How Can I Prevent Sewer Line Backups?

No one wants a sewer line backup in their home, but when these occur, they are often not an accident. Most sewer line backups can be prevented if you know the common causes. When more than one drain in your home is slow or sewage is coming up the drains, you have a big problem with your sewer line. It is either clogged or blocked, leaving no where for the waste to go but up your drains. Here are some ways you can prevent a sewer line backup to keep this from happening in your home.

Protect Your Sewer Line

If your sewer breaks under pressure or becomes clogged with tree roots, you are likely to have a sewer line backup. Protect your sewer line from becoming damaged. Keep vehicles off your lawn where your sewer line runs and do not plant trees near your sewer line. This can help prevent pressure damage to the pipe from heavy vehicles and keep tree roots out of your sewer line.

Watch What Goes Down the Drain

Educate the people in your home on what can and cannot go down the drain. Not only can grease, hair, soap, food debris and non-biodegradable items create indoor plumbing clogs, they can become part of the sludge that can create blockages in your main sewer line. Do not flush plastics, cotton or cardboard – use a garbage disposal for food waste and strainers in all drains to collect hair and other items so they do not go down the drains.

If you do have a sewer line backup, call a local sewer professional to perform an inspection. Often all that is needed is a hydro jetting service to clear your sewer line, unless it is damaged. Either way, they can fix the problem and put an end to the sewer backup in your home.

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

What Is A Sewer Backflow Prevention Device?

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