Things You Will Need
Keeping these residential water pipes clear of gunk will lessen the likelihood that sewage will overflow into your home through your drains, creating a stinky mess. If they are already dirty, locate the main pipe that runs from your house to the sewer (called a lateral) and use an auger to clean the debris and/or buildup. If the pipes are in good shape, be proactive to keep them that way.
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Locate the lateral (main pipe running from your home to the main sewer line under the street) on your property's survey documents. If you do not already have these, contact the city planning or public works departments to get them. You can also locate the lateral by finding the cleanout, which is a pipe that runs from the lateral above ground on your property as an access point. Cleanouts usually have removable caps or plugs on the top.
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Set a container below the cleanout before loosening the plug or cap enough to let water and waste flow into it.
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Wait for the water/waste to stop flowing. Remove the plug/cap and insert a drain pipe auger (also called a sewer snake).
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Rotate the auger reel clockwise and push the auger wire into the lateral through the cleanout. Stop every few inches to turn on the water and wash out the debris that was broken up by the auger.
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Use a drum auger, a motorized plumber's auger with removable blades on the end, to cut through tree roots and other major clogs. The blades will readily break plastic or copper plumbing, so use with caution or hire a professional to do it for you. Some drum augers come with cameras attached to the end allowing the user to see the inside of the residential water pipe.
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Routinely pour boiling water down your kitchen, bathroom and laundry drains to keep them clear of debris. If clogs form, pour 1 cup of baking soda and then 1 cup of ammonia down the clogged drain. Immediately flush with at least 2 quarts of boiling water.