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Keep Your Sanitary Sewer Line Clear

Anytime you turn on a faucet in your home, run the dishwasher or flush a toilet, that water runs out of your sanitary sewer line and into the City sewer.  If your sanitary sewer line gets clogged, all of your drains and toilets will get backed up, too.  Avoid unpleasant and potentially expensive plumbing problems by preventing clogs in your sewer line.

Avoid costly Bathroom Clogs

One of the best ways to avoid sanitary sewer line clogs is to be mindful of the items that pass through it. Avoid flushing items like diapers, tampons, personal cleaning wipes or paper towels down your toilets. This fun(?) video from an out-of-state company called Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric, sums it up best  https://youtu.be/mL4OXC1OZh0

Avoid costly Kitchen Clogs

Also avoid putting any type of grease, oil, coffee grounds, egg shells or animal fat down your kitchen drains or dishwasher drains. Fats, Oils, and Greases, referred to as “F.O.G.,” build up inside of your pipes. Instead, scrape food off into the garbage or use paper towels to wipe it. More tips:

  • Running hot water down your drain doesn’t help, it simply cools further down the pipe.
  • Garbage disposal breaks food down that can stick to the F.O.G. in the pipes.
  • Using a reusable cloth could clog washing machine pipes.
  • Dispose of kitchen grease by pouring it into an empty disposable container, seal it shut and place it in your trash.

Other common causes of main sewer line blockages are tree roots and rocks breaking into the pipe. This is most common in older pipes made from clay, but it can happen to any type of pipe. If there are a lot of trees around your sanitary sewer line, it’s a good idea to have your sanitary sewer line cleared every 2 - 3 years. If you continue to have problems, you may consider contacting a plumber to investigate the issue further.

If you have any questions regarding your sanitary sewer line, please contact Public Works at (630) 377-4405.

updated Apr 23, 2021