How to Prevent a Sewer Backup in Your Tyler, TX Home

How to Prevent a Sewer Backup in Your Tyler, TX Home

Are you trying to figure out how to prevent sewer backups? Messy sewer backups are a nightmare for homeowners that can lead to costly repairs, potential health risks, contaminated water, and significant disruptions.

Although there are ways to get on top of repairs, including non-invasive sewer line repairs, the best strategy is proactive sewer system maintenance.

The team at The Mink Plumbing is here to help you prevent sewer backups with a few key tips to keep your home’s plumbing system in optimal condition. Here’s how to get started!

1) Proper Drain Usage

One of the most effective ways to maintain your sewer lines is to prevent clogs and be mindful about what’s going down your drains. Many of the most common sewer backups we see are caused by improperly disposing of waste. Whether you’re throwing grease down your drains or flushing so-called “flushable wipes” down the toilet, poor drain care can lead to stubborn clogs that can cause sewer backups and a strain on your plumbing system.

Here are some of our best tips for treating your drains with care:

• Put any grease or oil in a container or throw it in the trash instead of down the sink.
• Use drain screens in your sink to catch food scraps, hair, foreign objects, and any other debris before they go down your pipes and cause clogs or damage your sewer lines.
• Only flush toilet paper down the toilet and avoid feminine hygiene products or anything else that doesn’t break down properly.

If your drains are already clogged, or you have a recurring problem, give us a call for drain cleaning or hydro jetting. It’s a non-invasive way to blast through the most stubborn clogs with a powerful stream of water that doesn’t use corrosive chemicals.

2) Regular Sewer Line Inspections

It’s nearly impossible to take preventive maintenance steps without an annual plumbing inspection. Our sewer camera inspections help detect and diagnose problems before they have time to escalate. It’s crucial to get on top of any issues, from minor clogs to cracks and misaligned pipes, to prevent them from escalating into full-blown sewer backups and plumbing disasters.

If you do have sewer damage, our Tyler plumbers can help resolve it with non-invasive methods. Whenever possible, we offer trenchless sewer repair that takes a no-dig approach to repairing your pipes by using a LightRay system. .

3) Tree Root Prevention

Many homeowners don’t realize that tree roots are a common cause of blockages and backups in sewer pipes, sewer lines, and sewers. If you haven’t planted trees yet, avoid placing them near sewer lines, or choose shallow-rooted options like Japanese maples, dogwoods, and eastern redbuds.

How to prevent tree roots in sewer pipes:

• Monitor trees growing near your sewer lines.
• Install root barriers to redirect growth away from pipes and sewer lines.
• Schedule regular root cutting or use foaming root killers to keep roots from intruding into your pipes and creating clogs.
• When possible, explore moving trees to another location on your property to avoid root intrusions in your sewer.

Keeping an eye on tree root intrusions is well worth the effort. It can help you avoid expensive repairs and the inconvenience of sewer backups.

4) Get a Professionally Installed Backwater Valve

Backwater valves are an essential, and often mandatory, tool to avoid sewer backups. The device is installed in your home’s main sewer line to prevent wastewater from flowing back into your home during heavy rain or a sewer overload.

When Tyler’s municipal sewers are overwhelmed with excess water, it can lead to messy and dangerous sewage backups flowing into the public water supply. A backwater valve keeps your water flowing in one direction, like a one-way gate, and keeps sewage from flowing into your home. A professionally installed blackwater valve and occasional monitoring help prevent significant damage to your property.

5) Gutter and Downspout Maintenance

Just because gutters and downspouts are carrying water away from your home doesn’t mean it’s not contributing to sewer backups. When they direct too much water into the sewer system, it can lead to an overload and create backups in your homes. You can avoid the issue by

• Scheduling regular gutter cleaning to prevent debris from blocking the water flow.
• Direct your downspouts into your yard instead of toward your home’s foundation to avoid overwhelming your sewer system.
• If your property is prone to flooding and staying damp, ask the team at The Mink Plumbing about a sump pump to stay dry and safe.

Taking care of your gutters and downspouts is relatively easy, yet one of the best ways to maintain sewer lines. You reduce the strain on the sewer system and prevent unnecessary sewage backups.

Call The Mink Plumbing to Help Prevent Sewer Backups In Your Home

Preventing sewer backups starts with proactive care and regular maintenance of your entire plumbing system and even aspects like your gutters and downspouts. Trust the team at The Mink Plumbing for a plumbing inspection, backwater valve installation, drain cleaning, sewer inspections, maintenance, and more to keep your entire system working at its best.

Don’t wait for a sewer backup! Call The Mink Plumbing today for all your Tyler, TX drain and sewer service needs and expert solutions tailored to your home’s needs.