Keeping Leaves Off of Your Sewer
Fall is just around the corner. The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, and the leaves are starting to change color and fall off the trees. Unfortunately, as those leaves fall, many of those beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges also start to build up in the home’s sewage system.
While some homeowners may think putting it off isn’t a major issue, it can actually have a significant impact on your home’s functionality. This article will discuss the sewage system and how the simple task of sewer cleaning can help you protect your home.
What Exactly is The Sewer System?
An important part of any home's plumbing system is its sewer. Each home’s sewer system is a complex network of pipes and pumping stations that pick up and carry waste material and stormwater from the home and into a local receiving water area or sewage treatment plant.
There are two different types of sewer systems - combined or separate. With a combined sewer system, the pipes pick up both liquid and solid home waste as well as runoff water. In a separate sewer system, those are transported independently of each other.
Depending on where potential clog issues occur, the homeowner may be responsible for any sewer cleaning that may need to occur, even though some areas of the sewer system are owned and managed by the local government.
The Importance of The Main Drain Line
Clogs can happen at any point in the sewer system, from inside the home to outside in the large pipe system. However, it is important to know and recognize the difference between them.
Regular clogs can cause problems with a localized system, like a single toilet or sink. Clogs located in the main drain line, unfortunately, can impact much more than that. If a clog is located in that line, sewer cleaning is often not enough to dislodge it.
Signs of having one of these, more major clogs include having all of the plumbing in the house affected instead of just a single bathroom or area. Often, water will start actually backing up out of the sewer system and into the home. At this point, there is nothing that the homeowner can do but contact a plumbing company for emergency service.
The Dangers of Sewage Issues
In severe circumstances, a clog in the main drain line can actually cause raw sewage to back up from the sewer system and into the home itself. In addition to being an expensive problem for the homeowner, being exposed to raw sewage is also incredibly dangerous.
Preventable health effects related to this exposure can include being sickened by viruses like the rotavirus, bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, and parasites like Giardia intestinalis.
Homeowners who have been exposed to raw sewage may notice GI concerns like nausea and vomiting, and other symptoms like headache, fatigue, and fever. To avoid this health hazard, homeowners should regularly have sewer cleaning and inspections done by a licensed plumber.
Trust Your Local Experts
Knight Plumbing, Inc. is located in Milwaukee and has been serving homeowners for over 25 years. A family-owned and operated business, they employ only the friendliest and most knowledgeable staff in both Milwaukee and Racine County. They also offer emergency services, which can help with those unexpected sewer line issues.