Reducing Wastewater to Prevent Sewer Problems

If your home uses a city sewer system to handle wastewater, the cost of transporting and treating that wastewater is in part covered by the taxes you pay. Thus, taking steps to maintain and protect your sewer system is in your financial best interests. When you consider how many homes in your area use the city sewer system, it’s easy to see how improper usage or over-usage can cause backups and other problems that could affect your home. If you do experience a sewer backup or other problem, don’t try to repair it on your own. Contact a professional plumber immediately to handle the situation.

Never Flush Garbage

In many homes, toilets can take the place of garbage cans as an easy means to dispose of trash. Sewer problems have been caused by flushing diapers, baby wipes, feminine products, and waste paper or packaging down toilets and into city sewers and drains. One of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent sewer problems near your home is to never use a toilet in place of a trashcan. You should not flush any manmade material except for toilet paper, which is specifically designed to break up when wet to avoid causing clogs. Keep your toilet lid down when the appliance is not in use, and place a trashcan next to your toilet to avoid temptation.

Save Grease and Fat for Disposal with Solid Waste

Leftover grease, fat, and oil from cooking are often poured down the kitchen sink. However, these substances are only liquids when they are hot. As soon as they cool, grease, oil, and fat congeal into stubborn solids that can clog your home’s plumbing or your sewer system. Instead of disposing of cooking greases and fats down the drain, store them in a tin or other container to be thrown away with your regular trash. Alternatively, some areas have grease collection sites where you can bring cooking fats and greases for proper disposal to keep them out of the sewer system.

Install Low-Flow Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures reduce the amount of water usage in your home—and thus the amount of wastewater that flows into your sewer system. This can prevent over-use that may cause backups, especially during times of heavy rain or snow runoff. Low-flow fixtures are available in many styles and can be easily installed on your own to give your bathroom or kitchen an instant update. These fixtures use up to 40% less water than older fixtures and can significantly reduce the monthly cost of your home’s water usage. If your home’s toilets are ready for an update, consider installing low-flow toilets as well for an additional 20% savings in water usage.

Reducing your wastewater output and keeping drain-clogging debris out of your plumbing will help to maintain your city’s sewers and prevent backups that could affect your home. Visit our website to contact a plumber in Yavapai, Coconino and Maricopa Counties for more information or to schedule repairs and maintenance for your home. You can also find more plumbing information in the articles on the Mrs. Rooter blog.