You just moved into a new home, and you want to ensure that it stays nice and new for as long as possible. It’s easy to maintain the things that you see, like the back deck needing a new coat of stain or the driveway needing pressure washed. But what about the things that you cannot see? Maintaining your sewer lines is an important part of preventing a sewer backup. Taking the right steps to protect your sewer line from becoming clogged can save you thousands of dollars in repair costs. At Pipelining Northwest, part of our industry is providing education as to ways to prevent sewer backups. Sewer backups can bring harmful wastewater into your home and living space and cause destruction. Taking steps to minimize the risk of a sewage backup in your home should be an important part of your home maintenance plan. Fortunately, all of the things you need to do to minimize risk of a sewer backup are completely free!
1) Avoid pouring grease and oil down your drain, as they become solid as they cool, which can create blockages in your drain. Even disposing into a garbage disposal poses a risk. Proper disposal of grease is to let it cool and then place it into a jar that you can throw in the trash.
2) Only flush toilet paper! To prevent damage and clogs refrain from flushing wipes or sanitary items, even if they claim to be flushable. Your sewage system is designed to support toilet paper and flushing any other items can cause a clog.
3) Properly clean your drain. As you use your sinks there is going to be a build up of hair and food in the drain. Once a week, you can clean your drains and reduce the likelihood of a clog by carefully pouring a pot of boiling water slowly down the drain.