5 WAYS PLUMBERS CAN CLEAR YOUR BLOCKED DRAINS
Clogged and slow-moving drains can cause a host of problems in your Sacramento, California home. Fortunately, there are several ways in which plumbing professionals can clear drain blockages quickly. The following are five drain cleaning services that just might save the day.
1. HIGH-PRESSURE WATER JETTING
Absent of drain covers, open drains can let just about anything into your plumbing system. Uncovered drains can become home for toothbrushes, toys, and other hard materials. Soft materials can still build up and cause problems, even in covered drains. Hair, soap scum, grease, body oils, and even buildup of mucus can all impede the flow of water over time.
Before treating them, plumbers carefully assess clogged drains to get a better idea of what their underlying causes may be. There are multiple ways to clear blocked drains and some work better in certain instances than others. Hydro-jetting, or high-pressure water jetting, is a non-invasive technique that plumbers use. It’s safe, environmentally friendly, and capable of removing just about everything, including:
- Mineral deposits
- Clumps of hair
- Buildups of “flushable wipes”
A plumber will begin by inserting a hose into the pipes. A powerful nozzle then forces water into the drain at pressures as high as 35,000 PSI. With hydro-jetting, it’s possible for plumbers to penetrate clogs in long drainpipes.
Hydro-jetting is great for new, sturdy pipes. However, old pipes may require a clearing method that uses a lot less pressure and force.
2. AIR BURST DRAIN CLEANING
Hydro-jetting works fast, but air burst drain cleaning provides good results without putting as much pressure on old pipes. Air burst cleaning instead uses pressurized gas to break down clogs. These types of drain cleaning services are effective on soap scum, hair, mineral deposits, food, and other organic materials.
3. DRAIN SNAKING
Drain snakes are a good option for clearing softer materials like hair from a drain. Standing in a puddle when you shower is a sign of poor drain maintenance. Slow-moving drains are a symptom of built-up gunk in your pipes. A drain snake can instantly strip these buildups of matter away.
Drain snakes are long, flexible tools that have a one-quarter-inch diameter. The snake’s sharp corkscrew end is inserted in the drain. On the other end, they have a simple hand crank. Some models even have electrical cranks.
Turning the crank of the drain snake screws out built-up drain junk. This process works great for removing softer clumps of build-up. You will unfortunately need more involved drain cleaning services for harder blockages.
4. CAMERA INSPECTIONS
Plumbers aren’t psychic. Instead, these professionals have diagnostic tools that eliminate all guesswork. Camera line inspections are one way in which plumbers can reliably choose the perfect drain cleaning method for each situation.
Pipes rely on gravity to move water. Everything that leaves your drains travels through your pipes and eventually winds up in the sewers. One of the biggest jobs of camera inspections is simply determining whether or not this system is working as it should.
Camera inspections give plumbers an “inside look” into your plumbing. This allows them to spot things like broken pipes, invasive tree roots, mud, and other stoppages.
During these inspections, tiny yet highly advanced cameras are fed through the pipes until the source of a blockage is encountered. Although a camera inspection won’t clear your drain, it will tell you exactly where a blockage lies. This will help find the best way to fix it.
5. DRAIN CLEANING SOLUTIONS
It isn’t common for plumbers to recommend or use chemical drain cleaning products. However, they are available and there are times when they serve as worthwhile solutions. Most drain cleaners are either corrosive or highly acidic. These chemicals eat through buildups of organic debris.
Unfortunately, drain cleaners used incorrectly or in the wrong instances can eat their way through plumbing features.
Enzymatic drain cleaning solutions are less problematic in this respect. Rather than acids or other corrosive materials, they use enzymes to gradually break minor blockages down and prevent them from recurring. However, whereas drain snaking, hydro-jetting, and other like measures work almost instantly, enzymatic drain cleaners can take days.
For more than 30 years, Gallagher’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning has been proudly serving the Sacramento Area. We have solutions for your blocked drains, slow-moving drains, and pervasive drain odors. Give us a call today!
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