Timeline for Sewer Maintenance

Sewer lines are among the most underappreciated elements of any household. They are responsible for carrying waste away from your home and leading them to the proper disposal unit. If those sewer lines are not in working order, you and everyone inside your household will become aware of it very quickly.

Staying in a home with malfunctioning drain lines can be a nightmarish experience. You need to avoid putting yourself in that kind of situation.

Diligent sewer maintenance can help you avoid those issues. You can learn more about this important topic below.

How Often Do Sewer Lines Need To Be Cleaned?

Cleaning your sewer lines is an important part of home maintenance. So, when should you clean your sewer lines?

Generally speaking, sewer line maintenance becomes a necessity 18 to 22 months after the last cleaning. Try to make a note of that in your calendar so you don’t move past the deadline without taking action.

Now, we should emphasize here that the timeline above is a general recommendation. It’s the appropriate timeline for sewer cleaning if we assume that your home’s maintenance needs are in line with established averages.

As we all know, things don’t always work out that way. Your drain lines may already require cleaning just a year after they were last serviced. In some cases, cleaning may not be needed for a long time.

If you want to stay on top of your sewer line maintenance, accounting for other factors will also be necessary.

What Are the Signs That Your Sewer Lines Require Cleaning?

What is the best advice for when to clean sewer lines? We argue that it’s something as simple as “be observant.”

As we noted above, the 18- to 22-month timeframe for sewer line cleaning is a generalized recommendation. Your household’s cleaning needs could end up differing significantly from that.

Instead of strictly following that recommendation, you can observe your sewer system and note what it tells you. Cleaning your sewer lines is necessary if you notice the signs detailed below.

Water Is Draining Slower Than Normal

The sight of water draining in your bathroom is probably something you’ve seen countless times. That’s why it will be easy for you to tell if the water is draining slower than normal.

Slow-draining water is a sure sign of trouble. Place a call to your plumber because your sewer lines likely need cleaning already.

Water Is Not Draining at All

Clogged sewer lines may also prevent the passage of water altogether. At this point, your bathroom may be rendered unusable. Your only option is to get your sewer lines cleaned as soon as possible.

Your House Is Starting to Smell of Sewage

The smell of sewage is unpleasant. If your drain lines are clogged, that smell will start to fill up your home. Removing the clogs is the only way you can permanently expel those foul odors.

 Water Is Pooling in Your Basement

The current state of your basement can also clue you in to the status of your sewer lines. Water pooling on your basement floor is a clear sign that there is something wrong with your sewer system.

Sewer maintenance is something you cannot afford to neglect. Hopefully, the information we’ve provided here will help you understand your sewer maintenance needs better.