Drain Cleaning and Main Sewer Line Maintenance
Main sewer line maintenance is required to prevent clogs in your main sewer line, you should be vigilant about drain cleaning.
If your house has floor drains, clear them regularly since dry debris can build up and contribute to main line clogs.
Also, toilet drains should be inspected regularly because sanitary products can cause significant blockages.
To avoid the risk of sewer gasses seeping into your home, keep your toilet in its highest flush setting.
Main Sewer Line Maintenance Costs
A clogged main sewer line can cost about $475 to fix. The rest of the bill goes to materials. Typically, plumbers charge a fixed rate depending on the severity of the clog.
The entire process can take anywhere from an hour to four hours, depending on how badly the clog is. The more severe the clog, the higher the bill.
Below are some basic steps for drain cleaning and maintenance of a clogged main sewer line.
As the primary sewer line ages, it can become clogged more often. Rust will cause the material to shrink, making it more difficult for water to pass through.
Older homes may also have clay or concrete piping. Ultimately, these systems will require replacement. However, regular maintenance will keep your sewer flowing freely.
So how does one go about pipe cleaning and main sewer line maintenance?
There are several types of drain cleaning services and costs.
Here are some often-asked queries about a home’s main sewer drain.
How to Clear a Blocked Sewer Main Drain
A clog in the sewage main drain is a more significant issue requiring a sewer drain snake inserted through a central clean-out fitting, even though a drain snake is often used to locate and clear a clog in a branch drain line.
Unclogging a sewage obstruction is more challenging and typically requires a licensed plumber when there is no clean-out.
What to Check for in a Clean-Out
Checking for a clean-out is the only way to determine whether you have one. Because homes are constructed differently, sewer clean-outs can be placed in various locations.
In most cases, a sewer clean-out is not particularly noticeable unless you know where to look. Additionally, over time, landscaping can cover up an outside clean-out.
The area near the restroom should be your first stop when looking for the sewage clean-outs. The primary clean-outs are frequently built into the concrete slab close to the foundation walls in homes with basements.
If you know where to look, finding the sewer clean-outs, assuming you have them, is not that difficult.
How to Proceed if there is no Clean-Out
A clean-out is crucial, especially if your sewage drains frequently clog. You might think about installing a main clean-out if you don’t already have one.
When the main line becomes backed up, it can act as a release, enabling water to escape outside rather than flooding the inside of the house. It will be less expensive than having your main line snaked frequently.
If it Is Not Possible to Clear the Main Drain Line
You might want to contact a licensed plumber if you have unsuccessfully attempted to use a sewer drain snake yourself.
Before rushing to replace the main drain line, consult another plumber for a second opinion if the plumber claims they tried to snake out the main line but were unsuccessful.
It is wise to get a second opinion before spending the money because replacing the line might be costly.
When Should Your Main Line Be Replaced?
This is just a question of taste. If your main line backs up more frequently than once per year, it might be beneficial to have the pipe replaced, or the issue area dug up and fixed.
But frequently, all that is required is to have the sewer main line snaked once per year or two.
This is especially true if massive tree roots penetrate the sewer line.
Digging up the pipe and repairing or rebuilding it will cost more money than snaking it.
How to Avoid Main Sewer Clogs
Sewer main drain clogs can have several causes. Some, like tree roots and collapsing pipelines, are unavoidable.
To aid in preventing frequent jams, several things can be watched. Being cautious about what goes down the drain is a crucial preventative precaution.
Flushing solid things down the toilet might become trapped and contribute to a sewage stoppage.
Additionally, washing too much food and oil down the kitchen drain might cause obstructions in the sewer main drain.
When the Owner is in Charge of Unclogging Clogs
Who is in charge of the repair typically depends on where and why the process stopped. Before having any maintenance done to your sewer main drain, check with your city. Sometimes, if the city or municipality is to blame, they will make things right.
