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Oh no! Are you experiencing back-ups in your home constantly but are not sure why? Are you worried it may happen again?
Experiencing backups in your home is not only annoying but also stressful as you are now forced to find ways around the problem until a plumber can take a look at the issue. However, if you keep having backups in your home, it may be a sign of a bigger problem in your sewer system. Not to worry, though, as Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric is dedicated to helping you with any of your plumbing needs, including identifying the cause of frequent backups in your home.
In this article, we will jump into why you are experiencing frequent backups in your home, whether it will happen again, the different ways to fix the problem, and how to prevent frequent backups from happening in the future. In the end, you will be able to make the best decision for yourself and your home.
Why Are You Experiencing Frequent BackUps?
Having backups in your home is completely normal. But what if it keeps happening? We will be the first to tell you that it is not.
If you are experiencing frequent backups inside your home, you likely have old piping that is still leftover from when the house was initially built. Sewer pipes are usually made of PVC, cast iron, or clay, and while these materials are durable, they are not meant to last forever.
Over time, your pipes will crack, corrode, or break, and this deterioration will cause backups. Now, this isn’t the only thing that will cause frequent backups in your home, but it is the most common. Other factors that could contribute to the constant backups in your home include:
- Clogs: Clogs, or stoppages, are caused when solid objects get caught in your sewer line. This can be caused by large objects like the toy your toddler decided to flush down the toilet or by a build-up of several things like hair, cooking grease, feminine products, wet wipes, food, or any other type of material that pipes were not meant to handle.
There are different types of stoppages: local and main stoppages. Read this article here as we dive into what local and main stoppages are, along with how to identify them and how to address them both. - Roots: Tree roots can cause major problems if they grow into or through your sewer lines. Since roots can travel far from trees, they can cause a sewage backup even if you don’t have trees on your property. Once they grow into your sewer lines, the only way to fix the problem is to cut out the roots and then repair or replace the sewer pipe.
How To Address Frequent Backups
Addressing frequent backups in your home can potentially be a breeze, as there are many ways to do so. Some of the ways to fix constant backups in your home are:
- Repair the Pipes: Never despair, just repair! One of the first things you can do when experiencing frequent backups is to repair the pipes in your sewer system. There are several ways to repair your pipes, including an epoxy liner. Read these articles below to learn more about the different types of pipe repair to help you determine which is the best option for you and your home.
- Replace the Pipes: Replacing the old pipes in your sewer system with new ones is one of the ways to address the frequent backups in your home. Old piping material can break down, corrode, or crack, which causes back-ups. However, replacing all the pipes in your sewer system can be expensive, so another option we recommend is to replace the pipes that are causing the most problems for your home.
We also recommend that you have an experienced technician examine your system first to give you a better idea of where the source of your problem is.
- Sewer Descale: When you have a blockage in your sewer line, most of the time the blockage can be cleared using a snake. While a snake is an effective way to clear a blockage, this is usually only a temporary fix. Descaling your sewer line can help you clear out the build-up inside of your pipes to prevent future blockages. Check out this post here to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks sewer descaling poses on your home and if it is the best option for you.
- Hydro-Jetting: Hydro-jetting is another effective way to address frequent backups in your home. The machine is used to clean out a clog or blockage in your plumbing system pipes using up to four thousand PSI or pounds per square inch of water pressure. While any plumbing system can use a hydro-jet, it is used in both commercial buildings like restaurants for the built-up grease and sludge that is typically found in their pipes and residential homes as well that have a proper clean out.
Hydro-jetting also works well on roots that grow into your pipes as it spins and cuts the growing roots better than a snake would. Read this article here to learn more about what hydro-jetting is and how it works to better determine if this is the right way to address your plumbing issue.
Will BackUps Happen Again? How To Prevent BackUps
Although there are ways to address constant backups in your home, they still have the potential to come back, as some of the solutions are temporary fixes. The only sure way to stop the backups from happening again is to replace the pipes in your sewer system.
But now that you’ve stopped the backups, you must be wondering how to prevent them from happening again. We will tell you!
- Never pour fats, oils, celery, or coffee grounds down the drain, even if you have a garbage disposal.
- Avoid putting so-called flushable bathroom wipes in the toilet.
- Never flush disposable diapers or hygiene products down the toilet.
- Have your sewer line cleared every year to remove clogs and build-up.
- Have your sewer line checked regularly.
‘Backing Up’ Out Of Your Problems
Experiencing backups can be a pain, but it doesn’t have to be anymore. With all the information we have just provided, you should be able to make the best decision for your home when it comes to dealing with frequent backups. You now know why constant backups are happening in your home, how to address them, and the best way to prevent backups from returning is to replace your pipes
Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric is dedicated to helping you with any of your plumbing needs, including identifying the cause of frequent backups in your home. If you live in the L.A. area and are experiencing constant backups in your home, hit the ‘Book’ button below to request an appointment. If you have any other plumbing concerns, call us at (818) 213-1773, and one of our call center representatives would be happy to help you.
