...begins as each bathroom group,
bathtub/shower, toilet, sink, ties in to the same line as the next bathroom
group and then the washing machine ties in and the kitchen sinks and dish washer
and guest bath etc… ties into each other down the line into one main
pipe that exits the building.
Called the outside sanitary service
line, this pipe will travel across your property and connect to the sanitary sewer
main near the street. This sanitary service
line is the property owner's responsibility to repair and maintain all
the way out to the inspection chamber, just as if
it were inside the home .
The sewer inspection chamber is usually a vertical,
capped 200mm( 8") pipe that provides direct access to the
sewer system at the edge of the property.
It is very important that you do not obstruct access to the inspection
chamber with groundcover, material, building, fence or structure. The
sewer main line in the street serves your residence, your neighbor's
residence, and all the other homes and businesses on your street
and is maintained by the public service department. Your
wastewater system is like a small stream flowing into a small river,
which empties into a larger river, and so on until it reaches the
ocean, which in this case is your local wastewater treatment plant. Each
one of these little streams is affected by what is placed into
it and at each point may have it's unusual causes for stopping
up and require different tools and techniques to clear those stoppages.
| You, the customer are responsible for all normal
maintenance of the sanitary sewer service line on
private property as well as in the City right-of-way. Normal
Maintenance means the removal of materials
that are flushed or dropped/inserted down the sanitary
service line (including toys, baby diapers, etc.),
construction debris, and tree roots (that require
less than two roddings per year by an experienced/licensed
plumber that is in the right-of-way/easement). All
problems on private property are the sole responsibility
of the customer. If the plumber is unable to restore
service and feels that the blockage is in the right-of-way,
the customer needs to contact the Public Works Department
while the plumber is still on site, and a representative
will be dispatched immediately. If the blockage is
determined to be in the right-of-way and the plumber
can't get through, the City will determine whether
another plumber will be contacted at the City's expense
or an excavation will be initiated. |
For homes with a curb side two-way lateral cleanout:
If the problem is determined to be in the sewer lateral
within the public right-of-way,
the City will clean the lateral at no charge to the resident.
For homes
without an approved two-way curbside lateral
cleanout:
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Residents are encouraged
to install a two-way lateral cleanout. A cost-effective
time to install a cleanout is when a plumber is
already repairing or replacing a deteriorated or
root-damaged lateral. This will allow the City
and plumbers to maintain the sewer lines. If the
lateral requires replacement within the public
right-of-way, and without an approved cleanout,
it becomes the resident's responsibility.
If you
think your problem is out at the sewer
main , call the public service department
that services your area. |
Stoppages can and do occur in all points of your wastewater
system! The best way to inspect pipes is to get a close-up view.
Southwest Plumbing uses state-of-the-art
video equipment to pinpoint exactly what and where the problem is.
Our high tech video equipment can investigate sewer lines, water
lines, vacuum tubes, chimneys and storm drains - even in pipes as
narrow as 1.5 inches in diameter! With our highly sophisticated video
cameras, light sources and electronic equipment we can detect root
intrusion, faults and cracks in sanitary lines and storm drains.
We also locate valves, fittings and faults in water lines... No guess
work.
We
use and recommend these products for the health
of your wastewater system.
Follow these links to read more about these products |
| Bio
Clean |
Root-X |
| Common
causes of stoppages at points in the system |
- The
line that drains your kitchen sink is affected
by grease and
food
particles and may require a line cleaning device with
a
special tool to remove the stoppage, as well as
more
extensive measures further down the line.
- The
washing machine drain is affected by dirt,
lint & soap residues.
- The
tub, shower, and bathroom sinks can be affected
by soap
and
hair build up.
- The
toilet can be affected by any number of things
that people try,
and
do, flush down it. It may need to be cleared in place, or it
may
even need to be removed and the main line cleared.
|
The sanitary service
line from the house to the main sewer line can have
a combination of stoppages from all of the things
listed above, plus a multitude of other issues
and
can therefore be the most difficult to deal with.
| Causes
and Treatments of Stoppage in the Sanitary
Service Line |
-
Paper
products combined with grease and food
particles can
combine
to make a serious clog requiring high pressure
cleaning
and subsequent Bio
Clean treatments to scour
the
system
-
Root
intrusion can be cleared in the short term
(6months-1year)
using
a sewer head and a root retrieval head, followed by
a RootEX treatment
to kill the roots. In many cases the roots
have
gotten in because of a crack or break in the pipe
and
can have traveled 10 or more feet down the line, requiring
further
line replacement. click here for mor information on root intrusion
-
The sanitary
service line may have collapsed due to
the movement of the soil
and
require replacement.
-
The
line may have a dip in it from improper
installation causing water and material
to
be
trapped and clog the line, requiring a portion of the pipe
to
be replaced.
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| Who
and When to Call |
-
Sewer
Main Backups :
Call the public works representative
when you have a sewer main backup or
if you feel the problem is outside
the home. Someone will be dispatched
to check the sewer main at no charge
to you. If he plumbing service is
already onsite and is unable to clear
the sanitary service line on your property
all the way to the sewer main, call
the public works dept. before the plumber
removes his equipment from the lines.
-
Heavy
Rainfall Sewer Main Backups : It
is helpful to the public works authority
that you call when you have a rainfall
backup so the area can be analyzed possibly
reducing future occurrences. During prolonged
heavy rainfalls, it is common to experience
slower moving drains, until the system
catches up.
-
When
you do call a plumber : It's
a good idea to get price quotes from more
than one company, keeping in mind that
most companies charge more for nights,
weekends, and holidays. Ask if their work
is guaranteed and for how long. Be prepared
to furnish them with any history of sewer
problems, if there are large trees over
your sanitary service line and if your
sanitary service line is excessively long
(over
100 ft.),
to make sure the have the proper equipment
for the job.
-
You
should expect your plumbing service to
: Rod the system all the way from the cleanout
going into the house to the sewer main
at the street to effectively clean the
the service line.
-
The
Inspection Chamber and beyond : If
it is determined that the sewer main or
the connection is blocked, only the public
works forces have the authority to clear
their system. Only authorized personnel
are allowed to remove manholes, where unauthorized
entry is extremely dangerous and
strictly prohibited. Report missing, damaged
or noisy manhole covers to your public
works authority.
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