Clogged bath tub drain

Image by njvack via Flickr

A clogged bathtub drain is another common plumbing problem homeowners face, but these drains should be left for the professionals because of where the trap is located. The P-trap on a bathtub is located underneath the tub which will put it in the joists between the bathroom floor and the ceiling of the level below it, or if the house is built on a slab the trap will be under the concrete. If you try to run a snake yourself you could damage the trap and have water damage to contend with plus having the trap repaired. It will be faster and cheaper in the long run to call a professional sewer and drain cleaning company. See one of my previous posts on selecting a sewer and drain service company. The most common cause of blockage in a clogged bathtub drain is hair. If you can keep the hair from going down the drain you should not have a lot of trouble with clogs. Your local hardware store should have several different types of hair snares or filters that fit on top of the drain.

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Grease trap maintenance for FOG

This post is mostly for the restaurant owners and managers out there. A major cause of sewer blockages across the United States is the accumulation of fats, oil, and grease (FOG) in the sanitary sewers. Many sewer districts across the U. S. have implemented a FOG control program. A major part of that program is grease trap maintenance. Grease traps or grease interceptors are installed outside of the restaurant and are underground with only the lid exposed for maintenance. These grease traps allow for the separation of FOG so it does not enter the sewer system. Grease traps only work when properly maintained, so proper grease trap maintenance is to have it pumped out and cleaned by a licensed grease hauler. Most grease haulers offer discounts on pumping if you sign up for their grease trap maintenance program. Penalties for non compliance of an implemented FOG control program range from fines to having your water shut off. It is extremely cheaper to set up a grease trap maintenance program with a grease hauler then to be in non compliance of a FOG control program.

Sump pump operation

Checking for proper sump pump operation in your home should be done regularly. The most common type of sump pump installed in homes today are submersible. They are installed in a pit usually in the corner of the basement or crawl space. Sump pumps carry the ground water and surface run off away from the foundation. If water is left to accumulate around the foundation it could be damaged. To check a submersible sump pump operation you manually engage the float to turn the pump on. On a pump with an external float, use a non-conductive household item that is lying around to pull the float up until it turns on, do not reach into the pit. On a pump with an internal float, unplug the double plug, remove the rear plug and plug it directly to the outlet. Once the pump has run for a few minutes check that the water was discharged at least 20 feet from the house. Proper sump pump operation should be checked at least twice a year and when the home is sold
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