Preventive Measures You Should Consider to Protect Your Sewer

Not all things that you use in your toilet are flushable. And one thing you should realize is the more you 
protect your sewer system, the less money you'll need to spend on cleaning your sewer system 
Muskegon. Protecting your sewer can be done in a variety of simple ways by everyone in your family. 
However, sometimes it's necessary to supplement your measures with professionally executed 
prevention sewer systems.

Sewer backup is more common these days due to an aging U.S. sewer system (domestic sewer lines 
are on average over 30 years old), that combine stormwater and raw sewage and old tree roots 
seeking moisture. 

There are a few preventative measures homeowners can take for sewer backup prevention. 

Maintain your sewer lateral. Most homeowners don’t realize it’s your responsibility to maintain the 
pipeline between your house and the city’s sewer main. A lateral that’s cracked, deteriorated or filled 
with tree roots will allow groundwater to seep in.Therefore causing a huge damage to your sewer line.

Dispose of grease properly. Don’t pour cooking oil or grease into the drain. These become solid 
obstacles once cool water washes through the pipes. Your drain will have a tough time swallowing 
them and your sewer system will suffer eventually. Instead, you should consider discarding grease in 
a plastic container or jar. This will not only prevent plumbing issues, but also help out the environment.

Dispose of paper products properly. Labels can be misleading. Paper towels, disposable and cloth 
diapers and feminine products take a long time to deteriorate and can clog the line. 

Consider plastic piping. Tree roots can’t break through plastic piping and therefore create a more 
secure line. Also, if you have continuing problems with tree roots in your lateral, you may have to 
regularly have the roots cut by a professional.

Correct illegal plumbing connections. Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to connect 
French drains, sump pumps, and other flood control systems to your sewer.  While common drainage 
systems, these illegal connections can cause debris and silt to clog your line. 

Consider a backwater prevention valve. Installed onto the sewer line in your basement, a 
backwater valve allows sewage to go out but not back in. When installed and maintained correctly, it 
can serve as a final line of defense in sewer backup prevention.

Elevate the grade around your house. By elevating the grade of your ground level around your 
home, you can drive the water to travel away from the foundation of your home instead of into your 
home.  You'll want to look at sidewalks, decks, and patios, and driveways for reverse water flow as 
well. All of these elements of your home may have eroded over time to bring water into the foundation 
of your home.

The most important thing you can do to protect your sewers is to invest in proper maintenance and  
Muskegon sewer system cleaning. If you are anywhere in these areas, West Michigan Septic 
Sewer & Drain will attend to your sewer system maintenance: Muskegon, Grand Haven,  
Whitehall, Holland, Coopersville, Allendale, and Twin Lake. 

Call these numbers for your sewer system cleaning needs!

Muskegon: 231-739-7423

Grand Haven: 616-847-1072

Whitehall: 231-893-4252

Holland: 616-392-8988

Coopersville: 616-837-1800

Allendale: 616-895-9080

Twin Lake: 231-828-5595