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Yes—your local septic company can clean your septic leach lines with a sewer jetter, a device that pumps high-pressure water through the lines to blast out any clogs and scum buildup. Unless there’s a clog or blockage in the lines, however, you do not need to perform this maintenance regularly. Do not attempt to clean your own leach lines, as you could easily damage them, leading to very costly repairs.

A sewage smell in your crawl space is usually from a damaged or clogged pipe leaking sewer gasses or actual sewage underneath your home, but there are some other common causes. Moisture, from poor or damaged encapsulation or a malfunctioning sump pump, can harbor mold and bacteria, causing a musty smell. Pests can also get stuck in your crawl space and die, which causes a sewage-like odor.

Using less toilet paper is the easiest way to prevent future clogs. Also, avoid flushing sanitary products, thick paper towels, or hair down the toilet. If you’ve been using a brick in the tank to reduce the water used to flush the toilet, take it out immediately. Bricks will eventually fall apart and clog your toilet drain. Keeping your toilet lid closed also helps avoid future clogs.

If you have a sink stopper, it can feel more challenging to clean the drain without removing it, but here are a few simple steps:

• Pour ½ cup baking soda into the drain using a funnel

• Pour 1 ½ cups vinegar into the drain

• Close the sink stopper for 15–20 minutes

• Open the drain

• Pour 2 cups of boiling water down the drain (be cautious as boiling water can damage some types of pipes)

If the drain isn’t unclogged, repeat the process.