With the arrival of spring, many homeowners get started on the lengthy to-do list they compiled over the winter months. While annual drain cleaning is not on the top of most lists, it should be to help avoid the inconvenience of lost service and the costs associated with unexpected sewer repairs. The following post will explain the benefits of maintaining your home’s sewage system, as well as a few other tips that can help you protect your home’s sewage lines.
Why Schedule Annual Sewer Cleaning
Drain cleaning is an important aspect of home plumbing maintenance. As time passes, food, grease, hair and scum can build up inside your drains, P-traps and sewer lines. All of these materials can cause an obstruction that can slow and eventually block the flow of effluent and waste from leaving your home. If that happens, you could face a nasty sewage or sewer gas back up, inside of your home.
In older homes where dated sewer lines may still be in use, drain cleaning carries even more significance. The reason is that sewage lines before the advent of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) were often made of Orangeburg (wood pulp and pitch), cast iron or even clay. While suitable for the period, these materials were notorious for cracking, splitting, corroding or separating at the joints as they aged, thus allowing easy access for tree roots to enter and feed off the nutrient-rich effluent. As time passes, the roots grow larger and act as a catchall, trapping debris and eventually creating an impassable blockage.
Scheduling annual drain cleaning with your local plumbing contractor is the best way to maintain your sewage lines and avoid the hassles associated with a slow or clogged drain. In addition, it also provides your plumber with an ideal opportunity to inspect the condition of your sewer lines and plumbing system to help identify problem areas and address them before they fail.
How You Can Help
The following tips can help you protect your sewage system and avoid unexpected repairs and breakdowns in the future.
- Do not attempt repairs or drain cleaning on your own. Without the proper tools, knowledge and experience, you can cause more damage than good, violate local building codes and put your family at risk. Only licensed, insured and experienced plumbing contractors should work on your home’s plumbing system, as they hold the knowledge to safely repair and service your plumbing system.
- Never park cars or heavy machinery on or near your sewer lines, septic tank and drainfield areas. Their weight can compact the drainfield soils necessary for drainage and damage sewage lines.
- Think before you plant. Trees and shrubs should never be planted near your sewage lines, septic tank and drainfield.
- Maintain your home’s plumbing systems by scheduling annual drain cleaning and inspection with your plumbing contractor.
For answers to your plumbing questions, contact The Pink Plumber today.
