In most homes, the toilet is one of the most commonly and daily used fixtures. A clogged up toilet leads to frustrated family members along with nasty and expensive problems. It gives rise to unhygienic living conditions and the annoying task of handling a sewage cleanup.
However, when faced with a sewer line backup or sewage cleanup requirement in your home or business, it’s best to get the professionals like Biosite Cleanup in to handle the cleanup.
Knowing why your drains get blocked or toilet backs up can be helpful.
Making sure that sewer backup doesn’t occur is the best way to save yourself a lot of headache and money. While there are some instances that may be uncontrollable, most of the toilet mishaps are usually common and can be controlled. Avoiding these toilet mishaps will prevent future instances of toilet backup and blocked drains. Here a list of some things to keep an eye out for….
Any broken or damaged pipes.
A damaged pipe will not be draining properly. Sewer waste can build up and back up when pipes fail to drain. Most older homes where the homeowners have worked on it themselves and pipes were not installed by a professional are more at risk.
A clogged or blocked bowl.
What won’t cause a clog is biodegradable matter like human waste and toilet paper. However a lot of other things shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. For example, a dead animal, plastic, or other solid debris. These are materials that won’t break down in water and hence cause a clog.
Avoid toilet paper and toilet wipes overload.
When there are small children in the household, they may a bit too enthusiastic with the toilet paper. They should be encouraged to reduce excessive use. Also avoid using super thick toilet paper.
Discard wet wipes in the bin.
Even though they may be labelled as flushable, wet wipes do not break down like toilet paper does. They often travel only a short way along the pipe and then create a blockage.
Discarded feminine hygiene products or cosmetic accessories.
Hygiene products made of cotton and other absorbent materials don’t lose their shape when wet. In most cases these materials expand. Cosmetic makeup pads and brushes should also never be discarded down drains. These items can not only be the cause of a clog, but can also be quite embarrassing.
Pouring oily, greasy or fatty substances down a drain.
Avoid pouring these down the drains as they solidify creating a barrier. The myth that running hot water simultaneously to flush them out of your pipes is untrue. These oily substances harden once the pipes get cool and they can trap other things that normally wouldn’t cause problems. Grease clogs that form far down the pipes can be very difficult to get rid of. They can even cause damage to the pipes.
Leaves, garden debris/waste and tree roots.
These items of nature can cause a lot of damage to sewer lines if left unattended. As a tree ages, its roots spread out further and deeper. In the process they can encounter and bust sewer lines and drainage, thus causing the sewer to backup.
Install gutter guards on roofs. Debris and leaves from the roof can get into the drains causing them to clog.
Flooding can be the cause of a lot of trouble.
Sewer lines backed up by flooding will contain more than your regular waste. This problem is even worse if the neighbourhood is flooded and if power goes out during the flood. Most sewer plants and treatment stations use power to keep return valves sealed. With no power to control these valves, all kinds of waste can flow back up pipes.
Hair and soap scumdown the shower or bath drain.
Always use a sink strainer in the kitchen. In the bath and shower utilise a hair strainer and clear hair build up regularly.
The nightly combination of soap scum and hair can catch hold of other substances which are attached to the drain wall. Complete drain blockages can occur as these clogs accumulate over time.
In most cases, a sewage backup is caused by preventable means. Pay attention to what goes into your toilets, drains and plumbing system. Acting at the first sign of slow drains or a pipe blockage could help you avert any disaster in your home or commercial property. You can prevent the expensive problems of repairs and sewage cleanup.
Nobody wants a blocked drain or sewer pipe. However, if you are unfortunate enough to experience one, contact the Sewage Cleanup team at Biosite Cleanup. Our sewage cleaners will study the type and extent of sewage damage. We will then devise a plan to fix the mess and then start the cleaning process.
At Biosite Cleanup, we provide you with a holistic service which involves complete disinfection and odour control. We ensure the affected area is left in a clean and liveable state.
We specialise in remediating the situation in residential and commercial premises. Our areas of operation are Goulburn, Canberra, Batemans Bay and surrounding areas of NSW. Reach us on 0409037634 or email us at bryan@biositecleanup.com.au.