Homeowners can prevent most blockages by ensuring correct use and maintenance of their drains. But despite their best efforts, clogging can still occur at any part of the plumbing system, including the sewer drains buried outside the house. Some sewer drain clogs are caused by factors beyond the homeowner's control, and usually, the homeowner has no other choice than to deal with the problem. Here are some common causes of clogging in residential sewer drains.
Aging pipes
All drainage pipes wear out eventually. As the pipes get older, the more they become weak. Over time, your sewer drain pipes will no longer be able to hold out against the beat down of normal use. The pipes will start to develop cracks or fractures, which may enlarge as time passes by. Broken or collapsed pipes can allow mud and other unwanted debris into the sewer line, resulting in clogging problems down the road. As a homeowner, it is important to know the exact age of your sewer drain pipes, so you can have them replaced when they have reached the end of their lifespan.
Intrusive tree roots
Trees can make any yard feel cool and look vibrant, but there are situations when they can be a source of problems in the home. Trees growing directly above or near your sewer drains are an obvious threat to the drains. Tree roots can easily find their way into the sewer drain pipes, as they search for water below ground. Therefore, most owners are aware that such trees need to be felled so as to reduce the risk.
While homeowners are generally responsible for the trees in their yard, they can do little to nothing about the trees growing in adjacent properties. Hence, tree roots from a neighbour's property can unpredictably grow wildly towards your sewer line, damage the piping and cause clogging.
Sagging of the sewer line
A sewer line 'sag' usually occurs when geological events, e.g. foundation settlement, earthquakes, or soil erosion create low areas in the drain pipes. When this happens, waste cannot easily flow out of the home because it is settles in the low areas of the pipe. This results in clogging problems.
The best way to deal with sewer drain pipe clogs is to ensure that they are handled by a professional plumber. They will make sure to diagnose the root cause of the problem before clearing your clogged sewer line.
