Tag: thanksgiving

Prevent Clogged Toilets and Sewer Back Up With Simple Maintenance

Large gatherings of family and friends tend to put a lot of extra strain on a home’s plumbing; that’s why it is important to have preventative measures in place. Someone may not be able to predict what story or offensive joke a certain uncle may decide to tell after dinner, but they can predict that more people will be using the restroom than usually have access to a home privy. This article will discuss the best ways to keep the whole gathering running smoothly, at least in the sewer pipes.

How to Prevent a Clogged Toilet

A clogged toilet may be the most common and one of the most inconvenient plumbing problems in a household. It is not that the toilet will never clog; it is more about making it easier to unclog the toilet. Normal clogs can usually be dealt with with a plunger, the double flush, or waiting it out, but some things cause more serious clogs because they do not dissolve or break up in the water. If people avoid putting these things in their toilets, the clog is less likely to cause a problem that needs professional assistance. Some of this list may seem counterintuitive, but one should never put these items in the toilet:

• Baby Wipes (even “flushable” ones)
• Cleaning Wipes(ie Clorox or Lysol wipes)
• Cotton Balls
• Cotton Rounds
• Cotton Swabs
• Paper Towels
• Sanitary Napkins
• Tampons

Even if these items are flushed out of the toilet, they may cause a problem farther down the line, leading to the next area of concern: the sewer pipes.

Keeping Sewer Lines Clean

If the sewer is backed up, then no drain in the house will do the job it is supposed to do of removing liquid waste from the home. Most forms of prevention do come in the form of avoidance, but some methods of keeping drains clean are proactive. Here is a list of dos and don’ts:

• Avoid Grease: Grease may seem like it should slide down the drain just like water; however, grease tends to congeal and cling to the sides of pipes, creating a natural sticky trap for any particles that pass. This can create a hard-to-remove clog of food particles, hair, and other waste.
• Avoid Chemical Drain Openers: While chemical drain cleaners break up clogs, their corrosiveness can also cause damage to pipes. They can eat into the pipes' material and cause weakening, pitting, and even breakage. Even if the worst is avoided, pitting can make the pipes more likely to clog due to the roughness created by corrosion.
• Use Baking Soda and Vinegar: A quick and safe method of chemical drain cleaning uses the basic ingredients for the science fair volcano: baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda can be poured into a drain and allowed to settle. Then vinegar is poured after it, creating hydrogen bubbles that can help break up detritus in the pipes.
• Call the Professionals: Professional sewer line cleaning methods like hydro-jetting can be used as a preventative measure against a clogged sewer line and slow-moving drains.

Homeowners Can Be Thankful for Plumbing Maintenance

Regular professional maintenance can prevent most plumbing issues, especially the major ones. Problems such as water and structural damage, mold and mildew, water heater outage, and slab leaks can be prevented by regular checkups by plumbing technicians. Every homeowner should be thankful for their local plumbing expert.

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

Veteran-owned B&L Plumbing and Heating of Colorado Springs, CO provides exceptional service 24/7. They charge no after-hours fees and have worked in residential and commercial plumbing for over 20 years. Call them today for fast, reliable plumbing service.

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