Main Causes of Blocked Sewers in Commercial Buildings and Ways to Prevent Them

28 September 2020

One problem that frequently occurs in commercial buildings is blocked sewers and drains. The occurrence of blocked sewers and drains can produce numerous effects on the buildings. For one, blocked sewers can release unpleasant odours to the air, which can make people uncomfortable, anxious, and irritable. The development of health issues may also occur due to blocked sewers. Without resolving these issues quickly, a commercial building may likewise risk its overall structural strength and integrity.

To help you get rid of blocked sewers, here are some of their main causes and ways to prevent them.

Tree Roots

If your commercial property is surrounded by trees, then the pathway of your sewers is most likely blocked by tree roots. You see, tree roots often crawl to find an additional source of water for their everyday survival. Since sewer lines have enough moisture and nutrients that are needed by the trees, then they will certainly reach these areas and subsequently, grow. Their growth will then lead to the blockage of the pipes. In some cases, these trees may even damage and break the sewer pipes.

One way to resolve the tree roots problem is to initiate drain clearing. The roots from the trees that block the pathway of the pipes must be cut apart and removed from the area. The removal of these trees is often carried out by saws or high-pressure water. Some trees might even need to be transferred to other areas.

Grease or Food Waste

Blocked sewers that are caused by grease or food waste build-up mostly occur in commercial buildings with kitchens. As some employees or kitchen personnel send huge amounts of food waste down the drain, the possibility of getting the sewer pipes blocked increases significantly. Pouring grease or hot water to the drained food wastes may help in flushing them down, but these waste products will only remain in the sewer line as they cool after a few hours and clog everything.

Directing employees to not send waste products on the drain can significantly help in preventing blocked sewers. However, if the sewers are already blocked, then they must now be cleared through rodding, high-pressure water, or any other physical removal method. Installing food screens and grease traps are great for preventing instances of blocked sewers in the future.

Solid Foreign Objects

Sending solid foreign objects through the toilets can also cause blocked sewers. All drain lines that are intended for bathrooms can only accept human waste and toilet paper. So, if other products are drained down through these lines, then the whole sewer line will most likely get blocked once it gets filled up. The common practice within bathrooms would be throwing trash on the trash cans. However, a lot of people do not follow this simple practice, which puts the sewer lines at risk.

Preventing employees and customers from flushing foreign objects down the bathroom is the best way to avoid blocked sewers. But just like the previous case, a blocked sewer must be cleaned through rodding, hydro-jetting, and any other physical removal method.

If your blocked sewers are not caused by these problems, then your pipes might have been corroded and have already obtained serious damages. In this case, you need to call for plumbing professional services so they can assess and perform necessary measures to fix and replace your pipelines.

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