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We’ve all been there before. You use the shower or faucet and after you shut the water off you notice there is standing water that’s not going down the drain. You let it sit for a while just to come back and find the water level is just as high as it was before. Frustration starts to build as you no longer have a functioning plumbing system. You consider drain cleaning is your best solution but with so many options where do you start?
There are different options available for relieving clogged drains with residents typically opting for home remedies and over the counter solutions. While these options tend to be cheaper, they may not always solve the problem entirely and can also potentially lead to further damages. The best option for clearing and unclogging your drains is to seek professional plumbing help. But what should you expect during a drain cleaning service?
Although drain cleaning may be the clear solution for your drain problem, a plumbing professional will always ask probing questions to determine the exact cause of the problem and rule out other possibilities. If the clogs have been an ongoing issue, it is good to know how these previous clogging issues were resolved. As mentioned earlier, home remedies and over-the-counter solutions can cause further damage and a plumbing professional will want to know if these options have been used before to assess if the problem goes beyond drain cleaning.
Once enough information has been gathered, plumbing professionals will proceed by either investigating the problem further or begin resolving the issue. If the plumber determines more information is needed, they will create a plan of action based on the analysis. A typical plan of action may include a camera inspection or other technology-based analysis to ensure the problem does not go beyond a drain clog.
Once the plumbing professional is done analyzing the problem, they will perform a series of diagnostic tests to determine if there is no other underlying cause. Typical diagnostic tests include examining the condition of the pipes to assess if there is any damage or deterioration. Plumbers may also examine your plumbing fixtures and accessories to ensure there are no other issues involved. Lastly, the diagnostic will be used to find the exact location of the blockage to make sure it’s not affecting other areas of the home and to understand what the best course of action will be.
Professional drain cleaning involves the use of equipment such as rooters and hydro jets. These machines are powerful and may take up space to operate. Also, drain unclogging can be messy as there may be water, hair, gunk, and other debris that will be removed in the process. So before proceeding with drain cleaning, a plumbing professional will prepare the area by clearing space for the drain cleaning equipment and placing cloths and mats to prevent it from getting dirty.
Once the drain cleaning process is ready to start, the plumber will use the equipment chosen as the best solution to clear the drain. There are different types of drain cleaning equipment but the two most common are rooters and water jetters.
Rooters – Rooters are motorized machines that use long steel, snakelike cables with sharp blades at the end to cut through the source of the clog. These cables are very long and are designed to fit far into the drain pipe to target hard to reach areas.
Jetters – Hydro jetting uses a small powerful hose and nozzle to shoot high-pressure water into your drain pipes with the goal of breaking up the source of the clog and flushing it through the pipes. As mentioned, the water is released at a very high pressure and the flushing method is designed to clear the entire pipe so debris no longer has a place to accumulate and build up.
After the plumber has completed the drain cleaning process, a few final tests are conducted to ensure the drains have been fully cleared. The plumber will run water from the faucets to make sure there is no standing water and that it flows down the drain efficiently. Once the final tests are conducted and the problem is determined to have been resolved, your plumber will put away the equipment used and clean up the area.
Core Plumbing is a drain cleaning specialist assisting residential and commercial customers throughout San Diego County. If you’re dealing with clogged drains and are in need of professional help, don’t hesitate to call us at (858) 293-4065.