Have A Sewer? Things You Should Do To Prevent Damage To It

If you have a sewer at your home, it would cause a lot of problems if it were to shut down. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent damage to it, or at least minimize the amount of damage. Some sewer problems can even cause damage inside your home. Below are three things you can do so you can determine if they are right for you.

Only Use Liquid

When it comes to drain cleaners, never use cleaners that are made of crystal but instead use liquid. This is because the crystals in the drain cleaner can solidify inside your pipes and over time, this will cause pipe damage.

If you have a very bad blockage, do not use a drain cleaner at all. Drain cleaners are not strong enough to clear out these blockages. Instead, you can use a sewer jetter, also known as a hydro-jetter, to get through the blockage. This type of machine uses high pressure water. If you do not have a jetter, or do not know how to properly use one, contact a plumber to do this for you so you do not accidentally damage your pipes.

Clean Buildup

To help prevent damage, you can keep your drain clean. You can do this on your own using products you likely already have in your home: baking soda and distilled white vinegar. Pour about one cup of the baking soda down the drain, and then follow this with approximately one cup of white vinegar. You will hear a fizzing sound because of a chemical reaction. This reaction cleans away buildup from within the pipes. Wait for about an hour and then pour a bucket of warm water down the drain to flush the pipes.

Use the Garbage Disposal Correctly

If you have a garbage disposal, make sure you use it correctly. You may put food into it that it is not designed to dispose of, such as pieces of celery, rhubarb, and banana skins. Make sure you turn on the water before you turn on the garbage disposal and leave the water running the entire time it is working. This not only prevents damage but also helps dispose of the items more quickly. Refer to the manual that came with your garbage disposal for a list of things that you can and cannot put into it.

One of the most important things you can do to prevent damage is to have your sewer maintained properly. For more information or assistance, contact companies like Roto-Rooter Sewer And Drain Cleaning Service.