A clogged sewer line is a serious problem that can create a major headache. When your sewer line is clogged, wastewater has nowhere to go, which means that it can back up into your home and cause water damage and health hazards.
The best way to fix a clogged sewer line is to call a plumbing professional to clear it out. Still, it helps to know what causes such blockages in the first place so that you can prevent them. Here are the most common culprits of sewer line clogs.
Flushing the Wrong Things Down Your Toilet
A lot of people like to think of their toilets as an all-purpose garbage disposal system, but that is a very good way to block a sewer line. As a rule, only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed down your toilet; your septic system simply isn’t built to handle anything else. This also applies to wipes and other products that are labeled “flushable.” Don’t trust that these products can be flushed safely. Throw them in the trash instead.
Grease and Food Waste
Putting cooking grease and certain food waste down your drain can also lead to sewer line problems, even if you use your garbage disposal to break it down. Grease congeals as it cools and can plug up your drain or create a clog farther down in your sewer line. Instead of pouring grease down your kitchen sink, pour it into a can or glass jar. You may be able to recycle it later.
Other food waste that can cause problems includes starchy foods such as rice and pasta, eggshells, coffee grounds, and fibrous foods such as celery and asparagus. These can damage your garbage disposal and create a clog in your sewer line just as easily as cooking grease. Even safe foods can be a problem if you put them down your garbage disposal too quickly.
Limescale
Hard water can leave mineral deposits on the inside of your pipes. This is known as limescale, and it can affect your sewer line just as much as the rest of your plumbing. Eventually, limescale can narrow your pipes and prevent water from passing through. If this happens to your sewer line, the result is a nasty clog that can damage the line itself and cause wastewater to back up into your home. Limescale is incredibly difficult to remove, so it’s best to prevent it from forming in the first place by installing a water softener in your home.
Tree Roots
Tree roots are attracted to sources of water, and there’s no better underground source of water in your yard than your sewer line. If you have large trees on your property, their roots can grow around the sewer line, eventually breaking through the pipe and growing inside of it. Not only could this block the line itself, but it can also damage it beyond repair. While a damaged sewer line can be replaced, the invading tree roots will have to be cut away to keep them from invading the new line again.
Regardless of what may be causing your sewer line problems in your Brighton, CO home, Royal Services Plumbing will be able to clear out, repair, or replace your sewer line and have it working properly again. Call us today to learn more about our sewer line services.