How To Prevent Old Pipes From Clogging

6/21/2019 (Permalink)

Your polybutylene pipes may need extra care to drain properly

Here are Some Common Causes of Pipes from Clogging

All plumbing systems eventually need repair, but older systems may have more problems than those installed in the last 20-25 year. If your commercial building in West Glenn Estates, AZ, was built between the late 1950s and the early 1990s, chances are good that you have polybutylene pipes. While inexpensive to manufacture and install, these pipes tend to clog quickly, which can lead to deterioration and the need for water remediation services. Here are some of the common causes of clogs and how you can prevent them.

Causes

A sink clog is a localized problem that can usually be remedied with a drain snake. If you have a sewer line clog, however, the problem can get a little trickier to handle. Sewer line clogs can be caused by a number of factors:

• Buildup of drain sludge
• Root invasion from trees
• Inefficient system design
  

You may not be able to afford to tear out your whole system and install a new one, and if it's a rental, you probably aren't allowed to do so even if you can afford it. There are some things you can do to combat these issues, though.

Prevention

Preventing main line clogs in your polybutylene pipes involves regular maintenance. There are several things you can do to minimize your risk of clogs and the water damage they can cause:

Use an enzyme treatment. Unlike harsh chemical drain cleaners, enzymes eat away at the sludge that builds up in your drain. For best results, use them on all your drains at once.

Use a root treatment. You may not want to remove all your trees, but you can flush a root killer down your toilets to neutralize the roots that are invading your pipes.
Use caution when putting things down the drain. Other than water and soap, very few things should be put down the drain. Educate everyone in your building about proper drain care.

Your polybutylene pipes may need extra care to drain properly. With regular maintenance, you can prevent many main line clogs.