Tips to Save Lines

High on the list of experiences that nobody wants to have is a sewer backup or overflow. Fortunately, this experience can usually be avoided by being aware of what causes backups and avoiding those causes. The two primary causes of sewer backups and overflows are grease and roots.

What 2 Flush

Flushable Wipes aren’t really flushable!

It’s simple, the toilet is only meant to flush the three Ps—pee, poop and paper. Human waste and toilet paper should be the only things going down the toilet. Unfortunately, over the years, people have turned the toilet into a trash can. From wipes, medications and sanitary products to deceased pet fish and cigarette butts, if it fits, people flush it. Flushing these types of items down the toilet causes home pipes to clog, wastes water (up to 5 gallons of water every time you flush) and most importantly can have a huge impact on our sewers, and not to mention our ocean.

To learn about what other items should be kept out of the sewer system please visit www.What2Flush.com. View additional What2Flush resources.

Learn from the Responsible Flushing Alliance.

Pharmaceutical Disposal Program​

No Drugs Down the Drain!

Medicines that are flushed or poured down the drain can end up polluting our waters, impacting aquatic species, and contaminating our food and water supplies. Most medicines are not removed by wastewater treatment plants or septic systems. Scientists have found medicines in the surface, ground, and marine waters as well as soils and sediments in the Pacific Northwest. Even at very low levels, medicines in the environment hurt aquatic life. Using a medicine take-back program is a simple, sensible way to reduce the number of medicines entering the environment.

To learn more read the Pharmaceutical Fact Sheet.

Take unused or expired medication to a household hazardous waste collection center or event, or; put in a sturdy, securely sealed container, then in a trash can where children and animals can’t reach them.

Pharmaceutical pill packets and pill bottles

FOG

Grease is the most frequent cause of sewer problems. If cooking grease or oil is poured down the drain or flushed down toilets, even when followed by hot water, it eventually cools down, congeals, builds up, and hardens, eventually forming a plug in both home and District sewer lines. Over time, this situation creates backups and overflows. This unfortunate situation can be avoided if you:

  • Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets
  • Scrape grease and food scraps from plates, pots, pans, utensils, and grills into a can or the trash for disposal
  • Do not put grease down the garbage disposal. Put baskets/strainers in the sink drains to catch solids and empty them into the trash.

Roots​

Plant roots are another frequent cause of sewer backup and overflow. The roots of shrubs and trees naturally seek any water source. The roots probe the sewer line seeking any opening, such as a crack or a poorly sealed joint. Once the sewer line is penetrated, the roots form a ball and block the line. The best way to avoid root blockages is not to plant trees and shrubs close to your home’s cleanouts or sewer service line. However, if trees or shrubs already are growing near the line, watch for reductions in flows down the drain. If a reduction in flow occurs, have a plumber check the line and clear the blockage if necessary.

Roots Breaking through a Drain Pipe in a garden

More Tips

Here are some tips that can help prevent clogged lines inside – and outside of your residence.

Be Kind to Your Garbage Disposal​

  • Stringy foods such as celery, banana peels, etc. are very hard to grind up and can clog garbage disposals.
  • Lemon peels seem to temporarily take care of bad odors from disposals.
  • Run water while operating your garbage disposal. This will help push foods through and help keep the disposal from clogging. (Cold water seems to work the best.)

Clean Clogged Drains Carefully

Cleaning clogged drains aren’t as easy as dumping a chemical drain cleaner down and waiting. Did you know that there are separate waste removal lines that feed into a larger mainline carrying wastewater away from your house into the sewer system? Residences have a “soil line” which carries kitchen sink and toilet waste to the mainline. They are also equipped with a “waste line” which handles showers and bathroom sinks. This means there are two opportunities for clogs before the mainline, which itself can be clogged. Part of sewer drain cleaning is discovering what part of your system has the problem.

  • Use liquid drain cleaners instead of crystal drain cleaners. Crystal drain cleaners may solidify in your pipes.
  • Experts say you should never use a chemical drain cleaner to fix a “total blockage”. You’ll need the aid of a sewer jetter, which blasts away the blockage and restores the pipes to a more pristine condition. After using a sewer jetter, it’s a good idea to test the integrity of your sewer systems using a hydrostatic line tester. If there are existing leaks in the pipe system sealed up by debris, that temporary seal was washed away by the sewer jetter. The hydrostatic line tester will help you identify such leaks so you can repair and prevent further damage.
  • Try preventing the problem altogether:
    once a month, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar down the drain. Wait an hour and flush with warm water. The combination fizzles away most of the buildup. Works for shower, tub, and kitchen sink drain as well.

Mind Your Cleanouts

Cleanouts are a direct line to the sewer and consequently to sewer gas smell.

The following may help with odor problems.

  • Make sure traps are full of water since the water in floor drains and other drain traps tend to evaporate
  • Make sure all caps are on and secure
  • Sometimes a small amount of bleach poured into the drain seems to help

Take Care of Your Toilet

  • Leaking toilets are not only annoying but also expensive!
    Most of the time it is a bad flush valve (the stopper at the bottom of the tank connected to the handle). Any hardware store carries flush valves. They are inexpensive and fairly easy to put in.
  • Make sure the water level in the tank is where it is supposed to be. (See water line in the tank).
  • Toilet water ports or jets can become plugged with calcium buildup from hard water. You will find several ports under the rim of the toilet bowl. Take a metal coat hanger and poke the end of the hanger up into the ports to clear them. Also, check the main port at the bottom of the toilet stool.
  • If your toilet is clogged, don’t use chemical drain openers. Try running a cable through the shower drain (since they are connected). If that doesn’t work, call a professional plumber.