Drain & Sewer Tips for New Homeowners

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Okay, you just bought a new house, congratulations! Are you prepared for a wonderful life of continual maintenance and prevention?! We didn’t think so! When purchasing a new home, it is important to take some time after the fact to examine your home and get a better understanding of the current condition & possibility of any sewer or drain issues in your home. This article will cover some important topics when it comes to reducing the chance of any drain or sewer problems in your home.

Drains

When it comes to drain maintenance and prevention, it is important to take some necessary precautionary measures when it comes to protecting your drains from clogging. A clogged drain is a headache, whether it is a shower, sink, or toilet, these clogs can interfere with your daily life.

For the best drain prevention practices, it is wise to install strainers in your shower/bathtub to prevent hair, soap, or any sort of debris from clogging your drain. To reduce the risk of clogging your sink it is also wise to never pour cooking oils or fats down the drain as they will harden in the pipes and frequently clog or partially block drains.

The number one cause for clogged toilets is due to foreign objects being flushed, which over time can build up and create a clog. In order to reduce some confusion around what should and should not be flushed, we have created a helpful list of things that should never get flushed! Not only are these products hard to dissolve, but they are the leading cause for most sewer and drain clogs.

Do not flush these items down the drain!

  • Cotton Swabs
  • Cotton Balls
  • Hair
  • Facial Scrub Pads
  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Sanitary Products or Similar Items

Sewer Lines

While issues with sewer line issues are a rarer occurrence, a homeowner can take a variety of steps when it comes to preventing and reducing the chances that a sewer issue does arise in the future. Sewer line repairs can be costly and destructive to your property, so it is never an ideal situation when a sewer issue does come up.

While a sewer issue is normally something that has been in the making for years, there are a variety of ways to prevent & determine if you have a sewer issue. First and foremost, it is important that you do not use liquid drain cleaner as the chemicals contained in the product can cause more damage to your sewer lines! Another helpful indicator of a sewer line issue is standing or stagnant water on your lawn or in your basement. If you notice standing water anywhere in your home it is best to call an expert as the water can contain contaminants, as well as an environmental concern.

Prevention

Valves

In the event of a drain or sewer emergency, it is important that you are aware of the location of all valves for any drain in your home, this includes the main shut off valve in your residence. knowing where to locate your drain valves in an emergency can greatly reduce the amount of damage caused by any flooding.

Reliable & Local professional on call

Even after everything that we do to prevent a drain or sewer related issue from happening, some things are beyond our control. It is always important to have the number for a professional handy. A sewer & drain professional will have the proper equipment to handle any pre-existing clogs, as well as provide maintenance and preventative care on any of your home sewer & drain needs.

Trust the Drain Experts

For over 37 years Boston Drain Company has provided diagnostics, sewer & drain cleaning, video pipe inspections, sewer line repairs and preventative maintenance options to business owners and residents of Eastern Massachusetts & the Greater Boston Area. For any and all sewer & drain repair/service, call the experts at Boston Drain!

For a free quote contact us today via our convenient contact form or call us directly at 617-265-8888!

Posted in Sewer & Drain Blog.