job effectively involves mindful care and scheduling inspections by professionals.
Mindful Waste Disposal
The best way to ensure your sewer line’s effectiveness is to watch what finds its way into it. Never pour fats, oils, or grease down your kitchen sink, where they can quickly solidify and form clogs. It’s also safest to throw food scraps into your trash, even if you have a garbage disposal.
In the bathroom, flush only human waste and toilet paper. Many items are labeled as “flushable,” but they don’t disintegrate and can lead to blockages. You can also install strainers in your sinks and showers. These catch hair and debris to keep it from entering your main line and creating clogs.
Routine Care
There are many low-cost habits that you can develop to prevent minor buildup from causing sewer line issues. Each month, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into your drains. Follow this with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let it sit for 30 minutes. You can then flush the drain with hot water to dissolve organic buildup.
You can also do a monthly whole-house flush. Fill all sinks and tubs with cold water. Drain them simultaneously while flushing the toilets. This will cause a high-volume surge that pushes debris through the main line.
Avoid chemical drain cleaners. They can damage your pipes. Instead, use an enzyme cleaner to eliminate clogs.
Professional Maintenance
Even when you provide the best care, you still need the help of a professional. They can help ensure long-term sewer line integrity. Every year or two, schedule a camera inspection in which a flexible line with an attached camera goes down your pipes. Images produced this way provide an up-close look at your sewer line’s interior. These in-depth inspections reveal cracks, sags, and root intrusions that can otherwise go undetected. By catching them early, you can avoid expensive and inconvenient backups.
If sewer professionals find any blockages, they’ll use effective methods to clear your sewer line. This includes hydro jetting, which uses high-pressure water to clear the pipe. This method is so effective that it can easily remove tree root invasions.
By being mindful of how you use your drains, you can safely maintain your sewer line. Partnering with a professional sewer line expert will further protect your pipes. If you do experience any issues, call for repairs immediately to prevent further damage. If you live in Savannah, GA or a surrounding area and need sewer lines services, make your first call to TNT.
