Any blockage in a sewer drain and sewer lines must be sorted immediately. A blocked sewer drain pipe or sewer line blockage can cause many complications in the pipe system.
A properly functioning sewage system and sewer lines are necessary if you own a property. It will ensure that the daily water needs are met. In the case of a commercial organisation, the drainage system needs to be checked quite often as the entire office may become non-functional if not taken care of.
Also, many drains and pipelines make up the sewer system; it is best to know about them. If all the sections work efficiently and you don’t have a blocked sewer pipe or draining slowly or recurring clogged drains, the entire plumbing system will work well.
A blockage in your main sewer line, drain, and other parts can lead to a domino effect and cause disruptions in your multiple plumbing fixtures and other regions. In this read, we will tell you about the parts of the sewage tank that you must be careful about and how to identify a clogged drain and sewer line.
So, dive in!
Parts Of A Sewage Tank
1. Vents
Plumbing vents are small gaps that help keep the air pressure in control. The sewage system will see many smelly gases and wastes flowing out, and the smell can also return inside the house. Hence, vents are made through which the air can leave, and the pressure can be regulated.
2. Septic Tank
Your septic system has tanks in which sewage is kept and collected. The tank is cleaned occasionally and needs to be well sealed to prevent any foul smell from leaving.
3. Kitchen Sink
A separate line is attached to a kitchen sink to ensure the proper flow of waste. These kitchen sinks can see a lot of greasiness as you wash utensils. Therefore, many people opt for kitchen sink grease traps that keep the fat moving into the pipes. If you notice slow-draining sinks, don’t ignore them. These plumbing issues may appear minor initially, but they can escalate when left for too long. Call a licensed plumber to check.
4. Pipelines
Waste will move through the pipelines and will pass into the sewer system. Solid and liquid waste flow through pipelines; hence, they are essential to the system, especially your main sewer pipe.
How Do Sewer Drains Get Blocked?
Sewer drains are often not given any importance and are not maintained well. Here, we will discuss different reasons behind pipes and sewer drain clogging.
1. Waste Disposal
Not having a proper mode of garbage disposal could lead to clogged drain pipes. Grease and food waste can cause drain pipes to get clogged, and because of this, water may not be able to flow well.
We suggest applying a sink strainer and a grease trap to prevent impurities from flowing into the sewer drains. The garbage disposal pipe must be protected from solid and oil wastes to last long.
2. Collection Of Debris
Debris, such as leaves, mud, clay and grass, can quickly enter the sewer lines. When many of these substances accumulate in one place, it can lead to a main sewer line blockage. If your sewer drain is clogged, wastewater or raw sewage may escape and pool in your yard. This usually occurs over time and will happen if the sewer drains are closer to where you throw your waste.
To have a properly working sewage system, you must check the drain lines frequently. If you see some accumulation of waste, clear it out immediately, and you can prevent significant scale blockage.
3. Throwing Trash In The Toilet
The toilet is not made to accommodate wipes, sanitary napkins or wet wipes; it is essential to note that. If you own a cafe or a business organisation, put notices around the washroom reminding people not to do this, as it can lead to pipeline blockages.
This is one of the root causes of clogging; if you can prevent it, the sewer drains can be protected. Keep dustbins in the toilet, which can throw away such waste. Ensure they do not get filled up, as there should be enough space for you to throw other things.
Keep your shower drains clear and floor drains clean. If you notice leaks and indicators of blockage, call your trusted plumber immediately.
4. Sagging Of Sewer Lines
If the sewer lines are old, they might start to sag over time. This happens due to the constant weight of the water, wastes, and other chemicals, which may cause the pipes to become thinner.
To make the pipes last longer, you must maintain them well. Hire plumbing services occasionally and then get them to clean the lines well. That way, these will last longer, saving you the cost of replacing them entirely.
5. Tree Roots
Tree roots are known to expand as they grow and get into pipes. This is because these roots seek water and moisture and try to find it inside the soil. If pipelines are running, the roots can penetrate the outer walls and get into the pipes.
You could even clog the main sewer pipes if this is not fixed immediately. That would mean a lot of digging, and pipes must be dug up and replaced with newer ones. This can be prevented if you keep a watch on the growth of trees and get plumbers to check after certain time intervals.
Keeping Your Sewer Free From Blockages
The sewage line can get clogged due to the reasons mentioned above. If your septic tank is clogged or drains malfunction, you can hear noises from them. The gurgling sounds will grow louder in your septic tanks if a further blockage occurs. Also, you will notice that the water flows slower through the drain pipes. That is another indication that there is something wrong. Now that you know about it, identifying clogged sewer systems should not be daunting.
The ideal thing is to call your trusted plumber to fix your sewer drain. Clogged drains or even slow-draining ones aren’t a project for the faint of heart. But you can do a few quick fixes. Besides, your local plumber will have the tools to work on your blocked drain problem. If you are in Sydney, contact our expert plumbers at Fixed Today!
Inspect how severe the blockage is to give you a better insight into how to solve the problem. Either you DIY or call professional help. Try to locate the source of the problem. But be warned; there can be leakages and blockages that are not easily accessible. You can only check if the pipeline is exposed or visible indicators like moulds on walls or ceiling. If it’s a simple blocked sewer line, you can manually remove them. Use a drain snake, drain cleaner (be careful about chemical drain cleaning, for this may harm your pipes) or your homemade mixture of boiling water, vinegar and baking soda to flush out the materials causing the sewer blockages.
You can also utilise an excellent plunger to remove the clog. Sometimes, all it takes is a good plunge to remove the blocks. It’s a long and repetitive process, but it can get you the desired results.
For a significant sewer blockage, call your trusted plumber. They have the right tools and techniques to do this tedious job for you. They can use their CCTV drain camera to find even the most challenging blockages and leakages. And they have a high-pressure jet blaster to remove even the most stubborn blocks. To lessen clogged sewer line incidents on your sewer drains, be mindful of what you flush down your toilet and create proper waste disposal. Don’t throw paper towels, wipes, sanitary pads, or too much toilet paper down your toilet. A little discipline will help prevent clogs from happening again.
Let us know about any further issues. Until next time!
