Don’t let sewer repair throw a wrench in your finances. As a homeowner, you will need to take responsibility for any sewer line repairs on your property. Take preemptive steps to avoid a repair with these four tips.

1. Avoid Pouring Grease Down the Drain

Cooking often generates grease, oil, and fat. Unfortunately, grease is one of the largest culprits of sewer line blockage. The sticky liquid hardens as it cools, catching everything in its path. Heat can melt the material temporarily only to push it further down the sewer line. Instead of disposing of grease, oil, and fat down the drain, collect the material in containers and throw them in the garbage.

2. Maintain Your Plumbing System

We rely on plumbing systems to work as expected. However, like anything, plumbing systems break down over time. Luckily, you can prolong how long the plumbing system lasts by getting regular maintenance and getting repairs as soon as you notice a problem.

Plumbing systems benefit from regular cleaning, even if you don’t already have a drain clog. Furthermore, issues like leaks can deteriorate your pipes faster. Therefore, when you notice even a small leak, we recommend that you get it fixed before the leak causes a larger problem down the road.

3. Minimize the Use of Chemical Drain Cleaners

In the case of a drain clog, many people reach for the nearest chemical drain cleaner. Chemical drain cleaners, while effective, use chemicals to receive the desired results. These chemicals can eat at the clog, but they can also eat at plumbing materials.

Only use chemical drain cleaners for the largest drain clogs. As mentioned above, you can take action in advance by using enzymatic drain cleaners as part of your regular maintenance routine. These drain cleaners consist of all-natural materials, but they aren’t as effective as chemical drain cleaners.

Before reaching for a chemical drain cleaner, you can try a drain snake or a powered auger, depending on the location of the clog.

4. Keep Plants Away From Sewer Lines

Plants improve curb appeal and add oxygen to the atmosphere. Large trees also have deep underground roots. The roots search for water when thirsty. In some cases, the roots will sense water in underground pipes and travel to the pipes to receive water, even if it means breaking the pipe material.

When you do notice a problem with your sewer lines, call the experts at Almighty Plumbing. Almighty Plumbing offers sewer line repair, drain cleaning, and leak detection in Pittsburgh, CA (East Bay).