Maintenance of Private Sewer

There are some things you can do to help keep your sewer functional with a little maintenance from time to time.

Gravity sewers are generally pretty maintenance free with the exception of a few items.

• Make sure that you don't have any illegal connections
  • Things like downspout and outside surface drains to the sewers can flood the sewer and your structure
  • Sump pumps can over take the public sewer easily and in turn flood your property with wastewater.
• Make sure clean outs are protected and properly sealed.
  • Cleanouts are found inside and outside of most structures.
  • A cleanout on the outside of the house can be broken by lawnmower or vehicles driving over them.
    • Make sure your cleanouts are watertight and airtight
    • You may have more than one cleanout if your structure is more than 100 feet from the public sewer.
• If you have a slow draining sewer but it work after it is jetted by the plumber every few months you have an issue.
  • This could be tree roots, broken pipe, separated pipe segments or other issues.
  • Pipe materials such as transite and orange burg were used in the area and very poor sewer matierals.
  • Clay pipe is allowed, but usually has joints every three feet allowing several places for roots to enter the sewer.

Pumps, Lift Stations and Ejectors

• The pit or wet well should be cleaned every few years.
  • Grit, sand and small rocks can get into the pit and can shorten the life of your pump.
  • If you are not mindful of your grease, you could plug up the pit and the pump with grease.
  • Verify there are no roots growing in to the pit an no other issues with the pit.
• Test the Alarm System
  • Most of these systems have an alarm for high water.
  • Recommend you test the alarm at least once a year.
  • Mark sure the audibale alarm is working and any light alarm as well.