Plumbing & Sewer Line Maintenance

The Agents of Clog

• Sewer line clogs begin at the kitchen sink, the shower or tub drain and the toilet. The grease that you pour down the kitchen sink, acting like cholesterol for pipes, can coat the bends and joints in the waste system and create constrictions. Food items that the food processor can't handle, such as celery, can then collect in these constrictions, and hair and soap from the shower or bathtub add to the problem. Flushing objects like diapers or tampons down the toilet can clog the pipes even when they're clear, and if the pipes are constricted by other debris, the clog is not only more likely to happen, it is more likely to be total.

The Suffocation Factor

• A plumbing waste system, just like a living system, has to breathe to function properly. The vents supply the air, which replaces the vacuum caused by flowing water and keeps everything moving. If the vents are blocked, clogs are more likely to happen because the flow of water slows down, giving sediment more time to drop out and collect. Blocked vents can also lead to another serious problem. The vacuum caused by flowing water can be strong enough to suck water out of fixture P-traps. Without the water seal, the traps provide a path for sewer gases to escape into the building.

Breathing Easy, Flowing Smoothly

• To avoid drawing a full house and keep sewer gases where they belong, you need to regularly check the vents. Clear away any leaves you find around the opening and spray some water into them. If the water backs up, there's probably a blockage that you can clear with a plumbing auger. Frequent blockages are the vent's way of asking for a protective cover. Down in the drainage system, a regular treatment with enzyme-based drain cleaner prevents grease buildup. If the pipes are already blocked, you may need a stronger acidic or caustic drain cleaner, but you should use it sparingly -- it can damage the pipes.

Septic System Maintenance

• If you have a septic system, you have to be more careful about what goes into it than someone on a municipal waste system. The tank, which is the heart of the system, should be pumped every three to five years, and if you aren't watchful about what goes down the drain, you may have to pump it even more frequently. Avoid caustic and acidic drain cleaners -- they upset the balance of microorganisms in the tank. Instead, use enzyme-based drain cleaners regularly, and when you have a clog, clear it by plunging or using an auger.