Your sewer should run without any need for intervention, but even this highly durable piece of plumbing needs routine maintenance. Sewer maintenance protects your home as well as your neighbors and the general public. You see, without proper maintenance, sewer lines can leak and contaminate the water supply, damage the environment and harm both people and wildlife.

Taking care of your sewer line will help you avoid these health risks and stay safe.

Water Contamination

One of the biggest health risks of poor sewer maintenance is water contamination. When the sewer leaks, waste affects nearby groundwater, eventually reaching the water supply. This can affect not only your home but also neighboring properties. Although cities have purifiers in place to protect the water supply, a leaking sewer line can still affect people by exposing them to harmful bacteria and viral particles.

Maintaining your sewer line and addressing any concerns as quickly as possible is the only way to prevent serious consequences.

Sewer Gas Poisoning

You can get sick from any type of sewage exposure, including breathing in sewage backup. Sewer gas poisoning is an illness that occurs when sewer gases affect a home and displace oxygen. Gases like hydrogen sulfide and methane are toxic, suffocating, and highly flammable.

In enclosed spaces, the presence of these gases can build quickly, leading to low oxygen levels. As a result, you can experience dizziness, trouble breathing and even sudden loss of consciousness.

Other signs of sewer gas poisoning include:

– Headache
– Nausea
– Eye irritation
– Poor memory
– Difficulty concentrating

Bacterial Infections

Being exposed to sewage backup can expose you or your family to harmful bacteria found in human waste. These bacteria can impact everything from your skin to your lungs. There are thousands of types of bacteria that live in your sewer. When there is a clog, the bacteria can build up and eventually return to the main lines in your home.

If the clogged sewer line affects your drains and backup, you could be exposed to these bacteria and develop a serious illness.

How Often Should You Maintain a Sewer Line?

Most residential sewer lines are fine with maintenance every 18 to 22 months. This is the best timeframe to schedule a sewer line cleaning that will flush debris and waste from the pipe, ensuring adequate flow and drainage.

If your sewer line is old or frequently clogs, you might want to schedule more frequent cleanings. A professional plumber can give you a personalized sewer maintenance schedule to keep you and your loved ones safe.

For expert sewer line maintenance in Asheville, NC, call the professionals at NCPD Service today.