A break in your water lines outside your home can be costly to repair, not to mention the damage you can suffer if your property floods and the water reaches your home. In some cases this break happens due to faulty connections in the lines, natural disasters such as small earthquakes, tree roots growing around pipes, or other circumstances outside your control.

However, there are many things that homeowners can do to keep their water and sewer lines in good repair, and things they should avoid doing as well. Consider a few of those here.

1. Avoid using chemical drain cleaners

If you have a clog in your bathtub, you want to avoid using chemical drain cleaners. These eat away at the clog but also eat away at your pipes. They can cause corrosion around the connectors in your home's pipes and even along the water and sewer lines outside your home. This corrosion can eventually cause a leak or even a burst pipe.

Clogs can be treated with natural means, such as a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, or with a sewer snake. These are safer and won't cause damage to the pipes if used properly.

2. Never put anything into the toilet that doesn't belong there

The toilet is meant to handle human waste, toilet tissue, disposable tampons, and nothing more. Toilet tissue and tampons are designed to break down in water so they can be flushed away. However, disposable diapers, paper towels, cigarette butts and items such as these do not break down and dissolve in the sewer lines and, in turn, they clog the pipes and can cause the water to back up. This increases the risk of ruptured lines. Don't use the toilet as a trash can and you can save on costly repair bills.

3. Have your home's plumbing inspected regularly

 It's good to have your home's plumbing, electrical wiring, and roof inspected every few years so you can see signs of damage before there is a major problem. You can arrange for a home inspection on your own, just as when you first buy a home, and have the inspector check for signs of water leaks behind your walls or tell you how old your pipes are so you know if you should think about having them upgraded. This can ensure you don't face any major repair work or problems with your plumbing that can back up into the streets and affect the water and sewer lines.

For more information, contact a local plumbing contractor, like Lavenders Contracting Ltd.