Sunny to partly cloudy. High around 80F. Winds light and variable..

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.

There is nothing more troublesome than a plumbing issue. Keep reading for some of the most common reasons your sewer backs up and how to avoid them.

There is nothing more troublesome than a plumbing issue. Keep reading for some of the most common reasons your sewer backs up and how to avoid them.

You have likely had the unpleasant experience of a slow-moving drain, whether in the shower, tub, sink, or all three. No one likes to see remaining bits of soap and muck leaving a ring around their sink due to how long it takes to drain.

We want our drains to do their jobs because when they don’t, it’s extremely noticeable.

You might wonder what’s going on down there to make things go so slowly. Keep reading for the most common reasons your sewer backs up.

Did you know that your existing sewer system could be the cause of your slow drains? Your home likely uses the sanitary sewer system as it is one of the main types of sewer systems used for residential areas.

However, that is not always the case, and your unique system could be causing your problems.

Backup due to your sewer system is more common in cities as they tend to use a combined sewer system. A combined sewer system collects wastewater and rainwater in the same pipes, which leads to an increased risk of damaged or backed-up pipes.

Yes, really — tree roots are among the most common reasons for sewer backups.

These tall and mighty pillars of nature tend to have massive roots that can extend out nearly five times more than their radius. Although this is natural, these incredibly strong roots can force their way into your sewer line, which can cause a whole host of problems.

The roots’ weight and winding nature can easily crack, crush, and damage your pipes.

Many of us tend to look at our pipes as miniature black holes that make everything we don’t want to see disappear.

However, the truth is that sewer pipes are quite delicate, vast, and intricate. We can’t put just anything down the drain and expect it to move along easily.

Avoid putting wet wipes, napkins, or feminine hygiene items down the toilet as they can easily cause a clog. This can be difficult for some as it seems second nature, but these minor changes will save you so much time, energy, and money in the long run.

Our reporting empowers people to individually and collectively achieve progress in our region. Help make free, local, independent journalism sustainable by becoming a Source Member.

Headlines from Ashland County, delivered 2x / week.

Ashland area business news and property transfers sent to your email at the beginning of every month.

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

Invalid password or account does not exist

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.

Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

A receipt was sent to your email.