By John Casey
With holidays right around the corner, it’s never been a better time to consider the health of your drainage system. That’s right; I said the drainage system. Nothing is more embarrassing than a house full of family and guests on Thanksgiving or Christmas and everything that flushes comes back up. To top that off, all the plumbers in the phone book is closed. I’m John Casey, Service Manager at Keen Plumbing Company, and here are a few things to consider to help prevent that embarrassing back up.
Only put what you’re supposed to down the drain (toilets and sinks). I shouldn’t have to explain this but, our three unstopping trucks tell me otherwise. Grease is the worst product we find in drains. It clings to the walls of your sewer pipes like plaque in arteries restricting the flow and stopping solids from passing through. Always put grease and food waste in a container, dispose of it in the trash, and never pour it out into the sink.
What Not To Do
On the same note pouring grease or food waste into the toilet and flushing it does the same thing. Yes, we have had a client do this under the thought that it wasn’t the kitchen sink so, it would be ok, it was not. All of your sewer pipes under your home are connected and what you pour into one affects all of them.
Also, dental floss, Q-tips, paper towels, feminine products, and the famous “flushable wipes” should not be disposed of in your toilets. They should be discarded in a trash can. We unstop countless drains due to foreign objects that should not be flushed.
Blockages
Blockages can also be caused by other objects in the flow line of the pipe. Root intrusions are a common cause of reoccurring blockages. When unstopped by our machines, the roots are ripped apart but quickly grow back. Pipes joints can also become cracked, broken, or misaligned over time due to settling. If you experience a stopped-up line twice or more in three months, it may be prudent to send a video camera down the line to accurately diagnose the issue so it can accurately be addressed.
A blockage could be the result of a failing sewage system. Residential PVC or ABS drain lines will likely have a 50-year life expectancy. Cast iron and galvanized steel pipes in residential plumbing have about a 30-year life expectancy. Over time these pipes become rough and corroded inside and require replacing.
Some older systems made out of terracotta (clay) or Orangeburg pipe (tar paper rolled into a tube) are outdated and should be replaced. These pipes are going to be your building sewer that conveys waste from your house to the city sewer system. Any drain lines that are older than 50-years have reached their reasonable life expectancy and should be replaced.
One Last Thing
One last thing to remember about your drain system, never use a fix in a bottle (liquid or granular drain cleaners). These are not as safe and effective as advertised and can cause serious chemical burns on plumbers as they work to free your pipes from blockages. Besides if it can burn through a clog imagine what it’s doing to your pipes. Remember, if you find your plumbing backing up stop flushing toilets or running water and give us a call at 919-735-1920 and we’ll be happy to help. Keen Plumbing Co. proudly serving Goldsboro and beyond since 1923.
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