Home ownership has been growing steadily. More first-time buyers are finally able to afford financing options for a home, and the semblance of the “American dream” is re-emerging after having been down and out due to previous economic hardships. But not all home buyers are living a carefree life behind pristine white picket fences with homemade pies cooling on the window sill. If you fail to perform routine plumbing inspections or care for your pipes, you may become the victim of a toilet backflow spill or a devastating pipe burst that would require instant help from a professional sewage cleanup company. By learning some basic plumbing care tactics and the dangers of sewage pipe problems you can help ensure that your home’s pipes are working safely and efficiently to expel waste water away from your home.

How can I Maintain my Plumbing?

You can maintain your plumbing by embracing these three principals: safe flushing practices, water tests and annual maintenance. All too often San Diego sewage backup companies respond to emergencies that resulted from inappropriate items being flushed down the toilet where clogs can form. Have a nice sit-down chat with the family and make sure nobody flushes the following items down the toilet:

• Disposable diapers
• Moist facial wipes
• Women’s sanitary products
• Condoms
• Paper towels
• Cotton balls
• Hot oil or grease

When harsh paper products get flushed they can cause a pipe clog that, in turn, can cause sewage backup and create a pressure point sending black water spilling out of your toilet. Also, flushing your leftover cooking oil down the toilet may seem innocent enough, but when oil gets flushed it clings to the side of your pipes and can cause buildup that may eventually cause your pipes to break or form a blockage.

When it comes to protecting the life of your plumbing, be sure to check your water for hardness at least once a year. If hard water is present in your home mineral deposits like calcium can build up inside pipes and cause blockage. If you notice white flaky bits on your shower heads of faucets, you likely have a hard water problem. You can pick up a water tester at any home improvement store, and if hard water is present you can add a water softener once every six months to restore it and keep it thriving at a normal reading.

Finally, have a professional plumber check your pipes at least once a year. These trained techs can go into hard-to-reach places like your crawl space and replace any parts that are showing wear. If you call a water damage restoration company that dispatches certified plumbers and that offers a free inspection, you will be getting the best treatment because if the technician does discover some water damage from a slow leak they will be able to remediate the problem on the spot.

How do I Clean Black Water?

You should never try to clean a black water spill on your own. Sewage has a number of bacteria and germs including E Coli, and if it comes in contact with your skin it can make you very sick. Furthermore, homeowners are not trained in cross-contamination preventative methods nor do they have the right equipment and chemicals to remove 100 percent of the mess. In several cases homeowners will try cleaning black water on their own but they are never able to fully dry the damaged area. As a result mold removal teams will have to come out and destroy the deadly spores while ensuring the area has been properly disinfected.

If you experience any sewage damage, call a professional team to come to your rescue. There are no frills with toilet spills, and if yours isn’t properly cleaned and dried, you may just be knee-deep in a world of….