What are drain cleaning services & the benefits
Most clogged drains are caused by hair, grease, and soap buildup. Over time, these things can build up on the walls of your pipes and create a blockage. Drain blockages are a common problem in residential homes in New Jersey. In some cases, you can solve the problem yourself with DIY tools and techniques. If your drain is blocked more severely, a licensed plumber can help you clean it.
It’s also misunderstood, and this leads to many homeowners neglecting to have it done at the right time, or attempting to do it in a way that ends up creating more problems. Here are some important facts about drain cleaning, including how they work and when you need to clean your drains.
Using a Drain Auger
A drain snake is an effective tool to clear clogged drains. A manual or an electric drain snake can be purchased at your local hardware shop. If you don’t have any experience with drain cleaning, you could damage your pipes by trying to use a drain snake. The process of “snaking” (also known as cabling) involves inserting a flexible, long, thin auger into the drain pipe. You can manually twist it downwards until it hooks onto the blockage. Professional plumbers have motorized drain snakes capable of getting through the most obstinate clogs.
These drain snakes are expensive professional tools, and you only want experts using them on your drains. It is best to call a professional plumber if you have a blocked drain.
Hydro Jetting: What is it?
Our plumbers use drain snakes when they think they’re the best approach to cleaning out clogs. But when it comes to comprehensive preventive drain cleaning, we use hydro-jetting services. A plumber will first insert a camera into the pipes to check for damage. This is done before the hydro jetting process. A plumber then inserts the hose in your drain through a cleanout. The hose is connected to a pressurized tank of water.
Hydro-jetters scour the inside of drainpipes with powerful blasts of high-pressure water. It’s safe for the drains and leaves them free of build-up and debris—a “like new” condition. Hydro-jetting is what makes professional drain cleaning, well, professional!
After the water has been turned on, the hose will move through the drain and clean the inside of your pipe. The hose’s nozzle shoots powerful water jets in multiple directions at once. The debris is washed down the plumbing system by gravity, so it can eventually be flushed out. It removes all clogs from your pipes and makes them look brand new. Hydro jetting can remove years of mineral scale deposits and grease as well as tree roots and other build-ups.
What is the difference between Hydro Jetting and Cabling or Snaking?
Cabling will only break down or remove a blockage. Hydro jetting can be used to blast clogs out and remove stubborn buildup that is shrinking pipes’ diameters. For occasional blockages, cabling is the best choice. For future blockages, hydro jetting is the best option. Hydro-jetting is not like cabling and must be done by a professional plumber.
Pouring Store-Bought Cleaners Down the Drains Is NOT Drain Cleaning
Commercially available drain cleaners are advertised heavily on TV and the internet, so we understand why homeowners often think they’re the answer to drain cleaning issues. But no professional plumber uses these chemicals or recommends anyone else use them. They can temporarily unclog a drain, but they don’t remove the build-up. They don’t clean much at all, just enough to get the water to flow again and the clogs will soon come back.
There’s a bigger problem with chemical drain “cleaners”: they damage the sewer or drain lines in your home’s plumbing system. The acidic action can eat through plastic and create corrosion in metal. The chemicals are also highly poisonous, end up in landfills, and may be harmful to your pets. Please leave these chemicals on the store shelf!
How to Tell if Your Home Needs Drain Cleaning Services
You will usually see one or more of these warning signs if your drains need to be cleaned.
- Slow draining sinks.
- Frequent toilet overflows. Sewer line problems may be a problem if your toilet overflows or clogs often. To resolve the problem, it is best to contact a professional plumber.
- Water backs up. This can lead to water damage and unsanitary conditions.
- Bad smell.
If your drains are draining slowly, frequently overflowing, or emitting bad smells, it may be time to consider drain cleaning. Various tools and techniques can be employed to clean your drains, depending on the severity of the blockage. For less severe cases, a simple drain snake may do the trick. If the problem is more severe, you may need hydro jetting, a process that uses high-pressure water to blast through clogs and build-up. Only a professional plumber will be able to properly assess your situation and recommend the best course of action. Contact Smiley Drain Cleaning today to schedule an appointment. Either way, it is best to call a professional plumber to assess the situation and recommend the best course of action. Smiley Drain Cleaning will be happy to help you keep your drains flowing freely. Call us today to schedule an appointment.