3 Ways to Maintain Your Sewer Lines

You probably don’t think much about your sewer lines. Those large pipes that transport waste and used water from your home quietly do their job year after year, often with no care at all. But if they do have a problem, it can be a messy, expensive issue. There are ways you can maintain your sewer lines and help avoid sewer backups and emergencies. Here are three ways to maintain your sewer lines and keep them working like they should.

  1. Watch what you put down your drains. Sewer line clogs don’t usually happen overnight. It is months, even years, of fats, grease, hair and other items that go down the drain that accumulate in the pipes. Use hair traps in your bathroom drains, don’t dump grease down the sink and don’t flush down non-biodegradable items. Have clogged drains repaired by a plumber before your pipes are permanently affected.
  2. Protect your sewer lines from damage. Driving over sewer lines can cause damage. Make sure you know where they are in your yard. Also, tree roots pose a risk to sewer lines. Plant trees away from sewer lines to avoid root infestation that can break your pipes.
  3. Routinely clean your sewer lines. Your local sewer/septic service can clear your sewer lines of sludge to avoid clogs. Schedule routine cleanings using hydro-jetting to remove tree roots and accumulated debris in your sewer lines.

Just doing a few maintenance tasks can go a long way in protecting your sewer lines. You can also have your sewer lines inspected with a digital camera to proactively repair problems before you have a backup. With some care, you can avoid many sewer line problems and the possibility of a sewer line emergency.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Does Your Home Smell Like Sewer?

Ever get a whiff of something that doesn’t smell right in your home? Sometimes it is something as simple as a garbage that needs to be emptied or some spoiled milk in the fridge. But there is a distinct odor to sewage and waste, and if you smell it in or around your home, it could mean problems. Here are some tips to find the source of the smell and fix the issue.

Pin Point the Source

Sewer smells are usually going to come from one of two places; drains or outdoors. Take a sniff near your drains, especially those in the lower levels of the house. Is there one drain that has a stronger smell, do they all have an odor or is there no odor near your drains? Drains that smell like sewage can mean a backup or blockage in your system.

If the smell is outside, look for wet spots in your yard. You could have a broken sewer pipe. If you have a septic system, check around your septic tank and drain field. Look for wet areas and sniff for stronger odors. Septic tanks can leak and drain fields can fail, which can create a sewage odor.

Call a Professional

Whether you have a blocked sewer pipe, a septic problem or a broken main sewer line, you need professional help to get your sewer issue resolved. Call your local plumbing company that offers both plumbing and sewer repairs for an inspection. They can help find the exact source of the problem and offer a solution to stop the odor and fix the sewer issue, whether it is inside or outside of your home.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Sewer Line Installation and Repair

Plumbing contractors provide a wide range of plumbing services to residential, industrial and commercial customers alike.  One of the services is the repair of existing sewer lines, as well of the installation of new sewer lines.  In most cases, the repair or installation of the sewer line, which runs to the structure to the public sewer system, is the responsibility of the homeowner up to the property line.

One of the most common issues that plumbing contractors come across is issues related to the sewer line that services the home or business requiring repairs.  These repairs include blockages as a result of broken or collapsed pipes, root intrusion where pipes have separated, damages from utility or other contractors, pipes that are not back pitched, settled ground around pipes and excessive grease build of in the pipe.   In many cases the damaged section of the pipe can be simply repaired, by replacing the affected area.  The plumber will use a special camera, which is inserted into the pipe, to diagnose the issue.  The camera provides the plumber with a real time view of the inside of the pipe and also helps pinpoint the location, which results in a minimal amount of yard damage related to the repair.

In most cases the installation of a new sewer line is the result of disconnecting a home or a business from a septic system and connecting it to a new public sewer line, which has recently been installed in the area.  While there is a cost of installing the line there are many advantages to connecting to the public sewer system including avoiding yearly septic inspections and service.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283