The best prevention is being mindful of what goes down your drains and having them professionally cleaned before problems start.
In kitchen sinks, avoid putting grease, coffee grounds, or food scraps down the drain, even with a garbage disposal. In bathrooms, use drain screens to catch hair and soap buildup. Never flush anything besides toilet paper and waste—no wipes, feminine products, or “flushable” items that aren’t actually flushable.
For homes in Arden-Arcade with older plumbing, we recommend annual main line cleaning to prevent root intrusion and buildup. It’s much cheaper to maintain your drains than to deal with emergency backups, and it gives us a chance to spot potential problems before they become expensive repairs.