As a homeowner, you’re probably aware of how important it is to maintain your home. You check your air conditioning system, clean your gutters, and winterize your heating system. But what about maintaining your main sewer line? Your sewer system is vital for keeping your home running. If you develop clogs in your sewer line from tree roots, hygiene products, toilet paper, or something else, you must call a plumber to remove the blockage in your sewer pipes.
Many homeowners forget about cleaning their main sewer lines or are unaware that their plumbing system can and should be maintained. Little do they know that this single step can avert clogged drains, costly water damage, and cleanup expenses. You don’t want to find out the hard way that you haven’t kept up with your sewer line maintenance.
If all of your drains are backing up and overflowing at once, the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, tubs, showers, or you continually hear gurgling when flushing your toilet and draining your sinks or tubs, then these may be signs that you have a blockage in your main sewer line.
Common Sewer Line Conditions
Residential main sewer lines back up for various reasons, specifically tree roots, grease, and pipe scale buildup. Drain cleaning, TRUE DRAIN CLEANING (versus drain clearing – drain clearing simply pokes a small hole through the blockage, which restores flow only temporarily. Plumbers often return repeatedly for the same clogs, using the issue to advocate for a sewer line replacement that may not be necessary. We have a page explaining this: Beware of the $99 Mainline Special. It can and should remove the clog, assuming the plumbing problems are from buildup or lack of regular maintenance, and the sewer backups are not from a break in the line or damage.
The main types of sewer line problems are:
The cause usually has to do with the type of sewer that a home has.
Tips for Homeowners to Prevent Sewer Backups and Maintain Clean Sewer Pipes
Sewer backups can lead to unpleasant messes, costly damage, and expensive repairs. With a few smart habits and a little preventative maintenance, you can help keep your sewer lines clean and your plumbing flowing smoothly. Below are simple, everyday tips homeowners can follow to reduce the risk of clogged sewer pipes.
1. Dispose of Grease and Oil the Right Way
Pouring grease, oil, or fat down your kitchen drain may seem convenient, but it can solidify and coat your pipes over time. This buildup is a major cause of sewer line clogs. Instead, collect grease in a disposable container and toss it in the trash once it cools.
2. Be Careful of What You Flush
Even items labeled “flushable” — like certain wipes — can cause problems in your main drain. People should flush only human waste and toilet paper to prevent plumbing issues. Avoid flushing baby wipes, dental floss, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, or cotton swabs. These items do not break down easily and can quickly block your sewer line.
3. Install and Clean Drain Strainers
Using strainers in your kitchen sink, showers, and tubs helps catch food particles, soap scum, and hair before they enter your drains. Clean them regularly to keep debris from sneaking into your sewer pipes and contributing to blockages.
4. Use Enzymes for Preventative Maintenance
Monthly use of an enzyme-based drain cleaner can help break down organic materials inside your pipes. These natural cleaners are safe for plumbing and are a smart part of any sewer line maintenance routine.
5. Avoid Coffee Grounds and Starchy Foods
Keep coffee grounds, rice, pasta, and fibrous vegetables (like celery and potato peels) out of your garbage disposal. These materials don’t dissolve easily and are common culprits in clogged sewer line calls to any plumbing company.
6. Run Water Frequently in Unused Drains
Drains in guest bathrooms or unused basements can dry out, allowing odors or sewer gases to escape through floor drains. Run water through all drains at least once a week to help maintain the trap seal and keep your system fresh.
7. Be Mindful of Laundry Habits
Your washing machine uses a large volume of water and lint, which can strain your sewer line. Use a lint trap on your washer’s drain hose, and avoid overloading the machine. Stagger loads to prevent flooding your central drain system.
8. Know Where Your Cleanout is Located
In case of a backup, having easy access to your home’s cleanout—a capped pipe that provides direct access to your sewer line—can help a professional plumber quickly diagnose and resolve issues. Make sure it’s not buried or obstructed.
9. Use Baking Soda and Hot Water for a Natural Clean
Pouring a mixture of baking soda and hot water down your drains once a month can help deodorize and mildly clean your pipes. This DIY method is a safe and eco-friendly way to clean sewer lines.
10. Schedule Professional Inspections
Even with good habits, problems can develop over time. That’s why regular checkups with a plumbing company are key. A professional plumber can inspect your lines for tree root intrusions, pipe deterioration, or developing blockages, and fix them before they become expensive repairs.
Schedule your professional sewer line inspection with A-1 Sewer & Septic Service to catch problems early and keep your system running smoothly.
When Should You Clean Out Your Sewer Drains?
Sewer drain cleaning, also known as a sewer cleanout, is typically performed as needed, such as when a blockage or partial clog forms. Experts recommend regular preventative maintenance for homes with older plumbing systems, numerous nearby trees that can send roots into the sewer line, or a history of frequent clogs. Many homeowners don’t think about their main drain until there’s a serious issue — but by then, it’s often too late for DIY fixes. Proactive sewer line cleaning can prevent a full-blown sewer backup that results in raw sewage spilling into your basement or living areas.
Signs You May Need a Sewer Cleanout
If you notice any of the following, it’s time to call a plumbing company like A-1 Sewer & Septic:
- Gurgling sounds coming from toilets or drains
- Standing water or slow-draining sinks and tubs
- A raw sewage smell is coming from your drains.
- Water backing up from floor drains or lower-level fixtures
How to Unclog Your Main Sewer Lines
After you’ve discovered you have clogged drains, and it’s your main sewer line, there are only a few options to get it cleaned out (unfortunately, it’s too late for drain cleaners or DIY fixes). The available fixes are:
Hydro jetting:
A high-pressure device with a nozzle can effectively cut through grease and other difficult-to-clean liquids. It thoroughly cleans the pipe walls, restoring optimal flow. Hydro jetting is ideal for:
- Homes with tree root intrusion
- Older homes with accumulated buildup
- Cases where traditional augers don’t resolve the issue
Sewer Auger:
The traditional drain-cleaning method used by plumbing services typically involves mechanical or chemical techniques to clear blockages. A blade or a set of blades spins at the end of the cable as you push it through the line. We use the CORRECT sized blade for the sewer pipes, so instead of poking a small hole in the blockage, we completely clean the line. This method is a reliable and cost-effective solution for:
- Partial blockages caused by grease or debris
- Clearing out foreign objects or non-flushable items
- Getting immediate relief from a backed-up drain
Types of Main Sewer Line
Clay sewer:
Builders generally constructed homes before the mid-1950s using clay materials.. If tree roots grow in clay sewer lines, they become thick, and solids, such as toilet paper, cling together over time, creating a blockage.
Depending on the severity of the tree roots, we may suggest an environmentally safe chemical treatment with a follow-up treatment to kill any remaining roots and to inhibit re-growth.
Fiber conduit:
Builders marketed sewer lines constructed between the late 1950s and the 1960s as newer and improved versions of previous designs. Manufactured out of rolled wood pulp and tar, “Orangeburg” is known. Over time, these lines deform, taking on an egg shape that restricts the sewer’s flow.
Our Kansas City plumber can carefully examine the problem and choose the correct cleaning method, which may involve high-pressure water jetting to clean the sewer effectively. Our plumbers use a camera inspection to confirm whether the sewer is of fiber conduit. We’ll probably recommend cleaning the lines at least once a year, depending on how badly the line is deformed.
Cast iron:
Since the 1970s, manufacturers have used heavy-duty cast iron piping to construct sewer lines. While cast iron is powerful, the material tends to form pipe scale, a hard, rusty deposit that accumulates inside the pipe.
Solids can get caught on the pipe scale, leading to a blockage. Clean your cast iron line with high-pressure water jetting to scour and smooth the inside of the pipe. Snake cast iron pipes once a year, and follow up with a video inspection to ensure your regular maintenance is practical and reassuring.
When Do You Need a Sewer Line Inspection?
Every property owner should schedule a sewer line inspection, especially when :
- Buying a new home
- Experiencing multiple clogs or backups
- Noticing unpleasant odors around the Property
- Your Home is more than 20 years old
Sewer Line Replacement Options
You have a few options if your sewer line has a break and needs replacement. Some options may require new landscaping, while others are less invasive on your home’s grounds. Here are some wastewater pipe replacement options:
Sewer line replacement: the traditional method of digging up the current sewer line, replacing it, and then filling the dirt back in (this is where the new landscaping may come into play!)
Trenchless sewer line replacement: This newer method has two main options – pipe bursting and lining.
Pipe bursting: This method uses a hardened head that is pointed and slightly larger than the diameter of the pipe undergoing replacement. A pneumatic system pushes this head through the old pipe, which “bursts” it and breaks it apart, pulling a NEW SEWER LINE behind it and replacing it as it goes.
Pipe lining: When using this trenchless sewer line replacement option, an epoxy-type resin is pushed through the old line with pressure and comes out of the other side. It forms a new pipe when connected and allowed to cure in place.
Choose A-1 Sewer & Septic for Your Sewer Line Maintenance
Septic systems or city sewers can both benefit from these methods. The plumber pros at A-1 can review your situation and provide a quote for the best method to get your plumbing system flowing again!
After a mainline sewer clog emergency, how do you prevent your sewer from backing up again? Our response is always, “Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!”
Contact A-1 Sewer & Septic Service Inc. to schedule a service call for drain cleaning, a new water heater, faucet, garbage disposals, and so much more!