sewer line cleaning Archives

The sewer system is necessary for urban infrastructure because it helps maintain a healthy and safe environment. Carrying away wastewater helps keep the environment secure from flooding and helps stop the spread of water-borne diseases. Therefore, it could be troublesome if a sewer backup is in your home.

The sewage system is a vital component of your commercial building since it is responsible for adequately disposing of wastewater away from the property. By strategically discarding waste, it is crucial to keep it well-maintained to avoid issues affecting its functionality.

Although the primary function of a sewer is to circulate wastewater, a commercial system is complex and requires maintenance and professional services. Installing plastic access doors and panels will allow convenient access to these critical fixtures whenever there is a need for repairs and maintenance.

But what are the common causes of backed-up sewers, and what can we do to fix and prevent it from happening again? Keep on reading to find out more!

Cause #1 Clogs or Blockages

Does your sink drain water slowly? Are there unfamiliar gurgling noises when you flush the toilet? These common signs could indicate clogged drains. Clogs mainly develop over time and are a product of a blockage that restricts the water flow from your drainpipes, impacting the plumbing throughout your entire home or establishment.

Clogged drains can affect multiple fixtures such as sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, and sprinkler systems. Raw sewage could travel back into your drainpipes and your plumbing fixtures from the septic tank or the main sewer lines if the clogs become severe. The situation can get messy, and you would want to contact a plumber right away for professional hydro jetting service.

Drain clogs are usually a long process of material buildup in your drains. Here are some of the common materials that can clog your pipes:

Hair
Solidified grease
Baby wipes and feminine hygiene products
Extra-thick toilet paper, facial tissues, towels, and other wiping products.
Dental floss and cotton swabs
Products labeled non-flushable

You can place a drain strainer in your bathroom drains or sinks to prevent materials from falling into your drainpipes to prevent clogs from occurring. Also, make sure to dispose of hygienic products properly and, as much as possible, minimize the amount of toilet paper that you flush down your toilet.

Cause #2 Tree Roots

Tree root invasion happens when trees roots penetrate your sewage lines, growing through your plumbing pipes or crawling around and crushing the lines, searching for the water that flows inside.

The tree root invasion process is usually slow, but it could speed up if your lines are in bad condition, with holes or cracks that conveniently allow the roots to enter the drain.

To prevent yourself from dealing with this situation, you should estimate the suitable area if you’re planning to plant a tree within your property. It will vary depending on the type of plant and its growth rate. Ensure that the site you choose will not interfere with your plumbing pipes.

Cause #3 Main Sewer Line Blockage

A blockage in your sewer system usually occurs in the main sewer line owned and maintained by your city. The sudden backup caused by a clog is similar to what you experience during a household blockage. It can also be due to insufficient design capacity if your area encounters serious growth.

The problem becomes prominent if a community has difficulties with the sewers after heavy rainfall. The main sewer blockage will continuously affect your plumbing in the entire house or establishment, rather than affecting just one drain.

To decrease the damage, once there is a block in your main sewer line, shut off all water supplies in your home or establishment and shield drain openings with material that can absorb the liquid.

Final Thoughts

Although these valuable tips are practical and helpful, you should immediately contact a professional sewer line cleaning service if nothing changes. There could potentially be a more severe cause for the blockage, which would require a possible sewer line repair or replacement.

Tree roots pose one of the greatest threats to your home’s sewer lines. Every time you bury a pipe in your yard, you run the risk of tree roots interfering with it. Underground sewer lines carry nutrient-rich wastewater, and tree roots love nothing more than a nearby source of nutrition.

Tree roots and sewer pipes are a “match made-in-heaven”. However, it can cause you major plumbing problems when the two meet.

Tree roots spread out in search of available nutrients. If they find a spot in your yard where nutrients are easily accessible, they will try to make the most of that food supply. Your sewer pipes can serve as that accessible source of nutrition.

It happens only if sewer pipes leak. That is because the water inside sewer pipes is not accessible to plant roots if there is no leak. But the tiniest crack in a pipe will be exploited by plants. Once the root works its way into the break, it is only a matter of time before it fills the entire pipe.

Tree roots intrusion into sewer lines is one of the most common causes of sewer line damage. Early signs that your sewer line has tree roots are slow draining water and gurgling sounds coming from the toilet every time you flush.

The chances of this problem happening in your home increase with the age of the house. Older homes with old pipes prone to corrosion are more exposed to this problem, explains Keyrenter Premier Property Management. Tree roots intrusion in sewer pipes is also more likely if there are trees within 20 meters of your sewer lines.

Is there a way to remove tree roots if they find their way into your sewer lines? What can you do to prevent the problem? There are two aspects to dealing with the issue of tree root intrusion into sewer lines. You must get rid of the roots and repair the damage to your pipes.

This post deals with tree root removal only.

How to remove tree roots from your sewer line pipes

Below are three DIY options for removing tree roots from a sewer line. These options only work for removing small tree roots. If you try them and the problem does not go away, you will have to go for the fourth solution; getting a professional to solve the issue.

Use rock salt

Rock salt is not coarse sea salt or table salt. It is that stuff you throw on icy sidewalks. Rock salt helps remove tree roots because it draws the water from them. If you deprive them of moisture, tree roots become dehydrated and die. Rock salt can be bought online or at a local store; you need 2 pounds of it.

To do this, follow these steps;

Pour ½ a pound of rock salt into your toilet.
Flush the toilet as many times as necessary to push the salt into the lines.
Once the salt is gone, let it sit inside the pipes for at least 12 hours.
During this time, do not flush your toilets. It will give the salt enough time to do its work.

Note that rock salt will kill tree roots, the tree, and surrounding vegetation. Rock salt can also corrode and weaken pipes.

Use copper sulfate

Copper sulfate, also known as bluestone, will kill the tree roots inside your sewer line pipes. You can buy this cheap herbicide/algaecide at your local hardware or garden supply store. You only need a half cup of copper sulfate.

To use it, follow these steps;

Pour half a cup of copper sulfate into the toilet.
Flush until all the crystals get into the lines.
Open the windows in your home and leave the house for a few hours, taking your kids and pets with you.
Flush the toilet when you return.

Warning: copper sulfate is toxic to pets; it can kill them on contact. It is banned in certain places; before you use it, check the local legislation.

Use foaming root killers

Foaming root killers kill tree roots and keep them from growing back. This powder foams when it comes in contact with water. Tree roots hate the active agent in the powder – dichlobenil – and will stay away if they detect the substance.

To use the powder, pour it into your toilet and flush. It will locate the tree roots and kill them. It also leaves a residue that prevents future tree root intrusion. You can repeat this every month to avoid future problems with tree roots.

Cut the tree roots

This solution requires you to call a local plumber, and it works for both small and large tree roots. The plumber will first do a camera inspection of your sewer lines to know the exact location of the tree roots. Afterward, plumbers can get rid of the tree roots using a process known as hydro jetting service.

High Pressure Water Streaming Known as Hydro-Jetting is the Best Way to Cut Through Tree Root Infiltration in your Sewer Line.

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Tag Archives: sewer line cleaning

Sewer Back Up Causes and Quick Fixes