Signs Of A Faulty Septic System

2 Common Sewer Drain Clog Causes And How You Can Fix And Prevent Them

20 March 2015 by Jacob Reed

When your home's sewer drains become clogged, preventing sewage and other dirty water from draining out of your home, you need to clear the clogged line as soon as possible. Here are two common causes of clogged sewer drains and pipes and what you can do to clear and prevent them.

Tree Roots

It is perfectly okay to have a nice landscaped yard with large beautiful trees, because tree roots cannot break through a sound sewer pipe on their own. 

The sewer line that runs from your home to the city's main sewer line is buried approximately six feet underneath your yard. Tree roots can grow down into the soil as deep as seven feet, depending on the type of soil, and they will naturally seek out moisture and nutrients in the soil so they can grow bigger. But, tree roots are opportunistic growers. The type, age, and condition of your sewer pipe will determine if your tree roots can get into the line. 

If your sewer pipe connections are old, cracked, and leaking, waste from your sewer pipe will leak into the surrounding soil and attract tree root growth. As soon as a tree root finds the crack in the pipe, it will send a root into the pipe, resulting in a large amount of root growth inside the pipe. This is when your sewer pipe gets clogged as the roots trap sewage debris and backs it up into your home.

You don't need to cut down all your yard's trees to fix a sewer clog. You can keep the roots clear of your sewer line by frequently cutting roots from the line with a power auger. Or, a more permanent solution would be to have your cracked sewer line replaced with a newer PVC line that will last indefinitely. 

A plumber can replace your sewer line several ways, including excavating your front yard, or using a trench-less replacement method to set the new sewer line inside the damaged existing line. Once you have a PVC sewer line, you won't need to worry about your tree's roots growing inside your pipe.

Hair

If you live in a household including anyone with long hair, you probably have drain clogs in your bathroom sink, bathtub, and shower. Hair naturally falls out from a person's head during a shower, but when the hair is long, it can cause clogs much quicker than short hairs. Then, as shampoo, conditioner, and soap go down the drain with the hairs, these products build up on the hairs to help clogs form quicker.

If you have a slow draining tub or sink, you can unclog it using several different methods. Some methods involve using harsh chemicals to eat away at the clog. You can also use products that may be around your house: 

• Pour an entire 2 liter bottle of cola down a slow drain and the acids and carbonation in the soda will clean out the clog. 
• Pour one-half cup of salt into your slow drain, then follow it with a gallon of boiling water. 
• Straighten a coat hanger out with one end of it in a hook shape and feed it down your open bathroom drain. When you hit the clog, wiggle the wire hanger around until you can catch the clog on it, then pull out the clog of hair.

Once you have your drain clean again, an inexpensive drain hair catcher will keep your drain free of long hairs and clogs. This type of hair catcher sits over the drain opening and filters out any hairs with a mesh screen. Clean out the hair trap after each use and toss the hair in the trash.

These two common causes of sewer drain clogs can be fixed and prevented. If you need help with your clogs, contact a local drain cleaning company like Electric Eel Sewer & Drains Specialists. 

Share