Common Causes Of A Blocked Sewer Line And How A Plumber Can Help | Buckhead, GA
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What could be more terrifying than a broken plumbing pipe? Probably a blocked sewer line. This is a nightmare for homeowners in Buckhead, GA. A clogged sewer line can be a potential health concern because wastewater will back up into fixtures without a route to the septic field.
That’s why it’s not advisable to use any plumbing equipment in your home when faced with a sewer line drain clog until the stoppage has been cleared out. So it makes sense to not only understand what causes sewer lines to block but also sewer drain basics.
Sewer Drain Basics
Regular checkups of the sewer line system ensure fast and effective wastewater transfer to your home’s sewage system. Besides soaps and detergents, cooking liquids from your home also end up in a septic tank for treatment. These soap substances may stick along the sewer line’s walls in the long run, resulting in a blockage. Other sewer line problems include tree invasion, which damages the pipes, sewer leaks resulting from pipe corrosion, and sewer system fractures caused by unexpected movements in the ground.
Some homeowners may opt for DIY techniques to fix their blocked sewer line system. A word of caution, though; this may result in extensive future problems such as an entire system replacement, which can be costly. Discussed below are some of the common causes of a blocked sewer line.
Pouring Grease in the Kitchen Sink
There are many ways you may end up blocking your home’s sewer line, including dumping the remnants of oil-based foods such as milk cream or butter in the toilet or gushing bacon grease down the kitchen drain. Fats are sticky, and in most cases, water doesn’t remove them; thus, grease may accumulate over time, clogging your home’s sewer system.
When wastewater can’t flow through your home’s plumbing pipes and into the sewer system, unsanitary conditions and property damages, which can be costly to repair, are bound to happen. You may require assistance from a well-trained plumber if your home’s sewer line has been clogged due to extensive accumulation of fats, oily, or greasy substances.
Additionally, a sewer backup from grease appears in a flash. Grease backups occur when you rinse the oil and fats from your cooking down the kitchen sink. Sometimes hot water is necessary to break down the grease and minimize the causes of sewer line blockages. However, if you have a backup problem, consider contacting a proficient plumber to resolve the issue.
Tree Roots Infiltrating the Main Sewer Line
Gurgling noise from the toilet and slow-flowing drains are some of the signs of a clogged sewer line in your home. Trees have a large system of roots that extend deep underground, looking for water and nutrients, especially during the dry season. The main water line facilitates the transfer of water from one point to another; it’s natural for the roots of a tree to infiltrate it and cause serious problems.
Your residence’s sewer system can get clogged due to intensive penetration of tree roots, which are attracted to water dripping from loose wastewater pipes. Through such openings, tree roots can find their way into and grow inside the plumbing system. A professional advises homeowners in Buckhead, GA, to be on the lookout for the potential threats posed by those trees. This is a common cause of a serious plumbing problem. To save on expensive sewer line repair costs, it’s important to discover this problem early enough. Also, planting new trees in a yard should be done away from the main sewer line.
Flushing Large Debris Down the Toilet
Surprisingly, some homeowners still dispose of their waste materials in the toilet. This is risky and can cause the toilet’s sewer line to be blocked, requiring a professional plumber’s attention to resolve it.
Thick toilet paper, paper towels, face wipes, and light cardboard materials shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, but most homeowners ignore this obvious fact. These types of products don’t disintegrate because of their antibacterial properties, which disrupt their degradation. Therefore, when dumped inside the plumbing system, the bacteria responsible for waste breakdown gets killed off, slowing down the breakdown process and eventually clogging the toilet and the entire sewer line.
Although the sewer line pipes that collect waste materials from the toilet are quite large, they can easily get clogged and trigger major problems to the main sewer line. Additionally, feminine hygiene products, which are mostly non-degradable, can also block your sewer system. Regardless of the cause of the blockage, you should always contact an experienced plumber for appropriate solutions.
Damaged Sewer Line
When a sewer line is damaged, it develops some leaks. In multiple scenarios, these happen due to old age or improper maintenance of the sewer system. Over time, small damage may develop into a sewer line blockage due to the accumulation of debris, thus a consistent water backup in your sink or toilet.
These are the major culprits behind a sewer line clog that can be prevented if a professional plumber properly inspects the plumbing system. The plumber can conduct the required repairs to prevent water from backing up into your toilets and sinks.
Peach Plumbing & Drain; A Reliable Plumber in Buckhead, GA
If you suspect your sewer line is clogged, it’s advisable to contact a certified professional plumber to have the systems serviced and fixed to prevent extensive damage. For such cases, Peach Plumbing & Drain got you covered. We serve residential and commercial property owners with comprehensive plumbing services.
Our trained plumbers can replace the old, defective sewer lateral to allow effective drainage. They help with septic system repairs and water leak detection and repair. Our technicians can also service water heaters, garbage disposal systems, and sewer lines. Call us today for comprehensive sewer line solutions.