How often do you think about your home’s plumbing system? Chances are, not a whole lot! Even though this is the case, when something goes wrong, you’ll sure be grateful for a highly trained and experienced plumbing company to come manage the issue.
This is particularly true if the problem is more than something simple like a drippy faucet or a pinhole leak in a visible pipe. Some problems extend deeper than this—literally—into your drain and sewer system. If this portion of your plumbing system isn’t properly cared for, then you could find yourself facing serious issues.
There’s good news, though! It’s easy to care for your drain system. You can do this by scheduling drain cleaning on a routine basis to ensure that your plumbing system is well maintained. Or you can schedule these services as needed, but, how do you know when they’re needed? A couple indicators are:
Slow Draining
Perhaps the leading plumbing repair call our technicians receive is in regards to drain clogs within your drain and sewer system. Clogs typically form slowly, over time, as waste accumulates within your pipes. This waste comes from things like soap scum and hair from the bathroom, the wrong things being flushed down your toilets, and FOG in your kitchen sink (fats, oils, and grease).
Clogs aren’t limited to these examples, of course, but they’re important factors to be aware of.
No matter what’s causing the clog, as it closes in toward the center of the affected pipe, the flow of water is restricted. So, if you notice that one of your drains is letting water through slower than it normally does, then you probably have a clog forming. You should schedule drain cleaning right away in this case, so you don’t end up with completely inoperable drains.
Bad Odors
This is most common with kitchen drains, actually, due to all the food waste that this appliance sees. Other drains can certainly experience this symptom, too. If a foul smell is coming from just one of your drains, it can be due to particularly bad waste buildup.
It’s important to act quickly, though, if these bad odors are coming from multiple drains, as this can indicate a problem deeper in your sewer system. Drain cleaning might not be enough to resolve this issue so calling in a pro right away should be a priority.
The Benefits of Routine Plumbing Maintenance
So, what if you don’t notice any of these signs? Well, if you’re reading this post anyway, you obviously care about your plumbing system and want to take care of it as best you can. One way to do that is to schedule annual plumbing maintenance! Since drain clogs do tend to develop slowly, preventive maintenance will help us clean out waste buildup before it ever becomes a problem.
Professional Drain Cleaning Methods
Maybe you’re one of those homeowners who believes in resolving problems on your own, and have decided to try liquid drain cleaners you can get from the store.
The problem with this is that these liquid drain cleaners contain chemicals that are caustic—they’ll eat away at whatever clog is in your pipes, but they’ll also eat at the pipes themselves. Additionally, they only provide temporary relief. The clog will just build back up in just a few months.
Professional drain cleaning doesn’t involve the use of any chemicals at all. We will use an auger, possibly a hydro-jet, to scour away the waste buildup with nothing but water. This effectively removes the obstructions and makes it less likely for more clogs to build up.