Home owners: preventative pipe maintenance?

[blackangst1]

I just passed the one year mark in my home, and I was thinking. Is there any kind of preventative maintenance I should be doing as far as plumping goes to keep my pipes clean? Obviously the goal is prevent clogs.

What say you?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

If everything is working as it should, You don't need any maintenance after only one year.

 

[blackangst1]

If everything is working as it should, You don't need any maintenance after only one year.

Well, the house is 11 years old. New to me

 

[wirednuts]

dont pour grease down them of course. oil isnt as bad but it can mix with other stuff and make sludge too.

otherwise, no. theres really nothing you can do. theyre very resilient as they are.

oh, and if you have a garbage disposal, get rid of it. all they do is turn solid waste into sludge that can clog pipes. its better to just shove solids down the drain with water because every 10ft or so the pipes get bigger, so if it gets past the sink trap it will get past everything.

 

[Rastus]

I pour a cup of floor stripper down each drain each month. Disolves buildup, doesn't work for clogged drains. It's cheaper and the same stuff as the Drano maintenance stuff.

For the other pipes, have your wife clean them out. Rinse. Repeat.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Well, the house is 11 years old. New to me

There really isn't anything to do other than making sure the pipes are properly supported and joints are good. What type of sewer system do you have, city, septic tank or, ?

 

[Fritzo]

I clear my pipes 3-4 times a week.

Usually in the shower.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I clear my pipes 3-4 times a week.

Usually in the shower.

Only 3-4 times a week? Things sound a little packed.

 

[blackangst1]

There really isn't anything to do other than making sure the pipes are properly supported and joints are good. What type of sewer system do you have, city, septic tank or, ?

City

 

[feralkid]

dont pour grease down them of course. oil isnt as bad but it can mix with other stuff and make sludge too.

otherwise, no. theres really nothing you can do. theyre very resilient as they are.

oh, and if you have a garbage disposal, get rid of it. all they do is turn solid waste into sludge that can clog pipes. its better to just shove solids down the drain with water because every 10ft or so the pipes get bigger, so if it gets past the sink trap it will get past everything.

No.

Don't ever do this.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

City

Sounds like you're good to go. Other systems require more maintenance such as air ducts, furnace, hot water, eaves etc.

 

[NutBucket]

oh, and if you have a garbage disposal, get rid of it. all they do is turn solid waste into sludge that can clog pipes. its better to just shove solids down the drain with water because every 10ft or so the pipes get bigger, so if it gets past the sink trap it will get past everything.

WTF kind of backwards ass advice is this? Do you know anything about plumbing

 

[marvdmartian]

Is there any kind of preventative maintenance I should be doing as far as plumping goes to keep my pipes clean?

Good idea! I plump my pipes back up every year. Keeps 'em nice and round!! :whiste:

The only concern you really should have, IMHO, is if you have trees running close to your sewer line, and usually then ONLY if you have an older clay tile sewer line. Since your house is only 11 years old, it's likely your sewer line is plastic, so you should be good to go.

I have heard that if you have low-flow toilets, they do tend to not flush the sewer line quite as well as the older toilets that use more water. However, unless your lines are split up (gray water, i.e.-sink drains, and black water, i.e.-toilets), your shower water should be sufficient to keep the lines flushed. If you're worried about it, do a couple extra clear water flushes, per toilet, per month.

 

[blackangst1]

Good idea! I plump my pipes back up every year. Keeps 'em nice and round!! :whiste:

The only concern you really should have, IMHO, is if you have trees running close to your sewer line, and usually then ONLY if you have an older clay tile sewer line. Since your house is only 11 years old, it's likely your sewer line is plastic, so you should be good to go.

I have heard that if you have low-flow toilets, they do tend to not flush the sewer line quite as well as the older toilets that use more water. However, unless your lines are split up (gray water, i.e.-sink drains, and black water, i.e.-toilets), your shower water should be sufficient to keep the lines flushed. If you're worried about it, do a couple extra clear water flushes, per toilet, per month.

lol nice catch.

Thanks for the advice. I think Im good to go.

 

[SandEagle]

what about using Rid-X as a septic treatment? does that stuff work or is it snake oil in a box?

 

[Greenman]

dont pour grease down them of course. oil isnt as bad but it can mix with other stuff and make sludge too.

otherwise, no. theres really nothing you can do. theyre very resilient as they are.

oh, and if you have a garbage disposal, get rid of it. all they do is turn solid waste into sludge that can clog pipes. its better to just shove solids down the drain with water because every 10ft or so the pipes get bigger, so if it gets past the sink trap it will get past everything.

Wrong on every single point. The ground up stuff from a disposal mixes with water and flows quite well down the 1 1/2" pipe required for a kitchen sink.
Pipe size is determined by DFU's and code minimums. Sinks are 1 1/2", showers and washing machines are 2", toilets are 3". Those are all code minimums for individual units. Multiple units requires that you add up the total fixture units for everything on the line and use a pipe size rated at that amount.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

what about using Rid-X as a septic treatment? does that stuff work or is it snake oil in a box?

Snake oil. It's just adding enzymes which are in plentiful supply already.

 

[DrPizza]

With a garbage disposal, there are a few foods not worth grinding up - they tend to "stick" inside the pipes easier, even after the trap, if there's a relatively level area on the way to the stack. I'd recommend not grinding potato peels. Maybe others haven't had trouble, but I had to tear apart pipes in the basement two or three times as a result. Currently, septic system, therefore no garbage disposal. Chickens, so no need for one anyway.

 

[alkemyst]

No.

Don't ever do this.

He is upping his trolling lately.

 

[Leros]

With a garbage disposal, there are a few foods not worth grinding up - they tend to "stick" inside the pipes easier, even after the trap, if there's a relatively level area on the way to the stack. I'd recommend not grinding potato peels. Maybe others haven't had trouble, but I had to tear apart pipes in the basement two or three times as a result. Currently, septic system, therefore no garbage disposal. Chickens, so no need for one anyway.

I put some rotten asparagus down my garbage disposal last week. What a terrible mistake. I had to disconnect all of the plumbing under my sink to remove several clogs.

 

[alkemyst]

I put some rotten asparagus down my garbage disposal last week. What a terrible mistake. I had to disconnect all of the plumbing under my sink to remove several clogs.

Celery is one of the worst. I did this in college, thinking a disposal truly disposed all.

I felt bad so I paid for the remediation. They weren't going to charge me for it. I also gave my 2 neighbors downstream affected by this $20 which was a great night out in the UF area at the time.

 

[Leros]

Celery is one of the worst. I did this in college, thinking a disposal truly disposed all.

I felt bad so I paid for the remediation. They weren't going to charge me for it. I also gave my 2 neighbors downstream affected by this $20 which was a great night out in the UF area at the time.

My parents had a really nice garbage disposal. You could put anything down and it never clogged. They put bones, peach pits, etc down it. I made a lot of mistakes after moving out because I had come to expect that garbage disposals had no limits.

 

[CoachB]

I advise the following on a monthly basis for the kitchen sink:
Fill (to the top) the sink with HOT water, add one cup household bleach, pull the stopper.
The hot water loosens any built-up grease while the bleach cleans and sanitizes.
You can do this in bathroom sinks every so often to help flush out soap scum and hair, also.

 

[edro]

I have had a garbage disposal my entire life, on a septic tank. (at my parents' house and my house)
I have never had a problem or remember my parents having a clogged drain due to it.
We used it daily. You obviously scrape your plates in the garbage first, but any remnants are easily ground up, passed to the septic and eaten.
The bacteria and enzymes easily consume food waste.

You might have to pump your septic tank like 1% sooner than someone without a disposal... Instead of every 5 years, it might be every 4 years and 11 months...

Seriously... people looove to give advice based on hearsay.

 

[alkemyst]

I have had a garbage disposal my entire life, on a septic tank. (at my parents' house and my house)
I have never had a problem or remember my parents having a clogged drain due to it.
We used it daily. You obviously scrape your plates in the garbage first, but any remnants are easily ground up, passed to the septic and eaten.
The bacteria and enzymes easily consume food waste.

You might have to pump your septic tank like 1% sooner than someone without a septic tank... Instead of every 5 years, it might be every 4 years and 11 months...

Seriously... people looove to give advice based on hearsay.

what would the upper class be pumping if they don't have a septic tank?