You might think that the only things that go down drains are liquids and solids. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong! Even if you don’t think about it, you know that liquids like water and coffee flow down drains. But what about all that nasty stuff that you can’t see – like hair and toilet paper? Well, all of those items can also flow down drains. And if the drains in your home have been clogged or backed up recently, you know exactly what they’ve been clogged with – all of those nasty items! Because of the volume of water that flows through our sewer systems every day, it can often get backed up, resulting in clogged drains and sewer lines. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening again… and again… and again… Stay tuned for more info!

What should I know about sewer drains?

In general, sewage drains are usually laid out in a grid that travels underneath your home. They will usually be between four and six inches wide and can extend from the foundation of your home all the way to the street, depending on where you live. There are usually about 200 miles of sewer pipes in the United States. This grid is made up of numerous smaller pipes called “manholes.” These manholes are usually located in the backyard of homes, garages, or basements. In general, the larger pipes that travel under your property will be made of cast iron or PVC (see below for more details). The smaller pipes that feed into these larger ones are usually made of clay or some other type of plastic.

How do you know if your drains are clogged?

If you have recently experienced a clogged or backed up sewer line, there are a few things you can do to figure out if your drains are clogged or not. The best way to do this is to call a plumbing company and have them come out to inspect your drains. They will be able to inspect the inside of your drains and determine if they are clogged or not. If they do find that your drains are clogged, they can unclog them and save you the time, effort, and money that would have otherwise been spent on digging them out and replacing them with new pipes. Here is a list of some of the signs that your drains might be clogged:

  • Strong smell of sewage or a bad smell coming from your drains
  • Water that does not flow through your drains but rather backs up
  • Water that is discolored or smells bad coming from your drains
  • Water that comes out of your fixtures slow or drips constantly
  • Water that is coming out of your fixtures is discolored or smells bad

How can you prevent clogged drains?

If you want to prevent your drains from becoming clogged, you will need to keep your drains clean. This means that you should be putting a lot of effort into cleaning out your drains on a regular basis. Here are some tips on how you can do this:

  • Rinse out your commode with hot water on a regular basis to keep it clean and prevent it from becoming clogged with hair and paper products
  • Take out the trash and put it in a waste basket regularly to prevent it from clogging up your drains
  • Use a roto-rooter or other sewer cleaning machine to unclog your drains if they become clogged

Conclusion

It can be hard to figure out if your drains are clogged or not. Fortunately, there are a few signs and ways you can tell if your drains are clogged. If you notice any of these signs, it’s probably a good idea to contact a plumbing company to come out and inspect your drains.

Frequently Asked Question

  • Loosen the cap on the drain pipe
  • Allow any sewer buildup to come out of the drain
  • Gently feed the auger cable into the main line drain
  • Run the auger until the clog is broken up
  • Hose out leftover debris
  • Pull the auger cable back out of the main line drain
A good general rule is to have your home's sewer lines cleaned out every 18 to 22 months. That may be difficult to remember, but think of it as a year and a half to slightly less than two years
Consider using a sewer jetter to clean and remove dirt, sand, and yard debris that clog the foundation perimeter drain tile outside your home. A sewer jetter that's powered by your pressure washer can help you flush away the silt and debris so fewer clogs come back.
Perimeter drains or weeping tiles can last for decades. If properly installed, you can expect to have a problem free basement for a very long time. Older clay weeping tiles tended to deteriorate, and become clogged with soil and tree roots, but even these systems lasted for many years.