4 Costly Plumbing Mistakes Every Utah Homeowner Should Avoid
Most homeowners do not think about their sewer line until something backs up, smells bad, or starts flooding where it should not. The problem is that by the time you notice it, the issue has usually been building underground for months or even years.
At Utah Rooter, we specialize in underground plumbing, sewer repair, drain cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer camera inspections, excavation, water main services, and the dirty work most companies try to avoid. We are a Utah-based, family-owned company built around solving the problems that happen below the surface.
This guide covers a few things every Utah homeowner should know before a small drain issue, sewer problem, pump failure, or plumbing emergency turns into a major repair.
1. Be Careful What Goes Down Your Drains
One of the easiest ways to avoid expensive plumbing problems is to be strict about what goes down your drains and toilets.
Toilets are not trash cans, and kitchen drains are not designed to handle grease, food waste, or anything that expands, hardens, or clumps together inside the pipe.
Avoid flushing or rinsing these items down your plumbing:
- Flushable wipes
- Paper towels
- Feminine hygiene products
- Egg shells
- Coffee grounds
- Fat, oil, and grease
- Rice, pasta, and food scraps
- Large amounts of toilet paper at once
Grease is especially bad because it usually goes down the drain as a liquid, then cools and hardens inside the pipe. Once it sticks to the inside of the line, it catches food, wipes, hair, and other debris until the drain slows down or fully blocks.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping fats, oils, and grease out of drains and disposing of them properly instead.
Homeowner Tip
Pour leftover grease into a disposable container, let it cool, and throw it away. Do not rinse it down the sink with hot water. Hot water only pushes the grease farther into the line before it cools and hardens.
If your drains are already slow, Utah Rooter can help with professional drain cleaning and hydro jetting to clear buildup safely.
2. Tree Roots Can Cause Serious Sewer Line Damage
Tree roots are one of the most common causes of sewer line problems in Utah. Roots naturally grow toward water and nutrients. If your sewer pipe has even a small crack, loose joint, or weak spot, roots can find their way in.
Once roots enter the pipe, they keep growing. Over time, they can catch toilet paper and debris, restrict flow, cause backups, and eventually break the line apart.
Signs tree roots may be affecting your sewer line:
- Multiple drains are slow at the same time
- Toilets gurgle when other fixtures are used
- Sewage smell inside or outside the home
- Recurring backups
- Wet or sunken spots in the yard
- You have mature trees near the sewer line
Depending on how bad the root intrusion is, the solution may be as simple as clearing the line, or it may require a more permanent sewer repair.
Temporary Solutions
Hydro jetting can remove many roots, grease, and heavy buildup from the line. This can restore flow, but if the pipe is cracked or broken, roots may return.
Permanent Solutions
Sewer lining, spot repair, or full excavation may be needed when the pipe is damaged, separated, collapsed, or heavily invaded by roots.
The best first step is usually a sewer camera inspection. This allows us to see exactly what is happening inside the pipe before anyone starts digging.
Utah Rooter specializes in sewer repair, trenchless options, and full excavation when needed.
3. Routine Plumbing Maintenance Can Save You Thousands
Most homeowners maintain their furnace, air conditioner, roof, and sprinklers, but almost no one thinks about their sewer line, pumps, water heater, softener, or filtration system until something fails.
A sewer camera inspection is a smart preventative plumbing service, but inspections are only part of the picture. Many plumbing systems also need routine maintenance, cleaning, and performance checks to keep them working properly.
This is especially important for Airbnbs, rental properties, basement apartments, and homes with sewage ejector pumps or sump pumps. These systems often get heavier use, and when they fail, the damage can happen fast.
Annual plumbing maintenance can include:
- Sewer camera inspections
- Sewer line cleaning and hydro jetting when needed
- Sewage ejector pump maintenance
- Sump pump maintenance
- Water heater checks
- Water softener maintenance
- Whole-home water filter checks
- Drain performance testing
- Pump cleaning and performance checks
A sewage ejector pump is a good example. If that pump stops working and someone keeps using the shower, sink, toilet, or laundry, the wastewater has nowhere to go. Even if the pump is not actively chopping waste at that moment, a non-working sewage ejector pump can still cause sewage to back up into the home.
Pump Alarms Can Help Prevent a Gross Mess
Utah Rooter can also help with pump alarm systems that notify you when a pump stops working. Similar to how a smart water shutoff system like Moen Flo can alert you to water problems, a pump alarm can send an alert to your phone so you can stop using water immediately before the backup gets worse.
Routine plumbing maintenance can help catch weak pumps, slow drains, sewer buildup, filter problems, softener issues, and water heater concerns before they turn into emergency plumbing repairs.
Utah Rooter offers plumbing maintenance plans for homeowners, landlords, rental properties, and short-term rentals that need dependable preventative plumbing service.
4. Know What To Do During a Sewer Backup or Plumbing Emergency
A sewer backup is one of the most stressful plumbing problems a homeowner can deal with. It can damage flooring, drywall, personal items, and create serious health concerns.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sewage and contaminated water can contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. That is why you should avoid direct contact and take the situation seriously.
If sewage is backing up, do this immediately:
- Stop using all plumbing fixtures.
- Keep children and pets away from the affected area.
- Avoid touching sewage or contaminated water.
- Do not keep flushing toilets or running sinks.
- Call a licensed plumbing professional right away.
The faster you stop using the plumbing system, the less wastewater you send into the blocked line. That can help reduce the amount of sewage that comes back into the home.
Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Valve Is
Knowing where your main water shutoff valve is may be the biggest money saver in a plumbing emergency. If you have a burst pipe, failed water heater, broken supply line, leaking fixture, or major water leak, shutting the water off quickly can prevent thousands of dollars in water damage.
Every homeowner should know where the main shutoff is, make sure it is accessible, and test that it works before an emergency happens. If your shutoff valve is stuck, leaking, buried, or hard to reach, Utah Rooter can help locate, repair, or replace it.
Utah Rooter can inspect the line, locate the blockage, clear the drain when possible, help with water main shutoff valves, and recommend the right repair if the pipe is damaged.
Why Utah Homeowners Call Utah Rooter
Underground plumbing requires the right equipment, experience, and judgment. Not every plumbing company specializes in sewer excavation, trenchless sewer repair, hydro jetting, underground diagnostics, water main services, and preventative plumbing maintenance.
Utah Rooter focuses on the work below the surface:
- Sewer repair
- Sewer replacement
- Drain cleaning
- Hydro jetting
- Sewer camera inspections
- Preventative plumbing maintenance
- Sewage ejector pump maintenance
- Sump pump maintenance
- Water main repair
- Water main shutoff valve replacement
- Trenchless sewer repair
- Excavation
- Underground plumbing diagnostics
Whether you are dealing with a sewer backup, slow drains, tree roots, a failing sewage ejector pump, water main concerns, or simply want to stay ahead of costly plumbing problems with routine maintenance, Utah Rooter has the equipment and experience to help.
Contact Utah RooterTrusted Utah Plumbing Help
Utah Rooter also works alongside trusted local plumbing professionals when a job requires additional residential plumbing services. For water heaters, water softeners, leak repairs, fixture replacements, repiping, water filtration systems, and everyday plumbing repairs, you can also visit Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Sewer & Drain , a trusted Utah plumbing company serving homeowners throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can flushable wipes really clog sewer lines?
Yes. Many wipes labeled as flushable do not break down like toilet paper. They can catch on rough pipe, roots, grease, and other debris, leading to serious sewer blockages.
How often should I have my sewer line inspected?
Most homeowners should consider a sewer camera inspection every one to three years. Older homes, properties with mature trees, Airbnbs, and rental properties may benefit from more frequent inspections and routine maintenance.
How often should a sewage ejector pump be serviced?
Sewage ejector pumps should generally be professionally maintained once a year. Annual cleaning, inspection, and performance testing help reduce the risk of unexpected failures and messy sewage backups.
What are the warning signs of a sewer problem?
Common warning signs include slow drains throughout the home, gurgling toilets, sewage odors, recurring clogs, water backing up into tubs or showers, wet spots in the yard, and sewage ejector pumps that cycle abnormally.
Can hydro jetting remove tree roots?
Hydro jetting can remove many roots, grease, and heavy blockages, but if the sewer pipe is cracked, separated, or collapsed, a permanent sewer repair or replacement may be needed.
Should I know where my home's main water shutoff valve is?
Absolutely. Quickly shutting off your home's water supply during a plumbing emergency can prevent extensive water damage and save thousands of dollars in repairs. Every homeowner should know where the main shutoff valve is located before an emergency happens.
Should I get a sewer inspection before buying a home?
Yes. A standard home inspection typically does not include a sewer camera inspection. Knowing the condition of the underground sewer line before closing can save you from expensive surprises after moving in.