Sewers

How can i make sure that my sewer or sewage pipes are not clogged?

Such as with toilets, sinks, sump pumps, etc

Public Comments

1. If your toilet flushes, and your sinks drain, then the sewage pipes are working fine. Actually, its a functional test.
2. If you just want to check for clogs, plumbers have cameras that can view the inside of lines. The cheapest and easiest route is just to run water through them and note if they drain without backfilling. Some pipes need no more than to be cleaned out due to years of soap and hair running through them.
3. use rid-ex one time a month
4. If your drains drain your good for now. There are several products that can help to keep them clear. Your local home improvement store should carry a variety. I would stick to a good name brand like liquid plumber. They've been around awhile and have a good record.
5. If your toilet or sink is not overflowing with water and sewage and there is no water or sewage outside anywhere, then your plumbing is fine.
6. Take the cap off of the cleanout in the yard. Run some water in the tub and look down into the pipe with a flashlight and see if the water is free flowing or filling the pipe. If it fills, then you have an obstruction. You will need only a pipe wrench or large channel locks to look at this.
7. i use foaming drain cleaner once or twice a month in all the drains to help reduce soap scum & breakdown hair ect.
8. rule of thumb: if it drains, its working
9. run water ,,,no backup....it works.....if it backs up us a snake and run it down the pipe ,,,(you can pick up a snake at Home Depot)....that should do it...chemicals should be the last resort..hard on some pipes
10. In most instances, if it drains quickly all is clear. If any drain is slow moving there is a blockage, but it is not a complete obstruction. Just get a snake and clear out the drains. With sump pumps it there is a blockage they tend to burn out. Make sure those pipes are clear.