Sewer lines are essential to the health and functionality of your plumbing system. These special plumbing pipes carry wastewater away from your property’s drains for release into the main municipal sewer line or septic tank. Sewer lines are located outside of the home but collect wastewater that drains to the lower levels of your house, such as to a basement, crawlspace, or garage.
These plumbing lines are important because they help keep your system operational, safe, and hygienic. As the unsung heroes of your plumbing system, the importance of sewer lines cannot be understated. Any waste from your sinks, toilets, bathtubs, or dishwashers ends up in the sewer line. Underground sewer lines may also contain traps that help prevent sewer gases or fumes from seeping back into your house. Damaged or clogged lines can leak sewage that may eventually result in backups or exposure to bacteria and other biological hazards. But since plumbing lines are located underground and out of sight, it is natural to have questions about when it is time to clean your sewer line. A look at the best methodology for scheduling a professional sewer line cleaning can help you make an informed decision for your home.
How Often Should You Schedule Sewer Line Cleaning?
Most experts recommend scheduling a residential sewer line cleaning every 18 to 22 months. However, some larger households and commercial settings may need to schedule a sewer line cleaning at least once per year. An experienced plumber can help devise a sewer line maintenance schedule tailored to your household’s size and plumbing usage. While sewer lines require less frequent maintenance than items like HVAC filters, this does not mean you can ignore your sewer line for decades. If it has been several years since a plumber inspected and cleaned your sewer line, your home is overdue for this service.
What Causes Sewer Line Clogs?
Various factors can cause sewer line clogs and require professional cleaning.
Grease
Never pour grease down your toilets or drain. Fats, oils, and grease all harden and solidify into a substance known as FOG once they cool down within your plumbing. FOG can then cling to the walls of your sewer line and gradually narrow this passageway.
Soap Scum
Soap scum is a chalky or grayish film that forms when the ingredients in soap react to the minerals in hard water. Combined with body oils and dead skin, soap scum easily clings to bathtubs and fixtures. Over time, soap scum that rinses down the drain can also contribute to sewer line clogging.
Foreign Objects
Flushing items like paper towels or feminine hygiene products down the toilet can clog sewer lines. These blockages can worsen over time and usually require professional intervention to extract the clogs from deep underground.
Tree Roots
Tree roots are major sources of sewer line problems. In their quest for moisture and nutrients, tree roots stretch deep underground and can puncture holes in vulnerable areas of your sewer line. The roots can then grow and thicken inside of plumbing, creating giant obstructions that block the flow of sewage and require a rooter service to fix.
Mineral Buildup
Hard water contains minerals such as calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. These minerals can leave behind chalky deposits known as limescale. Over time, limescale can create clogging that impacts the performance of your sewer line.
Corrosion
The walls of aging pipes are prone to oxidation and corrosion. When a metal pipe corrodes, its interior walls can begin flaking and create debris that clogs your sewer line.
Other Signs That Your Sewer Line Needs Cleaning
Although you may suspect that grease clogs or foreign objects have caused problems with your sewer line, serious issues with this pipeline are not always obvious. Knowing the signs your sewer line needs cleaning can help you become proactive about maintenance before it is too late. Common indicators that your sewer line needs cleaning include slow drains or backups, unusual odors and sounds, or water patches in your yard.
Slow Draining in Multiple Fixtures
If your sinks, bathtubs, toilets, and showers are all draining slowly throughout the house, you may have a problem with your main sewer line. All water should flow down fixtures at a constant and reasonable pace. Once you notice standing or slugging water, no matter what room in the home, reach out to a plumber to locate the potential source of the blockage.
Frequent Clogs or Backups
An occasional clog can indicate a problem with a single drain. If you experience frequent clogs in different drains, however, it often signifies a problem with the primary sewer line. These constant clogs can eventually escalate into backups. Sewage backups are among some of the most unpleasant problems for homeowners. Not only are they unsightly, but sewage backups could also expose your family to harmful germs or bacteria.
Foul Odors
Foul odors from your drains or yard could indicate a sewer line problem. You may have an underground leak or a blockage that prevents the flow of waste away from your house.
Strange Gurgling Noises
Gurgling sounds from your drains or walls could signify trapped air from sewer line obstructions. Aside from flushing toilets or the initial drain process, most modern plumbing is as silent as possible. Contact a plumber if you hear constant gurgling or bubbling sounds.
Pooling Water
Standing water around drains or throughout your lawn can also indicate sewer line leaks. This water causes patches of lush vegetation and then sinkholes in your yard. You may also see flooding in the basement or lowest levels of your home.
Benefits of Sewer Line Cleaning and Maintenance
There are several benefits of having your sewer line cleaned. First, the service is an excellent form of preventative maintenance that helps you avoid the costly expense of repairing or replacing a sewer line. Cleaning your existing sewer line can extend the lifespan of your plumbing system by reducing wear and tear on connected drains or fixtures. Scheduling a cleaning session also helps keep your home sanitary by reducing the likelihood of exposure to harmful bacteria, and it helps prevent sewage spills from contaminating your water supply or lawn. A cleaning service can also help with the early detection of problems like corrosion or tree roots. This can help prevent the worst-case scenario consequence of neglect like sewer line collapse or slab leaks.
Can You Clean a Sewer Line Yourself?
While you may feel tempted to clean a sewer line yourself, most experts advise against tampering with this pipeline on your own. Professional plumbers have the equipment necessary to handle hazardous waste without contaminating the rest of your property. They also have the training necessary to locate problems deep within the soil quickly and with minimal excavation. Trying to dislodge a clog or obstruction yourself by pouring harsh chemicals or sticking foreign objects down your sewer line can cause more harm than good.
How Do Pros Clean Sewer Lines?
Professionals use highly sophisticated tools to clean sewer lines. For example, a plumber may use a high-tech video camera connected to a snaking cable to locate the exact source of the problem. Sometimes the plumber can use an augur or rotating coil to fix small to moderate issues. For more serious cleaning jobs, the plumber may perform hydro-jetting to blast away grease, debris, or even corrosion. In the event of broken or collapsed pipes, the plumber may conduct trenchless sewer line repair to correct the issue without excavating your yard. If you have hard water, you can also ask about installing a softener to reduce accumulation of limescale buildup.
Contact Us Today
Cleaning your sewer line is an important part of conserving the life expectancy of your plumbing and keeping your property pristine and healthy. If the process of sewer line maintenance sounds overwhelming, there is no need to worry. The experts are here to help.
Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter provides sewer line cleaning services for homes in Nanaimo, Victoria, and the surrounding areas. We offer annual sewer line cleaning with comprehensive solutions ranging from hydro-jetting to backflow testing. Our plumbers work with drains of all sizes and can also service your septic tank. In addition to sewer maintenance, we offer leak detection, faucet installation, and water filtration or treatment. We can inspect your boiler and repair or upgrade your water heater. No matter the plumbing issue, we are here to assist you. Contact Yellow Submarine Plumbing & Rooter today for all of your plumbing needs.
