Dallas Sewer Line Cleaning: Preventative Maintenance Guide

Most of our Dallas sewer line cleaning customers call us with the same concern: “How do you perform preventative maintenance on sewer lines? I don’t want to fix a plumbing problem — I want to make sure it never happens!”

We agree — a regular main line cleaning schedule ensures that small clogs and intrusions in your sewer line get cleared before you need underground pipe repairs. Our master plumbers helped create this preventative maintenance guide for proper Dallas sewer line cleaning.

Mother Modern Plumbing offers fast, expert DFW sewer repair, replacement and cleaning services using advanced trenchless technology. Whether it’s an inspection or repair, we provide minimally invasive plumbing service options in one appointment on one day.

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5 Major Dallas Sewer Line Cleaning Issues

The natural landscape and geography of Texas creates some built-in sewer line problems unique to our region. Living in a major metropolitan area like Dallas-Fort Worth adds extra challenges to maintaining a clean, clear sewer line.

These are the 5 biggest Dallas sewer line plumbing issues:

1. Tree root intrusion
2. Expansive clay soil
3. Old pipes and aging infrastructure
4. Heavy rainfall
5. Increased frequency of freezing events

These 5 issues are the leading causes of sewer line clogs and repairs in the Dallas area. The average DFW resident saves $450-$800 by avoiding sewer clog repair service.

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Live oak tree root intrusions in sewer lines

Dallas has some of the most beautiful trees in America. But many of these tree species have massive root systems — especially our live oaks.

These root systems are in constant search of nutrition. And sewer lines are full of the organic material they crave. That’s why tree root intrusion is a constant plumbing issue for Dallas homeowners that creates frequent pipe clogs.

Proper sewer line cleaning ensures you have clear pipes. This ensures that tree roots won’t find the nutrients they want, so they have no reason to cause underground pipe breaks.

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Expansive clay soil shifts your underground pipes

Clay soil is naturally expansive. It shifts, expands and settles based on the amount of moisture in the ground. Dallas-Fort Worth is built on a bed of this expansive clay soil.

The result? Underground pipes are subject to constant stress as the soil around them shifts, grows and contracts. 

The average lifespan of a sewer line in DFW can be up to ⅓ shorter than the national average (50 years vs. 75 years) — that’s due in large part to moving soil.

Dallas has a problem with old sewer pipes

The older a city gets, the more its infrastructure ages. The Dallas Business Journal reports the average Dallas home is 41 years ago — that means most houses have sewer pipes that are 40+ years old as well.

The average home sewer line in DFW is near (or past) its expected lifespan, so cracks and deterioration are bound to happen. Create a proper cleaning schedule for your home’s sewer pipes, and ensure they last as long as possible.

Heavy rainfall affects underground plumbing systems

The City of Dallas has an average rainfall of almost 35” per year — that’s about as much as Seattle! Where Seattle has steady drizzles, Dallas experiences intense rainstorms that produce heavier rainfall in short bursts.

These heavy periods of rain wreak havoc on our clay soil — you’ve probably noticed puddles and flooding in your backyard. 

This places stress on your underground pipe systems through increased soil pressure and infiltration that adds debris to your sewer line.

More freezing events = more pipe damage

It’s not just you — Dallas winters are getting colder. The more freezing events we experience, the more potential damage occurs to your plumbing system.

If your sewer line has existing small cracks, water inside your pipes can freeze. This ice mixes with debris to form expansive clogs that restrict wastewater flow and cause sewer backup.

Your 5 Step Sewer Line Cleaning Maintenance Plan

Most Dallas area sewer line issues can be avoided with preventative maintenance! 

Create a sewer line service plan with your DFW plumber to ensure proper water flow, reduce sewer clogs and extend the lifespan of your home’s plumbing system.

Here are the 5 steps in an effective sewer line cleaning maintenance plan:

1. Assess your home and your sewer pipes
2. Establish a regular cleaning schedule
3. Target specific sewer line concerns
4. Monitor warning signs and red flags
5. Learn preventative maintenance best practices

Assess your home and sewer pipe system

Start your sewer line cleaning strategy with an assessment of your plumbing system. Answer the following 10 questions about your home, pipes and sewer line:

1. How old is your house?
2. How old is your plumbing system?
3. Do you have copper, galvanized steel, PVC or PEX pipes?
4. When was the last time your pipes were replaced?
5. When was the last time you needed sewer line repair?
6. How many people live in your household? 
7. What is your average daily water usage?
8. Do you have a lot of trees near your sewer line?
9. How often do you experience clogs and backups in your plumbing system?
10. Do you have a whole house water filter or water softener?

Ask Mother Modern Plumbing for a no-dig sewer line inspection. We offer a sewer camera inspection, infrared thermography (thermal imaging), acoustic and electronic leak detection — all in one easy appointment with no digging or trenching.

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Establish a sewer line cleaning schedule

We suggest having your sewer line cleaned once every 18-24 months for optimal performance. 

If you have existing clog and backup issues, you may want to consider associated plumbing services to resolve issues from your home all the way to the city sewer. Talk to us about these related plumbing service options:

• Professional drain cleaning service
• Drain pipe cleanout
• Drain repair
• Toilet repair
• Water line repair

Target your specific sewer concerns

Tell your Dallas plumber about specific concerns you have regarding your sewer system. We’ll help create a customized sewer cleaning plan based on your household’s daily routine.

Here are some questions to consider about your home’s sewer line and drains:

• Are you worried about tree root intrusion? 
• Do you flush fats, oil and grease down the drain regularly? 
• Does your home have a particularly old plumbing system?
• Do you have existing galvanized steel or copper pipes?
• Is your backyard flooding more often than usual?

Monitor sewer line warning signs and red flags

Here are 7 red flags that indicate potential sewer line clogs and breaks:

1. Slow drain performance 
2. Gurgling sounds
3. Foul smells in your sink and drains
4. Sewage backup in floor drains
5. Pest infestation in your grease traps and p traps
6. Foul smells in your backyard
7. Strange puddles and flooding in your backyard

Learn best practices for sewer line maintenance

You can extend the lifespan of your sewer pipes by avoiding clogged drain and toilet problems. (You'll save money on Dallas drain cleaning, too!)

Here are some helpful tips to keep your sewer line clean and free from clogs.

• Never pour grease down your sink drains
• Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps
• Keep a clear, clean garbage disposal
• Only flush toilet paper down the toilet
• Use enzyme drain cleaners once per month — avoid chemical drain cleaners

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Create Your Dallas Sewer Line Cleaning Schedule Now

Schedule Dallas sewer line cleaning once every 18-24 months to prevent sewer clogs, broken pipes and sewage backups. You’ll maintain proper wastewater flow away from your home and into the city sewer system where it belongs.

Our expert local plumbers work with you to create a customized plan for sewer line maintenance. We’ll talk about issues specific to your Dallas property, like live oak tree root intrusion or stress caused by expansive clay soil.

Mother Modern Plumbing delivers clean, clear sewer lines — and peace of mind.

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