Keeping Your Sewer System in Top Shape

Imagine coming home after a long day at work wanting nothing more than to take a relaxing bath or shower…only to find sewage coming out of your shower drain. Ewww! Such a scenario isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility if you have a clogged sewer.

Although many people wait until gross disasters start happening to think about their sewer system’s overall health, you can be proactive to make sure your system is always operating at its best.

Sewer Basics 101

If your home is connected to a public sewer system, there is a lateral line that connects your home to the main sewer system. That’s how waste goes from your home to your city or county waste treatment facility. Other homes have their own septic tanks on their property.

When you’re connected to a public sewer, you are only responsible for your home’s system and the main line that runs through your property. If you own or rent a home that has a septic system, then you’d be responsible for anything that goes wrong with it. It’s important to know what you have to prepare for the costs that will be associated with upkeep.

If something goes wrong with the public sewage system, you don’t need to worry about any emergencies unless the problem affects your home as well. For example, if there’s a city clog causing a back-up, the solution might be as simple as opening your sewer’s clean-out to drain excess water. But if you have your own septic tank, then you need to budget for having it pumped once every year or every few years.

Sewer System Clean-out and Upkeep

A sewer clean-out is a capped section of your sewage system giving you access to the lateral line connecting your home to the public sewer system. Knowing where your sewer clean-out is vital in case there’s a clog in the system or if sewage is backing up. In event of a severe clog, opening the sewer clean-out allows a plumber to clean out blockages with a snake, hydro jet, or auger.

To help prevent emergencies, it’s advised to have a professional come in and clean your sewer lines every 18-22 months. This will help prevent clogs from starting in the first place and give you peace of mind.

Warning: Blockages Imminent

There are some warning signs that can help you tell if your sewage system is in need of professional help. Some of these signs are sewage coming up in the drains, gurgling in pipes or the toilet gurgling after doing a load of laundry, clogs in the toilet or drains, and water on the floor by the basement drain.

Some of the toilet-related clog problems can come from throwing thick toilet paper in the toilet or worse, forbidden items like female sanitary products and paper towels. Sometimes, mother nature comes to wreak havoc: some blocks might be tree roots in the sewer line causing the sewage to back up and come back out of places you don’t want to ever see sewage coming out of.

We hope you find this information helpful, and that you never come home after a long day of work to find an unpleasant sewage problem awaiting your attention. Give Hall’s Plumbing a call today at (530) 290-1922, and we will be more than happy to inspect your home’s plumbing to make sure it’s in good working order so that you can get back to relaxing faster.