Drain maintenance is an important part of keeping your basement waterproofing plan on track and your foundation dry. The drains that carry water and waste away from the home need to be kept healthy so they’re unobstructed, and while this does require some work from the homeowner, it can save you a significant amount of money. Proper drain and sewer line maintenance helps prevent backing up water and waste, emergency calls to your plumber, and the need for professional sewer line repair or sewer line replacement.
Signs Your Drain or Sewer Line Needs Some TLC
If you have slow-draining sinks and tubs or your toilets make a gurgling sound when flushed, you could have trouble brewing under the surface of your yard. A single drain in your home isn’t much of a reason for concern, as it’s most likely a problem with the smaller drain pipes leading away from that fixture. Problems from multiple drains or throughout the house, however, could signal the need for immediate attention. Also, be wary anytime your sump pump seems to work continuously or labor harder than usual to move water away from the home. It could be a sump pump issue, or your drain or sewer line may need maintenance to avoid a complete clog.
Top Drain Maintenance Tips
If you want to avoid sewer line repair, taking action to prevent issues before they happen is vital. While many owners never think about preventative drain maintenance, a little work and planning now can keep you from flushing away your money later.
- Invest in Professional Sewer Line Cleaning—DIY maintenance is great, but every two years, have a sewer care professional use high-pressure water to clear your pipes of any forming clogs or debris that can potentially cause obstructions. This is also the perfect time to have your sewer line scoped so a professional can look for any indications of clogs or breakage in the line.
- Keep Your Sewer in Mind When Planning Foundation Planting—Proper landscaping beautifies your yard and can help keep your foundation dry and protected. Planting too close to your sewer lines, however, can be risky. Roots can work their way into any crack or, in the case of older terra cotta pipes, break through the walls to cause clogs.
- Know What Goes Down the Drain and What Goes in the Trash – Just because you can flush it or pour it down the drain doesn’t mean you should. Grease should be disposed of with household trash, and despite the name, flushable wipes aren’t meant to be flushed. Improper materials are a leading cause of drainage problems.
- Drain Strainers Prevent Sewer Line Repairs—Strainers are often overlooked and unsung heroes when it comes to keeping sewer line maintenance reasonable. While you can choose to avoid disposing of the wrong materials on purpose, strainers help catch the accidental debris that would otherwise enter your drains, like food particles and other solid materials large enough to begin accumulating into a clog.
- Use Your Garbage Disposal Properly—Remember, your kitchen sink garbage disposal is meant to help avoid drain issues, not as a maximum capacity challenge. You should also avoid fibrous or starchy foods, as these increase the likelihood that drain maintenance will be needed to break or avoid a clog.
- Run Water Often—One of the easiest drain maintenance procedures you can do to keep your pipes flowing freely is to run clean water through every drain at least once a week. This includes both your main fixtures and those used less often, like utility sinks or guest bathrooms.
- Use Enzymatic Drain Cleaners—Enzymatic drain and sewer line cleaners use biological compounds to break down biological material accumulating along the walls of your drain pipes and sewer lines. While these accumulations may not cause immediate clogs, their buildup restricts the flow of water and could lead to slow drains, backed-up water, or make it easier for true clogs to form.
- Keep Backflow Valves Clear—Backflow valves help keep sewer water out of your home by stopping the backward flow of water that can occur after a big rain or if the sewer line becomes clogged and begins to back up. As the water rises in the valve, a flap floats up, blocking the pipe until the pressure on the sewer side of the flap eases and the water drains. Use a hose to run clean water directly through the valve’s cleanout vent to ensure no sediment or debris is accumulating that may prevent the valve’s function or cause it to stick in the closed position.
- Look for Leaks and Address Them Quickly—Signs of leaks can be a sign of big trouble, as dirty drain and sewer water seep out into your home or yard. As part of your drain maintenance, check your pipes for signs of leaks every six months, even if you haven’t noticed any issues. Drips, water staining, or other warning signs should be thoroughly investigated and repairs made quickly to avoid water damage or health risks. Wet spots in your yard, areas where plants either refuse to grow or grow inordinately well, or sinkholes can all indicate you need immediate sewer line repair.
Sewer Line Repair and Replacement Services
As your Western Pennsylvania sewer line repair specialists, we’re able to identify risks to your sewer line that maintenance may not be addressing and repair or replace the line to keep your property from becoming a soggy, smelly mess. When you request a no-obligation quote, one of our specialists will schedule a time to visit your property, survey any damage, and tailor a quote for professional sewer repair services that restore the reliability of your sewer lines. They’ll also look for foundation waterproofing opportunities that help keep your basement or crawlspace safer. Our crew works to minimize the disruption to your yard or your life while we repair or replace your sewer line, and we always ensure any residential excavation is properly graded and planted with grass seed to restore your yard’s beauty as soon as possible.
Schedule Your Sewer Line Repair Quote Today
Take the first step toward protecting your home and repairing the damage from a broken sewer line. Request your free estimate from A.M. Wall Anchor & Waterproofing today.
