How to Prevent Sewer Line Clogs
Waterbury's homes are old, with a median build year of 1959, and 52.9% of units sit in buildings with two or more units. Grease, wipes and roots collect gradually, and a clog in a shared line can reach every apartment it serves.
Everyday Habits for a Clear Line
Keep grease and wipes out
Let cooking grease cool, then scrape it into the trash rather than the sink. Only toilet paper belongs in the toilet; so-called flushable wipes and paper towels catch in the pipe. Strainers keep food scraps out of drains.
Spot the warning signs early
Toilets that gurgle, more than one slow drain, a sewer smell or a tub filling when the washer runs can mean a main line clog. Skip chemical openers when the line is backed up.
If the main line backs up
Stop using water once a second drain backs up. If neighbors report backups too, contact the City of Waterbury's Water Pollution Control; if not, a plumber can scope your line. Tenants should tell the owner.
Call a sewer plumber before the basement floods.
Let cooking grease cool, then scrape it into the trash rather than the sink. Only toilet paper belongs in the toilet; so-called flushable wipes and paper towels catch in the pipe. Strainers keep food scraps out of drains.
Spot the warning signs early
Toilets that gurgle, more than one slow drain, a sewer smell or a tub filling when the washer runs can mean a main line clog. Skip chemical openers when the line is backed up.
If the main line backs up
Stop using water once a second drain backs up. If neighbors report backups too, contact the City of Waterbury's Water Pollution Control; if not, a plumber can scope your line. Tenants should tell the owner.
Call a sewer plumber before the basement floods.