You might not give much thought to your sewer lines until you experience a clog or backup. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to keep these common sewer line problems and others to a minimum. Summer is the perfect season to put these suggestions into practice because of the longer days and higher temperatures.
Summertime Seasonal Factors That Affect Your Sewer Lines
Summer is a great time to enjoy warmer weather, but the higher temperatures can affect your sewer lines in several ways. Your increased use of water during the summer, such as for filling swimming pools and washing your car, also contributes to extra wear and tear on the sewer lines. Backlogs and bottlenecks may worsen or even emerge as a result of this increased demand.
Summertime also brings heavy rainstorms, which can overwhelm the sewer lines. As excess rainwater makes its way into the lines via cracks and gaps, the sewer system can experience overflows and backups. Another concern stems from tree roots seeking moisture during droughts and dry spells; these roots can easily poke through the sewer lines, especially if there are cracks, causing leaks.
Keep an Eye Out for Leaks
The increased amount of water entering the sewer system from a water leak can have a substantial effect on the sewage lines, increasing the likelihood of overflows and backups. Inspecting hoses, faucets and sprinkler systems for pooled water or drips on a regular basis is a safe way to keep an eye out for leaks. Look for unusually lush areas or damp patches in your yard. Also, be wary of any sudden spikes in your water bill.
Track Your Water Usage
If you see an unexpected spike in your water bill, it might be a sign of a leak or overuse of water, both of which can put a strain on your sewage systems. Signs of subsurface leaks, such as high water bills, can lead to soil erosion and pipe damage. Unusually high water consumption on your account without an increase in home activities can also be an indication of a root infiltration into your sewage pipes. It’s much easier to avoid expensive repairs and keep your sewage system running efficiently if you monitor your water bills and catch these problems early.
Don’t Use Chemical Drain Cleaners
You endanger both your sewage system and the environment when you use chemical drain cleaners. Pipes made of metal or plastic will corrode from these strong chemicals, causing leaks and costly repairs. On top of that, they usually only work temporarily and might be harmful to your health because of the fumes they release. Plungers and plumber’s snakes are two safe tools to use when unclogging drains.
Invest in Professional Drain Cleaning
When you’re dealing with a clog that you can’t safely remove with a plunger or plumber’s snake, it’s best to call an expert. To remove the blockage, plumbers can choose from a variety of clog removal and drain cleaning methods, such as hydro-jetting or drain augers. Drain augers physically dismantle obstructions, while hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to blast away deposits and debris. These techniques guarantee complete blockage removal without harming your sewage lines, unlike chemical cleaners. This will save your lines from becoming worse or causing backups.
Use Strainers in Sinks to Block Debris
Strainers lessen the possibility of blockages and backups by preventing food particles, oil, hair and more from entering your drains. They are extremely useful in the summer because they catch food debris and oil from grills before they can build up in your pipes. This can be a problem when you host outdoor meals and then do the dishes inside. In addition to using the strainers in kitchen sinks, it’s important to use them in bathroom sinks and shower drains as well.
Check for Tree Root Intrusions
Several warning indications should be kept in mind when evaluating your property’s sewage system for potential tree root infiltration. This includes things like sluggish drains, gurgling sounds from the pipes or the toilet, bad smells coming from the pipes and obvious pipe damage or breaks. Another sign of tree roots looking for moisture are areas of your yard with abnormally thick or greener grass, especially near sewage lines. To stop more damage to your sewage system, it’s crucial to handle tree root incursions swiftly if you see any of these indicators. To get an exact diagnosis and effective treatments, it’s best to call a professional plumber.
Take Care of Outdoor Drains
The installation of outdoor drains is essential to preventing floods and water damage by redirecting rainfall away from your home. Nevertheless, these drains can affect your sewage lines if they are not well maintained. For example, there’s an increased risk of overflows and backups if water backs up into your sewage system as a result of a clog in an outside drain. To keep these drains in good repair, you should clear them of leaves, mud and branches on a regular basis.
Be Mindful With Landscaping
Summer is a great time to do some landscaping work, but improperly placed plants, trees and shrubs can wreak havoc on your sewer lines. When planning your landscape, think about using permeable pavement materials. These will let rainfall soak into the soil without any help from runoff, which means less pressure on sewage systems. It’s also smart to keep trees and bushes away from sewage lines to avoid root infiltration. Furthermore, you need to make sure sprinkler systems and irrigation pipes don’t obstruct sewage lines during their installation processes.
Install Backwater Valves
During the summer, when rainfall tends to be higher, it’s a good idea to install or check your backwater valves. Do this to make sure they’re protecting your sewage lines and property as much as possible. When the sewer system becomes overloaded or there is a big rain, these valves stop the sewage from leaking back into your house, preventing water damage and costly repairs.
Mitigate the Infiltration of Rainwater
To avoid system overload and backups, you must take proactive steps to minimize rainwater penetration into your sewage system. You can do this by sloping your yard so that water runs off the home and not into the foundation or sewage lines in the event of a rainstorm. Also, make sure the gutters and downspouts are clean and in good repair so that water can flow away from your house when it rains.
Schedule Regular Professional Inspections
There are a lot of advantages to having a professional examine your sewage lines once a year during the summer. Experts will check your sewage lines for structural damage, leaks, root infiltration and obstructions. To inspect the inside of pipelines, they’ll employ high-tech equipment like cameras. They’ll also keep an eye out for debris accumulation, early indications of wear and any issues that may arise due to the increased water demand throughout the summer. You can expect to receive a comprehensive report outlining all of their discoveries. As a preventative measure, they may suggest hydro-jetting the pipes, correcting minor leaks or replacing broken sections.
DeWolfe Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is here to help you take good care of your sewer lines. We offer drain snaking, camera inspections, drain cleaning and many other plumbing services in Falmouth, MA. We also specialize in heating and cooling installations, repairs and maintenance, as well as excavation and commercial AC. Contact us now to schedule sewer services.
