Often the sewer lines and your home's drain lines are the most neglected item on a homeowner's maintenance list.
A home's drain system is a complex system of pipes and fittings connected together for the purpose of removing solid waste and waste water from your home. It is also designed to provide a seal in order to prevent sewer gases from entering your home.
Regular cleaning and maintenance of the sewer and drain system of a home will prevent clogs from building up and lessen the chances of having a plumbing emergency when you least expect one. Below we have put together some information for sewer line maintenance and drain cleaning for homeowners.
Keeping your Plumbing Drains Clean and Free of Clogs
Drain line clogs are usually caused by a build up of grease, hair, soap scum and food particles. Slow draining fixtures or a toilet that needs to be flushed more than once are usually the first signs of a clog building.
The following steps will help keep your drains clear and prevent blockages:
Certain items are also never meant to be placed down your garbage disposal and can cause clogged drain lines. Some of these items are:
Drain Line Maintenance
Your home's sewer system is much like a tree. The main sewer line that carries waste from your home to the city sewer or your septic tank would be considered the trunk. In fact, your main sewer line is sometimes referred to as a "trunk line". The individual lines, called lateral lines, connect individual fixtures to that main line, like the branches of a tree.
Georgia Plumbing Code requires that you have a clean-out on the main sewer line outside your home, fairly close to where the main line leaves the house. The code also requires that additional clean-outs be installed every 100 feet along the entire line and also wherever the line has a 45 degree or more change of direction. These clean-outs allow your plumber to use sewer cleaning machines to clear blockages in your lines without digging up your yard.
Homeowners should know where the main line clean-out is and ensure that it is accessible at all times. Planting your prize roses right next to the clean out is certainly not recommended. If you are not sure where your clean-out is, or if you think you may not have one, call Michael’s Plumbing Service to come and inspect the line.
Part of your homeowner maintenance should be to check your lateral drain lines at least once every 6-12 months to be sure they are working properly:
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