3 Plumbing Problems That Keep Plugging Your Sewer Line

If you have to call a plumber out every so often to clean out your sewer line, you may need to figure out why your line keeps clogging. If you're not sure, the plumber might run a camera down the sewer pipe to look around and find out what kind of clogs you're dealing with. Here's a look at three plumbing problems that could be to blame for frequent sewer clogging.

1. You Flush The Wrong Things 

You may need to talk to family members about what's appropriate to flush down the toilet. Kids might flush paper towels or wet wipes and create frequent paper clogs. It's best to only flush toilet paper. Avoid putting kitty litter, thick paper, feminine products, diapers, and any kind of trash down the toilet since they might get caught in the drain and cause a clog to build up.

Also, remember that your shower drain and kitchen drain lead to the sewer line too. So, avoid letting hair go down the drain, and don't pour grease or fat down the drain. It's easier and less expensive to prevent a plumbing clog than it is to clean out a sewer line.

2. Tree Roots Have Taken Over

A common reason for plumbing clogs is tree roots. You can have the sewer line cleaned out, but roots grow back, and the drain gets clogged again. Talk to your plumber about how to stop this cycle. They might suggest using additives in the drain that kill tree roots, digging out the roots, or lining the pipe so roots can't get inside any longer.

If you have a lot of trees in or near your backyard where the sewer line is located, roots could be a constant problem unless your plumbing contractor helps you find a permanent solution for keeping them out of your drain.

3. The Drain Has Corrosion Or Mineral Buildup

You may not know for sure what type of drain you have. Clay drains were popular at one time, but now they're mostly plastic. If your sewer line is old, the drain might even be metal. An old metal drain can build up corrosion inside or get coated with mineral scale from hard water. This causes the pipe to get narrow. A narrow pipe can clog easily.

If possible, the plumber might try hydro jetting the pipe to get rid of mineral scale, but hydro jetting might damage a plumbing pipe with a lot of corrosion. The answer might be to replace the pipe so the inside diameter is wider permanently. Sometimes, a pipe can be replaced by pulling a new one under the ground so your old pipe doesn't have to be dug up. Your plumbing contractor can explain all the options for pipe replacement if it's necessary.

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