There is never a good time to experience a clogged drain in your home. But most people will work around the issue until their plumber arrives to correct the problem. But when you notice that all of the drains in your home are clearing more slowly than they have in the past, your issue is much more severe. When all of your drain pipes are affected, the problem is not just in a pipe inside your home. Instead, the issue lies in the sewer line that is outside your home. This sewer line is the single pipe that connects all of the drains in your home to the city sewer main. And an issue with this pipe could result in a huge sewage backup into your home if the problem is not eliminated quickly.
Common Causes Of Sewer Line Issues
There are many things inside and outside your home that can have a significant impact on how well your sewer line functions. Some of the more common indoor problems can usually be traced back to:
- TOILETS- Your toilet is not a trash receptacle that will make anything disappear. Toilets are only designed to flush human waste and biodegradable or flushable paper products. You might be very shocked to learn that not all personal cleansing wipes are biodegradable. This means that when most wipes are flushed, they do not begin to break down and disintegrate. Instead, they clump and begin to form clogs in your sewer line. The same is true for all feminine hygiene products and paper towels. Then there are items like socks, small stuffed animals, and tiny toys that curious children like to flush. These are certain to create some severe and costly clogs in your sewer line.
- SOLUTION- Flush nothing but human waste and biodegradable paper products. And if something else is accidentally flushed, call (214) 388-4525 to schedule an appointment with a Metroplex Leak & Line licensed plumber to quickly remedy the issue.
- GARBAGE DISPOSAL- Your garbage disposal is also not meant to function in place of a garbage can. Uneaten food chunks, grease, eggshells, and coffee grounds are all things that need to be placed in a garbage can designed for solid waste. The garbage disposal is only intended to handle small items that can easily be ground into fine bits and washed away. Grease and cooking oil will congeal and create a sticky residue that will trap small particles and create clogs.
- SOLUTION- Avoid placing large food pieces and waste, grease, and coffee grounds in your garbage disposal. Always run hot water into the disposal to help clear any grease or oil that could create future clogs.
Some of the more common outdoor problems can usually be traced back to:
- TREE ROOTS- Tree roots are the number one cause of sewer line issues. The roots grow around the pipe and eventually crush it enough to create cracks or even shatter the pipe. While cracks might not sound very serious, they are. Even a tiny crack is enough space for tree roots to begin invading your sewer line. Once inside, the roots thrive thanks to the water and natural fertilizer and create numerous blockages.
- SOLUTION- Plant trees and large plants away from sewer lines to help eliminate any damage to the pipe.
- PHYSICAL DAMAGE- Shovels, fence posts, rebar, and post hole diggers can all crack a sewer line pipe. Digging or hammering anything into the ground near your sewer line can be dangerous. A small crack in the pipe allows dirt and debris to enter the pipe and begin to create a blockage. When water and waste can’t flow smoothly through the sewer line, it will start to back up into your home.
- SOLUTION- Before digging in your yard or installing anything that will have posts or anchors in the ground, locate your sewer line. Avoiding this area is the best way to be sure that you will not damage the pipe and create clogs and issues that could flood your home with sewage.
When you notice that all of your drains are clearing more slowly, call (214) 388-4525 immediately. A Metroplex Leak & Line plumber will arrive quickly and determine the cause of this issue. Acting quickly is the only way to prevent sewage backup in your home.
