Sewer line disasters are not only ghastly but can be expensive to fix. This is especially true if you have a private septic tank that not only fails but despoils the leach field. Repairs can cost many thousands of dollars. The good news is that it’s quite possible to prevent sewer line disasters.
Have Your Sewer Line Inspected Regularly
It is important to have your sewer line inspected by a professional plumber. A professional, often with the use of a video camera, is able to find small problems inside the drain and repair them before they indeed become disastrous. These problems include small cracks, the presence of tiny roots or clogs that can still be defeated with a snake, a rooter, or even hydro-jetting. Professionals recommend an inspection every five to 10 years if your home is new and every year or so if your home is older. The schedule of inspections also depends on the size of your household and whether your sewer line is problematic.
What to Flush Down the Toilet
The only items to flush down the toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Toilet paper is made to disintegrate when it enters a sewer system. You might even find toilet paper specifically made for septic tanks.
Invest in Backflow Prevention
Backflow prevention keeps the wastewater from your home from contaminating the freshwater that you drink and bathe in. There are several kinds of these devices, though the simplest has a check valve. This is a valve that only allows water to flow one way. Ask a plumber which is the best backflow prevention instrument for your home.
Flush With Hot Water
Another way to keep your sewer line clear is to flush your drains with hot water. You should do this about once a week. Just turn on the hot water tap, and let it run for a few minutes. This should be long enough to flush debris out of the drain pipes and into the sewer or septic tank. Hot water is good for degreasing, though some plumbers warn against flushing your pipes with boiling water. If you have PVC pipes, for example, boiling water can weaken them.
Be Careful Where You Plant Trees
Tree roots seek water and the nutrients in water. Some trees, such as willows, are aggressive when it comes to infiltrating drain pipes. Plant trees a good distance away from your sewer line.
There are ways to prevent your sewer line from failing, but you’ll need a professional plumber or septic tank expert if your system has problems that you can’t easily fix. For sewer line repair, give a call to our professionals at PHD Plumbing of Yuma, AZ.