All About Commercial Main Sewer Line Clogs

sewer line

Not many things will cause a business owner to close his or her doors. One of them would be a clogged main sewer line. Businesses can’t function when sinks, toilets, and any other water-using devices can’t drain. For example, imagine owning a Lubbock, TX restaurant that can’t wash dishes or have a bathroom for your customers to use. Armstrong Mechanical wants to make sure these commercial plumbing disasters don’t cripple your business.

Leading Causes of Clogs

Right now, many of you may be asking the question, “How can a sewer line get clogged?” Here is a closer look at some of the most common reasons and how the clogs happen:

  • Tree roots continually hunt for water because they need it so the tree will grow big and tall. This means they often target sewer lines. The roots can actually grow inside the pipe and block it or even break the sewer line.
  • Grease and oil in the drain are huge problems for all sewer lines, but especially for many businesses, restaurants, commercial kitchens & automotive shops to name just a few. Many people mistakenly believe they can put grease and fats down the drain if they run hot water. Instead, it just causes problems further down the sewer line when the grease and oil cools inside the pipe. Every business should have some method of storing grease and oil so it can be properly disposed of or recycled. 
  • Toilets are not trash containers and you and your employees must act accordingly. Here are some rules to live by:
    • Only human waste and toilet tissue should be flushed
    • So-called flushable wipes really aren’t
    • Paper towels are not toilet paper and should not be flushed
  • Water damage is possible in commercial sewer lines because the high volume of water can cause corrosion, leaks, and even burst pipes. This is more likely if your building uses older steel pipes.

Know the Warning Signs

The best way to prevent a commercial plumbing disaster is learning to recognize the problem before it shuts your business down. This includes:

  • Backups and slow drainage are typically easy to spot. When a drain is clogged or backing up you should have a plumbing professional inspect your drain and/or sewer line. This is especially true if multiple drains are backing up or draining slowly.
  • If strong sewage smells are coming from multiple plumbing fixtures, it’s a good sign your sewer line is blocked. Don’t mess around with this situation as it means raw sewage and germs could be entering your building. Call a plumber immediately to fix the problem.
  • The sewage cleanout in your building should be free from water. The cleanout is a vertical pipe directly connected to the main sewer line. Unscrew the cap with caution, there could be some pressure build up and inspect the cleanout. If there is water backed up into the cleanout, you should contact a commercial plumbing repair company to inspect the sewer line.

Armstrong is Ready to Solve Your Problem

Don’t let commercial plumbing issues force you to close the doors on your Lubbock, TX business. If you are experiencing problems with your sewer line Armstrong Mechanical offers video inspections, professional drain cleaning, and sewer line replacement or re-piping. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more great information.