Having your drains serviced by a professional plumber is a great way to protect your home. This prevents major plumbing issues, such as drain leaks. While it’s often done just as a preventative measure, there are also times when you may need to have a drain serviced to repair issues. In terms of preventative measures, how often drain service should be performed depends on various factors. If your home is new and you never have any issues with your drains, you may be fine to just have them serviced every few years. If your plumbing system is old and/or you experience frequent plumbing, drain or sewer issues, you’re better off scheduling a yearly drain service.
What Does Drain Servicing Involve?
Servicing a home’s drain system includes inspecting all the drains and drainpipes for any issues. Then, they will be fully cleaned and cleared. By using a drain camera, the plumber can easily inspect inside every part of the drain system to look for issues like cracks, loose joints, obstructions, etc. That way they can know if any part of the drain system is leaking, has any issues that put it at risk of leaking in the future, or is at risk of clogging.
In terms of cleaning the system of drains in your home, the most effective options are using a mechanical drain auger, using a pipe snake or hydro jetting. A pipe snake is ideal if you have a partial blockage in a drainpipe. It can push right through the blockage and pull some of the solid materials back out of the drain. Everything else just gets washed away since the plumber will leave the water running when cleaning the drain.
If you’re dealing with a major blockage or a total clog in a drainpipe or your main sewer line, a drain auger will work far more effectively than a pipe snake. That’s because it has a spinning blade that expands to the width of the drainpipe and can essentially cut straight through almost any type of obstruction, including tree roots in a sewer line.
Hydro jetting is also an extremely effective option for drain and sewer cleaning. The process is basically akin to pressure washing the inside of the drain and sewer system to blast away fat, gunk and solids. This includes toilet paper, wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, etc. While the hydrojetting machine produces a powerful blast of water, the process is completely safe. It won’t cause any damage if your drain system is in good shape and the job is done by an experienced professional.
Signs You Need to Have a Plumber Service Your Drains
When it comes to your home’s drain system, there are several things to watch for that can help you know it’s time to have a plumber service your drains. One obvious sign you have a drain that needs to be cleaned is if it constantly smells bad. You’ll always smell a nasty odor if the P-trap underneath a drain is empty, since this allows sewer gases to escape and rise out of the drain. Nonetheless, this is something you can fix in just a few seconds by pouring water down the drain to fill the trap back up. If this doesn’t fix the issue, it typically means the drain is filled with bacteria sludge and needs to be cleaned.
Drains can be susceptible to various types of odor-causing bacteria that feed on organic materials like food scraps, fat, hair, grease, soap scum, etc. In some cases, just pouring baking soda and vinegar down the drain and letting the mixture sit can get rid of the sludge and overcome nasty drain odors. There are also special enzyme treatments that work to prevent bacteria from growing in the drains. Nonetheless, either of these options may not be enough, which is one reason why regular professional drain cleaning is a good investment.
Another thing to always be on the lookout for is if you have a drain that suddenly starts draining slowly. A slow drain generally indicates that there’s a partial blockage in the pipe. The drain may be at risk of completely clogging soon. If a drain is partially blocked, you’ll also often notice the water making a gurgling noise as it goes down.
An even bigger concern is if you’re having these same issues with every one of your drains. This can indicate there’s an obstruction in your sewer line. The main concern in this case is that the line will fully clog or at least get obstructed to the point where it can’t handle a large volume of water in a short time. In either case, the result will typically be that the line will start backing up and you’ll have sewage coming out of any floor drains and shower drains on the lowest floor of your house.
Why You Should Never Use Drain Cleaner
Many people try to overcome or prevent drain issues on their own by pouring some type of drain cleaning agent down the drain. There’s no doubt that drain cleaning products are effective at cutting through stubborn clogs and allowing the drain to again work properly. The reason the drain cleaner works so well is that the chemicals it contains are so caustic that they quickly dissolve any solids inside the drainpipe. Some drain cleaners also work by producing a chemical reaction that gives off enough heat it melts straight through things like hair, fat, food scraps, etc.
The problem with chemical drain cleaners is that these caustic chemicals can also start eating through and weakening the drainpipes that are part of your plumbing system. The biggest concern in this regard is that the chemicals can dissolve the glue that holds PVC pipes together, potentially leading to a joint coming loose and the pipe starting to leak. This is an especially big concern in terms of toilet drains since a leak will result in raw waste leaking out into your house. Another issue is that drain cleaners can lead to PVC drainpipes warping, which also creates a risk of leaks.
Are you looking for expert plumbing, heating or air conditioning services in the Greenville, SC, area? At Tuck & Howell, Inc., we pride ourselves on offering exceptional services. We are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure each customer is 100% satisfied. Our dedicated team of professional plumbers and HVAC technicians have years of experience with all types of maintenance, repairs and installations. If you’re experiencing any issues with your drain and sewer system, you can trust that we’ll quickly get to the bottom of the problem and fix it in the fastest, most effective way. We understand that plumbing and HVAC issues can arise at any time, which is why you can count on us 24/7 in any emergency.
Whether you’re looking to have your home’s drains cleaned or need anything else, contact Tuck & Howell, Inc. in Greenville to ensure your needs are met quickly and professionally.
