S For Unclogging Underground Drain Pipes
Theres a popular phrase in real estate that the three most important things are location, location, location. When it comes to unclogging a drain pipe, the plumbing version would be access, access, access. The reason is that being able to see and reach the pipe makes the process simpler, faster, and more effective.
So what can you do if you have a blockage in a hidden pipe, especially if its buried below the ground on your property? There are several methods for unclogging an underground drain pipe, including cable rodding, blow bag, hydro jetting, and the picote milling machine. Each of these techniques has distinct advantages and disadvantages, so its important to consult with a professional plumber to determine the best approach for your situation.
Why Does The Drain Bladder Get Stuck In The Pipe
The drain bladder can seem like a very easy-to-use appliance. And you can use it very easily if you know how to.
So, the drain bladder can get stuck in the pipe for two major reasons.
Keep on reading to know more about these reasons and how to do the DIY plumbing right by avoiding these mistakes.
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Learn How A Drain Bladder Can Easily And Inexpensively Blast Away The Toughest Clogs
The drain bladder is one of the greatest unsung heroes of every plumbers arsenal. Theyre capable of clearing the most stubborn drain clogs, even after all other methods have failed. Along with being highly effective, theyre also inexpensive and easy to use plumbing products. Read on to discover why you should consider a drain bladder for your next clog before resorting to more difficult methods or .
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Do Plumbers Recommend Using Liquid Drain Cleaners
No, no, no!
If youre thinking about purchasing a liquid drain cleaner, you probably have a sizable blockage that doesnt let water drain well in your sink or bathtub. Youll end up grabbing a chemical cleaner, so you can eliminate the clog quickly, as opposed to an enzyme-based cleaner, which is safer for your drain. What you dont realize is that chemical cleaners cause more harm than good.
Chemical cleaners are filled with strong acids and bases that destroy basically everything they touch, from the hair thats clogging your drains to the material of the pipe itself. With enough exposure to these strong chemicals, your drains will corrode and start leaking. You already know how dangerous leaks are! Plus, chemical cleaners dont effectively eliminate the whole clog. They just burn a hole big enough to let more water than usual pass through. In the end, the blockage is very much still present, though its not as big as before, and your drains are damaged. Why take that chance when you can hire the best professional plumbers in Northern, KY, as well as Ohio and Indiana at an incredible price?
How To Use A Drain Cleaning Bladder
Because drain bladders are so effective and easy to operate, they can be used on a wide range of kitchen sinks, toilets, and other household items that other methods cannot. If youre looking for a way to get rid of a clog in your toilet, youve come to the right place.
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What Are Liquid Drain Cleaners Made Of
When asking if chemical drain cleaners work, its important to know exactly whats in drain cleanerspecifically, what chemicals are in drain cleaner. There are two types of liquid drain cleaners: chemical cleaners and enzyme-based cleaners.
Most of the liquid drain cleaning products youll find on the shelf at your local supermarket are chemical cleaners. These are the bottles that are advertised as quick and powerful solutions for the worst clogs! They may seem like the best thing since residential plumbing, but they are actually quite dangerous. The active ingredients in chemical cleaners range from hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid to lye and caustic soda. If you know anything about chemistry, you know that these components can be destructive if not handled properly. The bottom line is, chemical drains cleaners are not good to use.
So if chemical cleaners can be harmful, do enzyme drain cleaners work better?
Enzyme-based cleaners, on the other hand, are a gentler option for your drains. They use enzymes, or bacteria, to break down the organic matter in the pipes. These drain cleaners will not damage your plumbing, not to the extent that chemical cleaners do, but they work slowly. If you have a stubborn clog, dont expect enzyme-based cleaners to show you any results at all.
Sink Or Toilet Plunger
A plunger is a flexible rubber bell- or cone-shaped tool with an operating handle at the end. A plunger forces water into the drain pipes, pushing the clog onward.
This time-tested drain-clearing method excels at unclogging toilets and is moderately successful at clearing kitchen sinks, tubs, and showers. Plungers sometimes do not work on bathroom sinks due to the configuration of the sink.
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How Does Drain Cleaner Work
Your homes pipes can become clogged with a bacteria buildup known as biofilm. This gunk, which forms on the walls of your pipes and drains, can pose several health risks. As biofilms consist of bacteria and organic waste, they can cause certain infections and diseases in humans.
But do liquid drain cleaners really work and get rid of this biofilm? Products like Drano and Liquid-Plumr only tackle the biofilm that they can reach. Thus, the drain cleaner will not be able to remove the biofilm deep within the drains.
You should never use liquid drain cleaner in laundry drains since drain cleaning solutions cannot break up the lint that primarily makes up the clogs in your laundry drains.
How A Basement Floor Drain Works
Image courtesyNations Home Inspection, Inc
All the fixtures in your house have a separate drainpipe each. All these small drainpipes are then connected to the main house drainpipe which in turn drains to the citys sewer lines or septic tank.
A vertical pipe is connected to the main drainpipe and runs through the roof of the house. This is called the plumbing vent. It helps in removing sewer gases from the drainpipe and also brings in air which helps in draining.
Since the basement floor drain is located in the lowest point of the house, it drains directly into the sewer line, same as the house drainpipe. This means that if you flushed something that you shouldnt flush in the toilet, sink or tub, it will affect how the basement drain works.
Hair from shower/tub drains and grease from the kitchen sink can also clog the drain and a result the basement floor drain will start to back up. Most people also make the mistake of sweeping the debris, pet hair and dirt in the basement directly in to the drain.
With times, all this trash will buildup and cause a clog and therefore a backing up basement drain. Dont therefore be surprised to wake up and find standing water in your basement.
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Chemical Clog Remover Is Rarely The Answer
Chemical clog removers are really only suitable for occasional use in slow drains, as they arent effective against actual stoppages. In fact, pouring liquid clog remover into a drain can make the job more dangerous for anyone who needs to remove that clog with a snake or plunger. Also, chemical clog removers are bad for the environment and can eat away at metal pipes, causing drains that flow too wellright onto the floor.
Really Easy Ways To Unclog Drains
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We all know the warning signs. The sink takes a little longer to drain. You begin to notice water pooling around your feet in the shower. And the odors. The strange, unpleasant odors. Theyre all signs that you may soon be facing a clogged drain. And then one day, boom. Your drain is blocked completely. Its something you need to deal with quickly, or face the wrath of a burst pipe or a useless bathroom.
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Which Is The Better Option
It really just depends on the kind of clog that you have. If it’s a deep sewer line clog, your only real choice is hydro-jetting. While drain snakes do work well on shallow clogs, they aren’t going to 100% cure the problem. The snake won’t completely scour the inside of the pipe like the hydro-jetting tool. Therefore, you’ll probably see the clog come back within a few months. Hydro-jetting clears out the pipe and leaves it clean like the day it was installed.
The best way to determine the right drain cleaning option for you is to contact local, professional plumbers. Call The Pink Plumber today to schedule a consultation with a drain cleaning professional.
Choose Ac By Js Expert Plumbers For Drain Cleaning In Phoenix
The drain cleaning specialists at AC by J specialize in Phoenix-wide plumbing repair and installation services. In addition to having extensive experience and knowledge regarding modern plumbing techniques, our plumbing specialists are also licensed, bonded, and insured for your Phoenix homes safety and your peace of mind. We do extensive and ongoing training with our plumbers to ensure we only send the most knowledgeable plumbers to your home.
Not comfortable using a drain flush bag to resolve your clogged drain? Dont let a small clog turn into a larger, costly repair down the line! Contact AC by Js Phoenix plumbers to schedule drain cleaning in Scottsdale and the surrounding areas, including Cave Creek, Sun City, and Paradise Valley.
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How To Unclog A Drain Pipe
Sinks, toilets, and showers run into larger drain pipes, and those pipes sometimes clog as well. However, code dictates that there be a clean-out fitting installed at every change of direction. Simply remove the cap with a pair of pliers or a wrench, and use this access for clearing the clog.
One way to unclog a pipe is to use a larger wire snake. These snakes are more powerful, longer, and often feature more aggressive tips for breaking the clog up or hooking it for removal. Simply feed the wire snake through the drain, and continue advancing it until the clog is clear. One important tip though: If possible, run water through the pipes while snaking the drain. This will allow the freshly loosened build-up to flush through the system rather than just settling back in place.
There are also drain-cleaning bladders that utilize hydraulic force to clean clogs. These rubberized bladders hook to the end of a hose and fit inside a cleanout. As the hose fills the bladder, it expands to seal off the pipe. At the tip of the bladder is a hole that shoots water into the drain pipe, pressurizing it until the clog has nowhere to go but forward and through the system. Note that this system can potentially damage older pipes.
Choose A Suitable Drain Cleaning Bladder
If you start trying to clear a clog with the wrong drain cleaning bladder, you could end up causing a bigger mess, so take a look at the size of the pipes and choose an appropriate bladder.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
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A Bladder Can Burst If Subjected To Too Much Water Pressure
All drain-cleaning bladders have a maximum safe water pressure. If you fill a bladder past this point, it can burst. Before you begin, you must know the pressure specifications of the product you intend to use, as well as the water pressure inside your building. If the pressure in your home or workplace is too high, you can reduce it to acceptable levels if the buildings plumbing system is outfitted with a water pressure regulator.
How Does A Cleaning Bladder Work In A Drain
An ordinary water hose is attached to one end, and the bladder is inserted into the clogged drain. The drain bladder fills up with water and closes off any access to it, like a filled water balloon inside of the drain. Once the bladder is full and reaches a certain point of pressure, the outlet opens,
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How Do You Clear A Clogged Sewer Line
Pour a cupful of baking soda down the drain and youre good to go. You can pour a cupful of white vinegar down the drain. Wait for around 10 minutes for the solution to break up, and then pour the solution back into the sink.
Repeat this process until all the water has been removed. If you want to make your own vinegar, you can buy it at your local grocery store. You can also make it yourself at home with a few simple ingredients.
Connect The Garden Hose
One end of the drain cleaning bladder has a male hose attachment that can be used to connect a garden hose directly to the bladder. Typically you can hand tighten the garden hose, though if you want a snug fit to avoid any leaks, then it’s advised to use a set of channel locks.
Run the hose to an outdoor faucet or to a nearby sink faucet. If you need to run the hose outdoors, make sure that you have a second person to operate the faucet, or that you have a hose valve nearby, so you can control the water.
If you are connecting the garden hose to a sink faucet, you will likely need to remove the aerator with a set of channel locks in order to access the threads on the faucet.
Connect the hose and tighten it with channel locks to prevent leaks. Just don’t overtighten the hose and damage the fixture.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
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Common Causes Of A Clogged Drain
There are many reasons why you might experience a clogged drain in Phoenix, but the most common causes include:
- Feminine hygiene products
Whatever is causing the issue, your plumbing will let you know when something has gone wrong. Its all about knowing how to read the signs:
- Water backing up. Ever flushed a toilet or run a sink only to find that your shower drain is now blowing used water up through the drain? This is a clear sign that you have a blockage that needs to be addressed right away!
- Slow draining. Often the first sign that something is amiss is if your drains seem to take the water down at a slower, creeping pace. This means there is a blockage building up in your system. Its only a matter of time before these compounds into a full-out stoppage.
- Foul odors. Sewage smell is unmistakable. When you get an unpleasant, faintly rotting stench coming from your drains its time for a professional cleaning.
- Toilet overflow. If a flush isnt quite doing what it should and your Phoenix homes plunger just isnt cutting it, you likely have a blockage deeper in the sewer line. This is definitely caused to call in a professional!
Contact our Phoenix plumbers to schedule drain cleaning today!
What Do Plumbers Use To Clean Pipes
Drain Augers or Snakes The standard drain cleaner tool plumbers use to demolish obstructions in pipes is a motorized drain auger, also known as a drain snake. An auger consists of a long, flexible coil of metal that works similar to a corkscrew. The end of the auger goes down the drain until it reaches the clog.
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Prevent Future Drain Clogs
Here are a few proven methods to keep your drains clear and buildup-free for the foreseeable future:
1. Use Drain Screens
These devices allow water and other small particles to pass through your drain. But they block out hair, large particles of food, and other scum. Drain screens are ideal for the kitchen sink, the bathtub, and shower.
2. Never Pour Grease Down Your Drain
Liquid grease will harden over time and clog your drain. Worse still, grease can cause sewer clogs too. Make sure you wipe down greasy dishes with a paper towel before rinsing them. Use plenty of hot water and detergent when washing greasy dishes.
3. Perform Regular Maintenance on Drains and Stoppers
Make an effort to keep your drains clean and clear on a regular basis. Pour a few gallons of boiling water down your sink once a week. Clean your sink stoppers regularly too as they tend to gather grime, hair, and other particles.
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