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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Sewer Line Clogs Versus Broken Pipes

December 5th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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The two most common sewer emergencies are sewer line clogs or broken sewer pipes. Both are extremely frustrating for any homeowner; however, the signs and symptoms are usually different. Knowing what to look for can help you determine what may be wrong, even though both will most likely require a call to a sewer professional to get the problem fixed.

Clogged Or Backed Up Sewer Lines

A sewer line clog can be caused by several factors. Just like any plumbing pipes, sewer pipes can become clogged by grease, oil, hair, food and paper products that are put down the drain. Another common culprit is tree roots; the moisture in sewer pipes attract roots to penetrate the pipes and block the flow of waste.

A clogged sewer line usually results in several drains beginning to backup with sewage. These usually start at the lower level drains. At the first sign of your drains beginning to backup, call a sewer professional to inspect your sewer lines for a clog.

Broken Sewer Pipes

Sewer pipes, especially older clay or cast iron, can break or crack from weight, ground shifts, tree root invasion or corrosion. Once the pipe is compromised, sewer can begin to leak out of the pipes and into your yard. While it can sometimes be accompanied by a sewer backup, usually the first signs are areas of wet earth over the broken pipes or a foul sewer odor in the home’s yard.

The best way to find the clog or break is to have a video camera inspection done by your sewer service company. They can offer you options for how best to repair or replace the pipes, to get your sewer pipes back in perfect working order.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

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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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Preventive Tips For Sewer Maintenance

June 16th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Sewer repairs and replacement can be expensive, which is a good reason to take care of the system you own in order to prevent them. There are several ways you can maintain and protect your sewer system by consciously avoiding certain factors which can contribute to future problems. Some of the most common causes of clogs, cracked sewer pipes and other sewer problems are due to actions performed by homeowners. Here are a few preventive tips to keep your sewer maintained and free of problems.

Garbage Disposals And Drains

One of the biggest issues in both sewers and septic systems is what is put down the drains or into garbage disposals. Grease and fats can cause clogs in the sewer pipes, leading to expensive service calls. Avoid putting heavy items such as feminine hygiene products down toilets to prevent clogs. For garbage disposals, try to avoid putting items that are fibrous down the drain. This can include vegetable peels and certain vegetables that are tough to break down, such as artichokes and celery.

Planting

When planting bushes or trees in your yard, be aware of where your sewer lines run before putting these plants in the ground. Even though a seedling might start small, many trees and large bushes have extensive root systems which can grow deep into the earth. These roots are attracted to the moisture contained within sewer pipes, which can lead to roots invading your pipelines. This can create sewer backups and even crack your sewer pipes, requiring replacement.

Regular Cleaning

Another way to maintain your sewer is to have regular cleanings performed on your pipes to prevent future clogs and backups. Your local sewer service company may offer pipes cleaning services, such as hydrojetting, which use high pressure water to clean out old debris, slug and even small tree roots from your sewer pipes.

 Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.

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Slow Drains Can Mean Sewer Line Problems

May 8th, 2014 Posted in Drain Cleaning
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We have all experienced a sink or bathtub that drains slowly. Most of the time, slow draining is a plumbing problem, usually a clog in the pipes under the offending water fixture. However, in some cases, slow drains can be an indication of a larger, more serious sewer line issue. If you have a clogged sewer line, it may be backing up sewer water into your home, causing the slow drain.

When A Slow Drain Indicates Sewer Line Problems

If a sewer line is clogged or not draining wastewater efficiently, one of the signs are slow-moving drains. However, it is unlikely that a sink on the second floor of your house will be where the problem starts. Since sewer lines use gravity, the lowest point in your home will be the first place where you can expect to experience slow draining due to a sewer line problem. This could be a bathroom fixture on the first level of your home, such as a toilet, bathtub or sink, most likely more than one.

If your slow drain is due to a problem in your sewer lines, it could be something as simple as a clog. It could also mean your sewer lines have become flat, no longer having the decline necessary for wastewater to flow efficiently. Another possible scenario is a cracked or broken pipe. Whatever the issue, you will need to get the problem resolved before your sewer lines stop working altogether.

Your local sewer professional can perform an inspection to find out exactly what and where the problem is in your  sewer lines. Most companies now use camera inspections to view what is happening below the surface inside your sewer pipes, making it fast and easy to find and fix the problem.

Posted on behalf of Mike Smith, A-Flo Free Septic

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Are Your Trees Attacking Your Sewer Pipes?

February 12th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Few things on your property are as attractive to tree roots as underground sewer pipes. Tree roots are naturally designed to go in search of water and nutrients in the soil, both of which travel through your sewer lines in your yard. It should be no surprise that these strong and relentless roots will wrap themselves around your underground sewer lines, looking for cracks to invade. Over time, these roots can overtake your sewer pipes, causing them to crack, clog or even burst.

Preventing Sewer Pipe Tree Root Invasion

If you have large trees in your yard and older sewer lines, it’s usually only a matter of time before they meet under your lawn. There are only a few ways to prevent tree root invasion: remove the trees, move your sewer pipes, or consider relining or replacing your old sewer pipes. While you can use hydrojetting to clear out roots or even have your clogged sewer lines cleared with an auger, this is only a temporary solution. To resolve the issue for good, it’s wise to consider some more permanent solutions.

  • Tree removal. While not a popular or inexpensive option, removing the trees and their stumps is one way to prevent invasion of their roots into your sewer lines. Stumps can continue to grow roots, so they usually must be removed as well.
  • Replacing or moving your sewer pipes. Moving your pipes is one option, but there is a chance the tree roots will just follow. Replacing older, fitted pipes with newer options like joint-free polyethelyne pipes can prevent tree root invasion.
  • Relining existing pipes. Many sewer companies offer relining of existing pipes with an interior coating which fills cracks and holes, preventing future tree root invasions.

Call your local sewer professional to discuss ways to prevent future damage to your sewer lines from your beautiful trees, and you may find they don’t have to be sacrificed in order to protect your plumbing.

Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing

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The Danger of Neglecting Sewer and Septic Issues

March 26th, 2013 Posted in Sewer Lines
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When you own your home, making sure that you keep your sewer lines or septic system in top condition is of vital importance. It’s easy to put off a slow-moving drain or a faint odor with the intention of dealing with it later, but unattended septic and sewer problems can snowball over time and become much more costly if they’re neglected.

Sewer Problems

If you live within the city limits and are connected to the municipal sewer system, that doesn’t automatically absolve you from sewer line maintenance. The lines leading from your home to the main line are still your responsibility, and will need to be cared for accordingly. Line clogs, leaks and grease build-up can be relatively easy to fix if they’re caught early, but can be quite costly to repair if they’re allowed to worsen.

Septic Problems

Rural living certainly has its perks, but connection to a municipal sewer line generally isn’t one of them. If your home is located in an area without septic facilities, you’ll have to rely on a septic system to manage waste. Keep an eye out for slow drains, as they’re the first sign of an impending sewage backup that can cause an unpleasant, messy situation. An unexpected sign of possible septic issues is also one area of grass that’s greener and healthier than the rest of your lawn. This often indicates a septic tank leak, which can lead to health and hygiene problems as well as lofty repair bills.

If you notice any difficulties or signs of impending trouble, it’s best to contact an experienced, local sewer and septic professional for a consultation. While dealing with home repairs can be inconvenient, putting them off only allows the problem to become worse and more expensive to repair.

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What is High Pressure Hydro Jetting?

September 27th, 2012 Posted in Drain Cleaning
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When sewer lines and pipes become clogged, you need to call a professional to clear the clog and get your pipes flowing freely again. The traditional way to clear clogged sewer lines is by using a professional plumbing auger, also called a plumbing snake.  This is a metal cable with a cutting head that is fed into the pipe and spun rapidly.  The cutting head cuts through and dislodges the clog.  One problem with an auger is that although water can drain through the sewer line, much of the foreign material from the clog remains behind stuck to the walls of the pipe.  In many cases, the clog will start re-forming immediately and you will have to call the plumber again in a few months.

A more modern development in clearing tough clogs is high pressure hydro jetting.  This technique uses water sprayed under very high pressure to cut through clogs and flush away the debris.  Your plumber will feed a high pressure hose with a special spray head on it through your sewer pipe to the location of the clog.  Water is pumped through the hose and spray head at three to four thousand pounds per square inch.

The high pressure water can cut through tough clogs including grease, hair, tree roots, paper products, sludge, and other debris.  In addition, the water flushes the debris away down the pipe.  High pressure hydro-jetting scours the entire inside of the pipe and leaves it looking almost like new!

High pressure hydro jetting can be more effective for clearing many common types of clogs than using an old fashioned mechanical auger.  Your plumber or sewer septic professional will advise you on whether high pressure hydro jetting is a good option for your clog.

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