Sewer and Drain Tips

To keep your plumbing bills down, do ...

• Use toilet tissue that says on the package that it is safe for standard septic and sewer systems. Examples: Angel Soft, Cottonelle, Scottissue
• Avoid flushing sanitary napkins, facial tissue, disposable wipes and other non-flushable items down the toilet.
• Routinely clean in and around bathroom with appropriate cleaners. Keep cleaners out of the reach of children.
• Pour bleach into toilet bowls and drains before bedtime and flush or rinse in the morning. This should be done every month.
• Remove hair and other materials from drain.
• Use CLR Cleaner to remove calcium, lime and rust from shower head and other areas as needed.
• Use simple household ingredients such as baking soda and/or vinegar instead of burning a hole through the clog with industrial lye or acid. Lye or acid products can harm health, the wastewater stream, and PVC pipes.
• Sanitize the kitchen sink drain, disposal and connecting pipe periodically by pouring down the sink a solution of 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of chlorine bleach in 1 quart (about 1 liter) of water or a solution of commercial kitchen cleaning agent made according to product directions. Food particles get trapped in the drain and disposal and, along with the moistness, create an ideal environment for bacterial growth.
• Avoid pouring grease, oil and food down the drain. This clogs your drain just like your arteries! If your water drains much slower from the sink, you must clean the drain. Empty one-half cup baking soda down the drain, followed by one-half cup white vinegar. Cover the drain and let mixture stand for a few minutes. Then pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. The baking soda and vinegar dissolve fatty acids and keep your drains smelling fresh.
• Avoid pouring chemicals like paint, paint thinner, motor oil or other automotive fluids, hot wax or other substances down the drain. Dumping acid into your septic tank system is against the law.
• Clean strainers that collect food in the kitchen and hair in the bathroom.
• Use a plunger to clear a clog under the sink. If it doesn't clear a clog, you may need to clean the trap. If the trap is clean, you may need a sewer snake. If more than one drain is clogged, you'll need to clean out the main drain line or the sewer.

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