Are Tree Roots Destroying Your Sewer Lines?

May 29th, 2015 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Tree roots are the nemesis of sewer and water lines that run under your yard and lawn. Seeking water, they grow quickly toward the sewer pipes buried under the ground, looking for ways to access the moisture inside. Once they find even the tiniest crack to gain hold, the root can infiltrate the pipe and cause all types of sewer line problems, from bursting the pipe to creating a clog. It is important to be aware of tree root problems to avoid expensive sewer line repairs.

Signs of Root Sewer Line Invasion

There are a few signs that you may already have tree roots growing into your sewer lines. The first is slow drains or a backup of raw sewage into your home. This can be a sign that a tree root is clogging your pipe, causing a backup of sewage. Another sign is a wet area in your yard above the sewer lines, usually accompanied by a foul odor. This could mean the sewer line has been broken and sewage is leaking into the surrounding ground.

If you have any of these signs, call your local sewer professional to inspect your sewer lines. Using digital cameras, they can inspect the inside of the sewer lines and find the problem. If it is just a clog, many tree roots clogs can be removed through hydrojetting. If there is a break, the sewer line will need to be repaired or replaced.

Many of the newer options in sewer piping can prevent tree root invasions using seamless piping material that roots cannot penetrate. If you have tree root issues with your sewer pipes, talk to your sewer professional about relining or replacing your current pipes with seamless piping.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

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Homeowner’s Guide to Sewer Maintenance

January 2nd, 2015 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Owning a home involves a plethora of items to maintain, from the roof to the underground sewer lines. Truth be told, many homeowners do nothing to maintain their sewer lines. They may not even think about their sewer system at all until there’s a problem. Unfortunately, ignoring your system until there’s a problem often means these issues will be more complicated ones, often at a very high cost and inconvenience. A better plan is to provide preventative maintenance on your sewer system to ensure that it can continue functioning for years to come.

Sewer Maintenance Tips

The good news is there’s not much you need to do to maintain your sewer. Often, it’s more about what not to do than actual maintenance. A sewer system that was installed correctly can work without problems for decades, with a little help from its owners. Here are a few tips for maintaining your sewer lines:

  • Flushing. The biggest sewer line problems often come from the bathroom, where larger items enter the sewer lines. To prevent clogs, don’t flush anything but water, waste and toilet paper, avoiding even items which claim to be flushable.
  • Drains. Keep fat, grease, chemicals, paint, coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables out of your drains. Get in the habit of throwing these items away, not allowing them to go down into your sewer pipes even if you have a garbage disposal installed.
  • Cleanings and inspections. Once a year, hire a local sewer professional to inspect and clean your sewer pipes. Many emergency sewer problems can easily be prevented by keeping your sewer lines clear.

Your local sewer line service company can offer additional advice about how to keep your sewer system maintained. Ask them for maintenance advice at your next inspection and sewer line cleaning.

Posted on behalf of:
Hunter’s Septic Service
Nesbit, MS
(662) 429-1686

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Avoid Holiday Sewer Emergencies

December 5th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Some of the busiest days of the year for sewer, septic and plumbing professionals are during the winter holiday season. From Thanksgiving through the New Year celebration, families all across the country are cooking huge meals, and giving their kitchen and bathroom plumbing a workout. Unfortunately, all this heavy use can end in a sewer drain backup if you’re not careful, making for a particularly unpleasant holiday memory. Here are a few tips to reduce the chance of a holiday sewer emergency:

–        Take care of your garbage disposal. While cooking large holiday meals, the garbage disposal is used heavily. Make sure to run water when using the disposal to rinse any residual fat or particles down the drain. Processing ice with very small pieces of lemon peel through the disposal can help sharpen the blades and deodorize.

–        Keep fatty foods out of your drains. Do not rinse greasy pans, plates or utensils down the drain. Scrape all excess fat and debris into the garbage, and wipe with a paper towel. Any fat or grease can cause clogs in your plumbing or sewer pipes.

–        Use a sink container. To prevent guests from putting food and fats down your kitchen sink, put container inside your sink for catching food particles. You can easily dump this container outside and keep all the food debris out of your drains and sewer system.

The better care you take of your plumbing and sewer drains throughout the holidays, the less chance you will have a holiday sewer emergency.  It’s worth a few preventive measures to keep your sewer and plumbing working properly while you enjoy time with your friends and family.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

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Prevent Home Sewer Backups

December 5th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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With the busy weeks and months ahead, the last thing you need in your home is a sewer backup. Unfortunately, sewer backups can happen at the most inconvenient time, even during a holiday gathering. The best way to ensure your life isn’t rudely interrupted with an expensive sewer backup is to follow a few simple prevention tricks. Keep these tips in mind to keep sewer backups from ruining your holiday season:

–        Keep your drains clean. Clogs can happen both in your indoor plumbing pipes and your sewer lines. The best way to avoid large clogs which can lead to a sewer backup is to keep your drains clear of certain materials. Never allow coffee grounds, grease, oils, fibrous vegetables, egg shells, rice or pasta be put down your drains.

–        Be careful what you flush. One of the most common causes of sewer backups are items flushed down the toilet. Don’t flush any paper products, except toilet paper. Keep feminine hygiene products, cotton swabs, wipes and other paper items out of the toilet.

–        Make sure to have a functioning backwater prevention valve. A backwater prevention valve keeps sewage from  making its way back into your home. Your local sewer professional can install a backwater prevention valve into your home.

–        Have a video inspection done on your sewer pipes. A preventive inspection can alert you to problems before they become a sewer emergency, including a sewer backup. Schedule your video inspection today with your local sewer service company.

These few easy tips can save your holidays from being upset by a sewer backup or emergency. Keep your pipes clear and have a happy holiday season!

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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What Is A Sewer Backflow Prevention Device?

September 27th, 2014 Posted in Backflow Prevention
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Having access to the city sewer system is convenient for homeowners, considering the lower maintenance requirements in comparison to owning a septic system. Still, there is a possibility that the main sewer lines that you depend on every day can become clogged. When this happens, the waste you flushed or put down the drain can come flowing back into your home unless you have a working backflow prevention device. 

How A Backflow Prevention Device Works

Most homes on city sewer should be built with a backflow prevention device (BPD) and cleanout to protect the home from backup sewer lines problems. If a major clog forms in the main sewer line, the waste from your home can have nowhere to go, forcing it back up into your home. A BPD will detect the backup and allow the waste to overflow through the cleanout. instead of into your home. 

Most backup prevention devices need to be installed by a sewer contractor. There are a few different types, including spring-loaded, gravity and self-locking pop-ups, as well as mushroom types. Which device is best suited to your property will depend on how close the home is to the main sewer line. Your local sewer service contractor can help you determine which type is best for your home. 

A sewer backup is more than just an inconvenience. It can cause extensive water damage to your home and contamination issues. If you’re not sure whether you have a BPD, or are having issues with backup sewage into your home, call your local sewer contractor to schedule an appointment. They can inspect your existing system and make sure you have the protection you need for main line sewer backup problems.

Posted on behalf of Find Local Sewer Septic

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Little Trees Can Lead To Big Sewer Line Problems

July 16th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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With summer arriving, many homeowners are taking advantage of the nice weather to do landscaping projects in their yards. What they may not be thinking of is how some of their new plants may affect their sewer lines hiding below the surface of their yard. While flower and vegetable gardens will have little affect on their sewer pipes, small seedling trees may cause big problems down the road.

Consider Sewer Lines When Planting New Trees

Trees need water to survive, using their long roots to find the best source of moisture in your yard. Most likely, the most plentiful source of water in your yard will be your sewer or septic pipes. As that tree grows, tree roots will seek out those pipes if they are close enough, working their way in through joints. Eventually, these strong roots can block, crack and break your sewer pipes, causing a seriousproblem.

The best way to avoid this issue is to plant trees as far away from your sewer lines as possible. Also, research the root depth possibilities for the trees you are planting. Many trees can grow roots that are dozens of feet long, making it difficult to keep those roots away from pipes in a smaller yard.

If you already have trees in your yard which are near your sewer or septic lines, keep an eye and nose out for problems. You may notice low level drains becoming slower if there are root blockages in your sewer pipes. If a pipe is cracked, you may notice a distinct odor in your yard, or a wet area above where the pipe is located. Tree root invasion of your sewer lines calls for professional sewer line repairs and should be remedied as soon as possible by calling your local sewer or septic company.

Posted on behalf of Metro Septic and Sewer

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What Do You Know About Your Sewer Lines?

July 16th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Let’s face it; most homeowners are blissfully unaware of their sewer lines until there is a problem, then they are very aware of these hidden systems. While sewer lines may not be fun to think about, they are an important part of every home. Knowing where sewer lines are, if they have been maintained and whether they have clean-outs is something that every homeowner should know.

Learning More About Your Sewer Lines

If you own a home, eventually you will need to repair, replace or unclog a sewer line. While many sewer lines can work relentlessly for decades with no problems, they are not designed to last forever. Just as you should know where your water pipes and shut off valves are for the water coming into your home, you should also know where the pipes are that transport the water and waste from your home.

  • Locating sewer lines. Since sewer lines are underground, you may not be aware of exactly where they are located. However, unless you have a sewage easement with a neighbor, they should be located on your property. You may be able to get a map of the sewer lines for your home from the city or county where you live.
  • Locating sewer line clean outs. Sewer line clean-outs are capped pipes which are located above ground to access your sewer pipes if they become clogged. Not all homes have clean-outs; however, if yours does, you should know where they are located. They are often along the lateral line which connects a homes sewer pipes to the city sewer system.

Knowing where your sewer lines are located can be helpful when the eventual sewer problem does occur. Although your local sewer service company can locate the lines if needed, you can speed the process by showing them where your lines are and any clean-outs that are available.

Posted on behalf of Septic Service Pro

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Spring Cleaning For Your Septic Pipes

May 8th, 2014 Posted in Drain Cleaning
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Your septic system needs regular maintenance to function properly, including cleaning your septic lines outside of your home. Over the years, debris, waste and even outside invaders like tree roots can begin to clog your sewer pipes. It’s only a matter of time before the lines become clogged, backing up sewer waste into your home. This spring, give your sewer lines the cleaning they need with a hydrojetting service.

What Is Hydrojetting?

Many plumbing and septic companies offer a service called hydro jetting, which can safely clean and clear your septic lines. This technique uses high pressured water to remove built-up debris inside of your underground sewer pipes. The pressured water is able to remove all types of materials which can line your pipes without the use of harmful chemicals. Some of the benefits of using this service include:

  • Faster draining pipes. If you have begun to notice slow draining in your home, clearing your septic pipes may alleviate this problem.
  • Prevent tree root damage. Hyrdojetting can remove small tree roots that have grown into your sewer lines. Removing these roots now can prevent them from cracking your pipes which can lead to expensive repair or replacement.
  • Prevent emergency sewer backups. There is never a good time to have a sewer back-up. Prevent future clogs by clearing out accumulated waste now.

Preventative cleaning of your sewer pipes can save you money on expensive sewer problems down the road. It can also reduce the corrosion of older clay or cement pipes, extending the life of your sewer lines. Call your local plumbing or septic company today to schedule your hydrojetting service!

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing Septic and Sewer

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What To Do In A Sewer Backup Emergency

May 8th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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No one wants to have a sewer backup into their home; it’s disgusting, dangerous and an expensive problem to fix. It’s also one of the reasons why maintaining your sewer lines or septic system is so important.  However, these situations can happen despite your efforts to prevent them, and when they do, you will need to know what to do to get the problem resolved and to keep your family safe from potential harm.

  • Call an emergency sewer professional! The first step is to get the problem fixed and stop any more sewer water from backing up into your home. Many sewer companies offer 24-hour emergency sewer line repairs to handle these types of emergencies.
  • Keep your family and pets away from contaminated areas. Any sewer water that backs up onto floors is potentially dangerous. If possible, remove your family from the home until the surfaces can be properly cleaned and disinfected. At minimum, keep everyone away from the contaminated areas.
  • Be aware of electrical shock. Sewer backups can also present electrical dangers. Do use any electrical equipment when standing on wet floors. Turn off electrical breakers if safe to do so.
  • Clean up. Depending on how severe the back up was, you may need to hire a professional water removal company to help with the clean up. Not only is there hazardous material, the moisture can quickly cause mold and other water damage to your home. In some cases, your homeowners insurance may cover these services; check with your policyholder to determine the best course of action.

A sewer backup is never a fun experience. Anyone who has gone through this nightmare is sure to contemplate how they can prevent it from ever happening again. Most sewer backups can be prevented through regular maintenance and watching for warning signs. Talk to your local sewer professional to discuss what you can do today to prevent these emergencies in the future.

Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing

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Clear Your Sewer Pipes Using Hydro Jetting

November 21st, 2013 Posted in Drain Cleaning
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Over time, sewer pipes can become coated and even clogged with debris that can lead to expensive sewer repairs. Everything that goes down your drains can slowly build up on the inside of your pipes, and without a thorough cleaning, can lead to clogs, breaks and leaks. Grease, hair and even invading tree roots can be removed from your sewer pipes using one of the most powerful cleaners available: water!

Benefits Of Hydrojetting

Hydrojetting is the use of water at high pressure to clear out pipes, including your sewer pipes. The water pressure can remove all of the built-up residue and even clear out roots that have grown into your pipes through cracks and joints, leaving your pipes looking like new. Many professional plumbers use this as the preferred method of cleaning sewer pipes for a few reasons.

No chemicals. With hydrojetting, there is no need to use harmful chemicals to clear clogs. The pressure of the water is enough to dislodge most clogs, even tree roots. Without chemicals, hydrojetting is a greener option, with less impact to the environment.

Less expensive. The time and equipment needed for hydrojetting can be less expensive than trying to snake out pipes, or worse, replace pipes that have become clogged. This can cost less in both labor and parts.

Hydrojetting is great for removing clogs, however it is also a great way to maintain your sewer pipes and prevent clogs from happening in the first place. Having your pipes cleaned with hydrojetting once a year along with a routine inspection can often help extend the life of your sewer pipes and prevent expensive sewer emergencies, saving you time, money and inconvenience in the long run.

Posted on behalf of Septic Service Pro

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