drain cleaning service Archives

Why Hydro-Jetting?

Posted on February 12, 2013 | by Drainiacs

Picture this…

You have a complete sewer line full of grease, sludge, grime, gunk, and debris that have built up over years of use. When a drain clog occurs and your fixtures (such as toilets, sinks, and tubs) begin to back up or hold water, the first approach is generally to use a drain snake or rooter to clear the clog.

The rooter then acts as a prod and punctures holes through this build-up in order to clear a passageway for drain water. This will solve your immediate problem and your drain lines will begin to flow again, but the question is: FOR HOW LONG? Sometimes this remedy will last a day or two, sometimes a few months, but never too long. That’s where hydro-jetting (aka hydro-scrubbing) comes into play!

WHAT IS HYDRO-JETTING?

Hydro-jetting is a process that utilizes a high-pressure water stream, shooting out of a hose at a pressure of up to 3,500 psi, in order to cut through any and all of the sludge and gunk (and even stubborn tree roots and mineral build-up) that is clogging your drain. It is typically done through a special opening called a cleanout (located on the exterior of most homes), which allows your plumber easier access to clean out your drain lines. (If you do not have a cleanout, it is definitely recommended that you get one installed first.)

SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SNAKING & HYDRO-JETTING?

Well, it’s often easier to describe by way of a picture, so below is a simple diagram example of the differences between snaking a drain and hydro scrubbing a drain.

SO WHEN IS HYDRO-JETTING RECOMMENDED?

Hyrdo-jetting is generally recommended as a solution when clogs cannot be removed through the traditional snaking or rooter methods, generally due to high grease/sludge content or root intrusion in your drain pipes. A plumber can let you know the amount of resistance or how stubborn a clog is to remove and from there, they will generally recommend hydro-jetting if they think it is necessary.

So, if your plumber recommends hydro-jetting, your best bet (for lots of time and money savings due to repeat clogging) is to go for it! Hydro-jetting (so long as there is not any serious root intrusion which is explained below), will help bring your sewer pipes back to a “like-new” condition and save you from the headaches and pocketbook aches of having to call a plumber for repeat clogs! So what are you waiting for? Don’t be silly, get your drain lines hydro-scrubbed today!

A BIG SIDE NOTE ABOUT ROOT INTRUSION AND HYDRO-JETTING

One thing to keep in mind, although hydro-jetting is great at clearing stubborn roots from inside your drain lines, root intrusion that is invasive enough to cause repeat backups is a clear sign for much more serious concern. Repeat stoppages caused by root penetration in your drain lines generally mean that the roots have gotten thicker and have altered your pipelining, which is a fair warning for larger pipe damage in the near future.

With this, a plumber will generally recommend a sewer camera inspection in order to locate and determine the severity of the issue. In serious cases, a plumber may recommend either partial or complete sewer pipe replacement, in order to avoid pipe breakages or pipe bursts that can cause a much larger mess and cost much more to clean up.

What is a Rooter?

Posted on January 9, 2013 | by Drainiacs

We have often been asked the question “What exactly is a ‘rooter’?” The name ‘rooter’ has been popularized by various big-name plumbing companies, but not many people know what it really is. Do you know?

Well, simply put, rooter is a generic name given to a machine that is used for drain cleaning. Often this machine is also referred to as a plumbers snake or a drain cable.

Now for a bit of history about the rooter, the gentleman who invented the rooter machine did so with the intention of being able to clear clogged drains that were blocked from tree roots which stopped the drains from functioning properly. This gentleman’s name was Samuel L. Blanc. He reportedly developed and used the first rooter back in 1933. Of course, the first rooter was not as technologically advanced as those that we, as professional plumbers, use today, but the concept is still the same. The first rooter built by Blanc was assembled from a washing machine motor, roller skate wheels, and a steel cable to rotate the blades. Prior to this invention though, if there was a clogged pipe or toilet in your home, a plumber would have to dig up the whole yard to find the problem. So much has changed since then!

Furthermore, the commonly known “roto-rooter” name was coined by Samuel’s wife, Lettie. Located on Euclid Avenue in Des Moines, the home where Samuel & Lettie lived and where this sewer cleaning machine was actually invented still exists today! It was originally built as a schoolhouse in 1873, but in about 1922, Samuel purchased the building and converted it into a home for his family. It remains a private residence today.

Well, now you know what a rooter is and where it came from. Hopefully, your next run on jeopardy will be a win! Thanks for reading through!

Root Intrusion & Drain Clogs

Posted on November 29, 2011 | by Drainiacs

Trees are beautiful for landscaping around your home and provide lots of shade during hot summer months, but beware! The roots from these beauties are the number one cause of sewer line damage in homes and are definitely the most expensive sewer maintenance problem as well. These roots can cause major backups in your system, or worse case scenario, can even cause a complete collapse of your system. Learn how to prevent and maintain your pipes from this damage, or, if you’re already experiencing a problem, learn what you need to do to stop these roots from causing any further damage.

How do roots get into my pipes in the first place?

A tree’s roots are actually made up of a couple different parts; the larger more permanent roots, located closer to the base of the tree, are for support and stabilization, and the smaller, more hair-like roots which travel away from the tree, are for water and nutrient absorption. When water travels through your pipes, its warmth radiates vapors in the piping, but if a small crack or leak is apparent, or if any of the joints are loose, these vapors radiate out into the soil surrounding the pipe. The small hair-like roots of the tree attract toward these vapors and enter the pipes at these small cracks and leaks or loose joints looking for water and nutrients. This is mostly apparent during hot summer or drought periods, or extremely cold winter months when there is no rain.

How do the roots affect my pipes though?

The hair-like roots will begin to grow within the pipe and form masses surrounding each point of entry. As you continue to use your sinks & showers, debris from your drains flows through these pipes trying to make its way to the main sewer line, but like a net, the roots become a catchall for this debris and slowly begin to clog your pipes causing backups and reduced flow in your drains. If not taken care of, these roots can cause a complete blockage in your drains, or worse, the roots will expand putting lots of pressure on the crack where they entered, causing the pipe to break and a complete collapse of your pipes to occur.

What do I do if I’ve already noticed my drains begin to slow?

Since the problem is underground and out of sight, it is usually kept out of mind until it’s too late. Slowing of your drains and gurgling from your toilets though, are the two biggest indicators of root intrusion in your pipes. Your best bet is to call a local plumber as soon as possible, like Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer, to come check out the problem. Often a sewer camera inspection can help determine the extent of the damage; If the damage is minor, a plumber can remove the roots by using a root saw or a high pressure flushing system, but if the damage is severe, where the pipes are structurally damaged, they might require complete replacement.

How can I prevent roots from entering my pipes?

The best way to prevent root intrusion is first, to make sure that when you plant or re-plant trees and other shrubs around your home, that you find out where your sewer lateral pipe is located, the pipe that connects your home plumbing system to the main sewer line, beforehand, and make sure to plant at least ten (10) feet away from it. Second, is to schedule a regular cleaning of your sewer lateral pipe. Once roots have already entered your pipes though, and once you have had them cut or cleaned out, it is important to keep up with this maintenance because when cut from the inside of the pipe, the root is still located at the same entry point and will continue to grow eventually causing a major break of the pipe.

Since the sewer line is located in city property though, wouldn’t they have to take care of it?

Keep in mind that although the sewer line is generally located in the street, which IS city property, homeowners are still responsible for maintaining their sewer lateral pipe that connects their home plumbing to the sewer line.

Summing everything up, what is the overall story about root intrusion in my pipes?

Overall, roots can cause a lot of damage to your home plumbing system, and if not taken care of correctly, will eventually end up causing a complete collapse of your system. So make sure to get your drains inspected and cleaned regularly (we recommend scheduling an appointment at least once a year) and make sure to take care of any problems as soon as they occur. Waiting to fix these problems will only cause you bigger and way more extensive and expensive problems in the future.