Sewer line repair is a costly affair. But with a little maintenance and help from sewer cleaning companies, you can save the expense and keep the drains up and running for a long time. Follow these dos and don’ts to keep it operational.
Do’s of Sewer Line Maintenance
First, let’s explore the things that you absolutely must do.
- Wipe the greasy pans and pots with a paper towel before putting them into the dishwasher or sink for washing. You should not be exposing grease into the drains through the sink directly.
- Solid waste must be thrown into the garbage, not into the toilet drain. Don’t throw disposal diapers and personal hygiene products into the drain.
- Place a strainer over the drain of your sink bathtub and shower. Gather the collected material and throw it into the trash. This is a great way of stopping hair and other debris from falling and causing a clogged drain.
- Use an appropriate amount of detergent for doing laundry and washing dishes in the kitchen. Usually, households use 3 times more detergent than what’s recommended. Excess detergent can enter the sewer system and hold fats, oil and grease in suspension. The water waste keeps accumulating and this could become costly to treat. Using less detergent won’t just save you money, but will prevent the growth of algae in the water.
- Limit the number of dairy products you pour down into the drain. Milk can cause environmental issues as it requires a higher amount of oxygen to decompose.
- If you see the drain is clogging, run hot water down the drain. This will dislodge any small items in the way and solve the problem.
- Open the cold water tap while the garbage disposal is running. This helps prevent clogs and makes the food get flushed down the drain. Even if the garbage disposal has finished, keep the water running for a minute to make the remaining particles pass.
Don’ts of Sewer Line Maintenance
These are the don’ts to keep in mind for keeping your sewer lines in good health.
- Don’t throw food and non-food waste down the drain. It may seem okay to put stuff in the garbage disposal or flush (wipes) down the toilet and there might be no clog for the time being. However, as you continue this practice, the particles accumulate and all of a sudden, you encounter a major drain clog.
- Don’t place valuables and jewelry items on the edge of the sink or basin. If these items fall down the drain, they are not just difficult to recover but they can clog the drain as well.
- Don’t discord coffee grounds, tea leaves or scraps of food down the sink.
- Don’t throw cigarette butts, razor blades, non-biodegradable items, deodorant dispensers or nail polish removers down the toilet.
- Don’t pour chemicals, pesticides, engine oil or paint down the sink. Materials like these are not just hazardous for the sewer but they can complicate the process of opening the drain.
- It is okay to run hot water down the drain when the clog starts developing but don’t pour boiling water when the clog has actually happened. This might unclog the drain slightly but eventually, it will trigger the damage by making your drain rust or break.
- Don’t use acid cleaners or chemicals after the clog has happened. This is again a short-term solution that will cause more harm to your drain in the long run. Cleaners have corrosive nature. They start eating away the clog as well as the pipes. Additionally, sometimes, the clog becomes stubborn.
- Pipes corrode over the years. If you live in an old home with clay pipes, replace them. It’s less expensive and easier than having to deal with a serious clog.
Stay Safe and Get Help from a Professional Sewer Cleaning Service
While you follow these do’s and don’ts, don’t forget to invest your time and money in regular drain cleaning. Even if there is little clog built up, scheduled cleaning will solve this problem. You won’t have to spend extra money on costly repairs.
Final Words
Sewer maintenance is not a big deal if you follow these dos and don’ts. When the problem goes out of hand, don’t hesitate to call a drain cleaning service to inspect the sewer and unclog the drain for you.
