 | Tommy Steven is the President of Reddi Industries of Wichita. He manages the service departments of Reddi Root'r, M.K. Plumbing, Derby Plumbing and Andover Plumbing. He manages and works with both journeyman plumbers and licensed drain cleaners. He has been involved in the plumbing industry through the family business for over fifteen years, and has been the General Manager of Reddi Industries for the last six years. Mr. Steven regularly attends trade conventions and seminars to keep abreast of the latest technology in his field. You may call him at (316) 681-3382, or e-mail tommy@wichitausa.com |
Plumbing
2004-02-01 09:19:00
The 'roots' of the problem
: We just went through a huge mess with our sewer backing up in the basement. How could this have been avoided?
ANSWER: The two most common causes of sewer backups are roots in the sewer line and grease blockages. Know where your sewer line is located. Avoid planting trees and shrubs near the sewer line. Roots can creep into the sewer pipe, and over time, cause a blockage. If trees or shrubs have caused problems in the past, remove them, because once roots have breached your sewer line, they will, without a doubt, grow back. Typically, the best way to clear a blockage is to call a professional sewer cleaning service. Professionals use a highly specialized chemical process, and together with that, they will "cut" the roots from your sewer pipe. This process should be repeated annually to prevent trouble, such as backed up drainpipes and toilets. Many people don't realize it, but tree and grass roots grow more in the wintertime than the summertime, and that's when the majority of blockages occur. Try to avoid spending money on so-called "miracle" root killers. Not only are you using potentially hazardous chemicals, roots typically enter through the top section of the pipe, where chemicals sit on the bottom and seldom come in contact with the roots. Stop using the kitchen sink and garbage disposal for grease or food scraps. Vegetables, meat scraps, butter, cooking oils, and many other foods, deposit grease and solids that can build up in pipes, and eventually, create a blockage in your sewer line. Instead of putting food waste into a garbage disposal, scrape food waste from plates and pans into the garbage. Let melted oils used for cooking solidify in a container (empty juice cartons or coffee cans work well) on the counter or in the refrigerator before placing them into the garbage.
