Drain & Sewer FAQs

The drains pipes in your home are impressive in that they can remove many things from your sinks, bathtubs and toilets without you ever seeing how and without any effort on your part. However, that doesn’t mean they are designed to carry off anything you might put down the drain. To avoid major problems with your drains and sewer line, you must avoid putting certain things down the drain that might cause clogs. Some of the things that people commonly put down drains (but shouldn’t) include:

• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Tissues
• Whole food
• Grease
• Hair
• Hygiene products

To avoid the problems that tend to arise from clogged drains, make sure you only send things down the drain that the plumbing system is designed to handle. In the toilet, obviously this means only toilet paper. In sink drains, this means only liquids and foods that have been properly chopped up in your garbage disposal.

If you smell something from your drains, the traps are likely dried out. All drains are designed with a simple U–shaped trap that holds a small amount of water after each usage. This keeps sewer gasses and odors from entering your home.

Usually, the problem occurs when a drain hasn’t been used in a long time – such as when you’ve been on vacation or if you have a guest bathroom that’s only used when you have company. Simply put some water down the drain every week or so, and you should be able to resolve the issue and prevent future problems.

If a clog occurs, don’t pour chemicals down the drain. These may break up the clog right now, but they also corrode your pipes, putting them at risk of a much bigger problem in the future. If you cannot get the clog cleared with a plunger, boiling water or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, you need to call a professional for more advanced mechanical drain cleaning methods.

Modern technology allows plumbers to take a look inside your pipes, with video inspection tools, to isolate and thoroughly inspect all problems before making any repairs. Video inspection involves a thin scope inserted into the affected pipe to check for leaks, cracks or clogs. Once the source of the problem is pinpointed, action can be taken.

This not only keeps your plumber from making the wrong guess and digging up your yard or cutting into your wall in the wrong place, but it makes for a great preventative measure during annual plumbing maintenance. Video pipe inspection can also help to check for possible root intrusion in your sewer line, which can develop into a major problem if not caught early.