Prevention

Prevention Tips

Property owners have three effective strategies for preventing costly sewer backups into their homes or businesses.

Maintain your sewer system
You can avoid common problems with proper maintenance. Contact one of our Sewer Smart plumbing partners to schedule a simple and inexpensive (from $50 to $100) Sewer Smart Home Inspection to find any hidden problems.
- Find a participating licensed contractor in your area.
- DOs and DON'Ts for keeping your sanitary sewer running smoothly
Consider installing a backflow prevention device
Backflow prevention devices (BPDs) allow water and backup materials to escape from the cleanout rather than flowing into the home.
- More about backflow prevention devices (BPD)
- Frequently asked questions about BPD
Choose and plant trees carefully
Avoid planting trees that can spread roots that invade and clog your system.
- ABAG's sewer smart planting guide