Drain clean outs are usually not called for until an urgent situation arises, like a clogged toilet, kitchen waste that refuses to go down or a washing machine drain line dumps all over the laundry room floor. By then, you need us and you need us FAST.
Did you know that understanding your drain capacity can help you foresee some of that trouble, before you get in a mess?
All of the drains in your home converge first from upstairs drains, to downstairs drains, and then to one main line that connects to your outside drainage (like your pool.) That line then connects to the city sewer system, usually in your alley, and your city sewer networks until waste finally arrives at treatment facilities. Sewage comes from your creeks, businesses, and street drains, too.
Needless to say, LOTS of stuff is in the drains associated with your home. What you put down matters, because even when we get it moved from your property, blockages may only be transferred to another area.
Some things cannot float, rendering them harmful to your drain lines. Using chemicals to dissolve them works to a degree, but at what cost? Those chemicals end up going to the treatment facility, and treatment facilities are not magic!
Okay, so here’s what you should avoid putting in your drains, even when you use a garbage disposal:
- Potato peels
- Coffee grounds
- Fats and oils
- Solid debris on clothing
- Anything that can solidify at room temperature
- Hair
- Chemicals
You may think that’s common sense, but if it was, everybody would be more careful. Even when you’re careful, your neighbors may not be. If you’re on the end of the city sewer line, that can be an uncomfortable place during a sewer mess.
In addition to the things mentioned above, tree roots can also get inside older sewer lines and stop them from flowing correctly.
The very best thing you can do is to be proactive, and at the earliest sign of drain problems, have them cleaned out, and don’t wait until you have an urgent situation. Keeping your property drains cleaned out will lessen the chance that your home is backed up, and ensures you’re doing your part to keep the neighborhood flowing like it it should.
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