Through the year

January
After holiday cooking and guests, watch for slow lower-level drains. Refill floor drain traps that dried out with the furnace running.
March
Check the outdoor cleanout cap after snow melts; mowers and snow shovels knock caps loose. Look for soggy spots over the lateral.
April to May
Before spring storms, confirm downspouts and any sump pump discharge outdoors, not into a drain. Inspect a backwater valve if you have one.
June to August
Trees are growing hard. If your home has a history of root intrusion, this is when slow drains tend to return. Book any scheduled root cleaning.
September
Good time for a camera inspection on an older lateral before the holidays. Weather is mild for any excavation.
November
Before Thanksgiving, remind the household about grease and wipes. Clear disposal habits before the busiest kitchen weeks.
December
With extra guests, put a lidded bin in every bathroom and tell visitors what can be flushed.

Any time of year

  • Know where the cleanout and main water shutoff are
  • Keep a water alarm on the floor next to the basement floor drain
  • Keep basement storage up on shelves or in plastic bins
  • Keep the sewer provider's emergency number with your utility account
  • Save your policy's declarations page where you can find it
  • Keep a short note of past line cleanings and camera inspections, with dates and findings

Why a calendar helps

Sewer laterals do not fail at random. Grease builds up after the heavy-cooking holidays, roots push into joints during the growing season, and short intense storms stress the system in late spring and summer. Lining up simple checks with those triggers is cheaper than any cleanup. The routine matters most for older homes in south Thornton and Northglenn, but newer homes benefit too: a new PVC lateral will not grow roots, yet it still clogs from wipes and grease.

Treat the calendar as a reminder, not a rule. If drains run slow in any month, do not wait for the scheduled check.

If a check turns something up

  • IfCleanout cap is cracked or missingThenReplace it right away; it is an open path for rain and debris.
  • IfFloor drain trap keeps drying out quicklyThenAsk a plumber about a trap primer or a trap seal insert.
  • IfLower drains slow again within months of a cleaningThenSchedule a camera inspection.
  • IfBackwater valve flap is stuck or fouledThenClean it if accessible, or have a plumber service it.

General information for Thornton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.