5 Ways to Prevent Sewer Backups

No one wants to open the shower door and find a sewage backing up the drain. Sewer backups can occur for several reasons, but usually they are preventable. The main cause of a sewer backup is a clog in your sewer line – other causes can include septic system failure and sewer line breaks. The best ways to prevent sewage backup issues include keeping your sewer lines clear and maintained – try these five tips.

  1. Keep grease and fats out of your drains. Fat and grease are responsible for many clogs in plumbing, including large clogs in your sewer lines. Grease also can cause problems with septic systems. Wipe out greasy pans before rinsing or cleaning to keep grease out of your drains.
  2. Be careful what you flush. Cotton swabs, feminine hygiene products, cotton balls and other solid items can cause clogs in your pipes and in septic systems. Keep non-biodegradable items out of the toilet.
  3. Compost hard foods. Even if you have a garbage disposal, some hard or solid foods should not be put down the drain. Start a compost for hard food items like egg shells, tough produce peels and coffee grounds to prevent clogs.
  4. Schedule preventive hydro-jetting. Debris and sludge can accumulate in your sewer lines. Hydro-jetting performed by a sewer professional can clear your sewer lines to prevent clogs.
  5. Inspect your sewer lines and maintain your septic system. Every few years, have a camera inspection performed on your sewer lines – this can identify any pipe deterioration or problems for preventive repairs. Also, if you have a septic system, make sure to schedule annual service to prevent backups.

A few preventive steps can eliminate many problems that cause sewer backups. It is worth the investment to keep your sewer lines and septic system maintained to help prevent inconvenient and expensive sewer backups.

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

Why You Should Proactively Hydro-Jet Your Sewer Lines

It is common to put most sewer or septic issues out of mind until there’s a problem. It is not something you see or want to see, so unless it creates an issue in your home, it is usually forgotten. However, a little proactive maintenance can go a long way in preventing sewer line clogs and backups that can be inconvenient, nasty and expensive. Here are some reasons why you should proactively hydro-jet your sewer lines to keep them clear of clogs.

  • Trees love sewer lines. If you have trees in your yard, their roots would love to find their way into your sewer line. The moisture inside attracts roots to infiltrate sewer lines. Hydro-jetting can remove any small roots that have made their way inside and clear them before they cause a clog or broken pipe.
  • Remove sludge. Almost every sewer line has a certain amount of sludge that accumulates over time. While it may not be clogging the pipe now, it can eventually become thick enough to cause a backup. Clearing it out regularly can avoid sludge buildup and clogs.
  • Proactive repairs. When you have your sewer lines hydro-jetted, your sewer service can also do an inspection of the pipes. This is done with a digital camera that can be fed down through the line. This can reveal any potential problems so you can get them fixed before they cause a sewer line emergency.

Add sewer line hydro-jetting to your list of household maintenance that you do once a year. It is worth the time and investment to avoid costly and inconvenient sewer line clogs and other repairs when you least expect it.

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

Does Your Insurance Cover Sewer Line Replacement?

When you realize you have a broken sewer line, the first thing to run through your mind may be the cost. Sewer line repairs or replacement are expensive – it can cost thousands of dollars to fix a sewer line problem. One way to mitigate the cost is to find out whether your homeowner’s insurance could cover some or all your sewer line repair.

Not all homeowner’s insurance covers sewer line repairs, but some have limited coverage. If the sewer pipe breaks due to a natural disaster, damage from weight or other accidental incidents, there is a chance that the replacement may be covered under some insurance plans. You would need to check with your homeowner’s policy and read the fine print regarding these special types of repairs or talk to your insurance agent. However, there are some causes of damage that are most always NOT covered under insurance, like wear and tear or damage to the sewer line connection to the city main line.

If you do not have sewer line replacement on your homeowner’s insurance, you may be looking at paying for your repair out-of-pocket. If you have not had a sewer line problem yet, call your insurance agent. Find out if coverage is available for your sewer lines to protect you in case of accidental damage.

Keep in mind that sewer lines will eventually need replacement due to normal wear and tear. It is better to be proactive and replace old pipes that are beginning to deteriorate before they cause a sewer backup and need emergency replacement. Schedule an inspection of your sewer lines to make sure they are clear and in good condition as part of your regular home maintenance.

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

What Can a Sewer Line Camera Inspection Reveal?

In the past, the only way to know what was happening in your sewer lines was to dig up the pipes, creating a big mess in your yard. Digital technology has made it easier to identify sewer line problems without the task of digging up pipes unless necessary for repair. Small digital video cameras are used by quality sewer and septic service companies that can be snaked through sewer lines to inspect the interior and identify problems, making it quicker and less expensive to maintain your sewer lines.

Sewer line camera inspections can be used as preventive maintenance to find possible issues before they cause a sewer line clog or backup. They can also help determine where a sewer line problem is, and what is causing a sewage backup. Some of the problems that can be revealed during a sewer line camera inspection include:

  • Tree root infiltration. Tree roots are often the cause of breaks or clogs in your sewer line. Camera inspections can reveal if any tree roots have found their way inside your pipes and where they are located.
  • Sludge buildup. A thick buildup of sludge can occur in sewer lines that can lead to clogs. Camera inspections can check the levels of sludge; high levels may require a clean out, usually with hydro jetting.
  • Clog or crack locations. If you have a clog or cracked pipe, your sewer line professional can use a camera inspection to find the location to begin repair.

Camera inspections make it quicker and easier to maintain sewer lines, saving you money and time. Choose a sewer or septic service that uses digital camera inspections for maintenance and repairs.

Posted on behalf of:
A Rooter & Septic
100 Paper Mill Rd, B-1
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
(770) 927-7926

It Is Time for Spring Cleaning – Underground!

Spring is the traditional time to clean up your home. You pull down the drapes for dry cleaning, sweep the debris off your roof and pressure wash the patio and driveway. You may even hire someone to clean out those gutters that are clogged from all the winter storms. But you may be forgetting one place that needs cleaning to work properly – your sewer lines. Yes, out of sight is out of mind, but if you don’t maintain those pipes, that sewage won’t stay out of sight forever.

Below the ground, your sewer pipes are working overtime. Those big holiday parties with heavy, fatty foods and guests over for the big football game in February all taxed your plumbing. Waste debris can build up inside your pipes, especially grease and fat, collecting particles until a clog forms. Then your trees and shrubs do their damage by reaching their long roots to wrap around your pipes, infiltrating through cracks, adding more potential clogs. It is time to clean out that mess before it backups into your home!

So how do you clean your sewer pipes? You don’t. You hire your local sewer/septic company that offers hydro jetting to do it for you. They have the equipment to effectively “pressure wash” your sewer pipes. This forceful water jet can cleanse your pipes of gunk and tree roots, making them clear to continue doing their job for another year.

While you are having your sewer lines cleaned, make sure they also do a thorough camera inspection of your pipes. This can help detect any potential issues before they become an expensive sewer emergency. Remember, preventive maintenance is always less expensive then repairs, so it is worth the investment.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

Maintaining Your Sewer Pipes

When was the last time you took a look at what is inside your sewer pipes? There is a good chance that the answer to that question is never. Let’s face it – unless there is a problem, most people don’t want to think about those nasty pipes at all. But the reality is that if you own your home for ten or more years, those pipes will need some sort of repair or replacement, especially if you don’t perform any maintenance. Why wait for a sewer emergency? Plan your sewer pipe maintenance now to see what is in those pipes.

So what can you do to maintain your sewer pipes? One of the most common issues that can cause a sewer back-up is a clogged sewer pipe. Over the years, pipes can collect debris and waste, especially if grease and oils are disposed of down the drains. Sewer pipes can become clogged, backing up sewage into your home. These pipes can also be infiltrated by tree roots, damaging the pipes and creating blocked lines. Preventing a back-up is ideal, which is where regular maintenance comes in.

Your local sewer or septic company can use digital video cameras to inspect your sewer pipes. These cameras can identify any clogs that are beginning to form, pin point tree roots and detect pipe damage. If there are clogs forming or roots are in your pipes, these can usually be cleared out using professional hydrojetting. This process uses high water pressure to clean your sewer pipes, removing debris and even stubborn roots.

Having an inspection every year is the ideal way to prevent sewer emergencies and maintain your sewer pipes. Ca;; your local sewer service company to schedule your sewer pipe maintenance.

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

Homeowner’s Guide to Sewer Maintenance

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