Drain Cleaning Perth is necessary to ensure your home’s plumbing system works properly. It also prevents costly repairs down the road.
While there are many DIY ways to unclog a drain, these methods can be damaging to your pipes and the environment. If you’re experiencing slow drainage, contact a plumber for professional drain cleaning services.
Liquid drain cleaners are a quick fix for minor blockages. They’re readily available in hardware stores and promise to dissolve hair, soap scum, food scraps, and other organic materials that build up in your pipes over time. However, many liquid drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause long-term damage to your pipes and plumbing system.
The best liquid drain cleaners are eco-friendly and biodegradable. They use a combination of bacteria cultures and enzymes to break down organic material in your drains and pipes, including hair, soap scum, grease, and other debris. These products are slower than caustic chemical cleaners, but they’re safer for your pipes and the environment. Look for products like Bio-Clean, which has a 4.3-star rating on Amazon. These cleaners work well on most drains, but they’re not the best for stubborn clogs.
Caustic liquid drain cleaners are highly effective but can be dangerous to your health and pipes. They usually contain sodium hydroxide, which breaks down clogs by generating heat and converting fats into water-soluble matter. These cleaners are safe for most pipes, but can be damaging to galvanized steel, copper, and some plastics. Plumbers usually reserve these cleaners for very serious clogs and only after trying more conservative methods.
Another common type of liquid drain cleaner is an oxidizing agent. These cleaners typically contain nitrates and peroxides that react with the organic material in your drain to produce heat and decompose it. These cleaners are safer for most pipes than acidic drain cleaners, but they’re not suitable for septic systems and can be damaging to some metal pipes.
If you decide to use a liquid drain cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Some products require you to pour a certain amount into your drain, while others need to be left overnight. Also, some drain cleaners are toxic to children and pets, so be mindful of where you store them. Finally, always be careful not to mix drain cleaners. This can create a dangerous reaction that generates hydrogen gas and may even ignite your pipes.
Hydro Jetting
Unlike commercial drain cleaners, which are usually made from harsh chemicals that can eat away at your pipes and cause damage, hydro jetting uses pure water to clean your plumbing. This process involves sending a long hose of pressurized water down your sewer line to break up and wash away the debris that builds up on the walls over time. It’s especially useful for older buildings that have decades of buildup and clogs on their sewer lines.
This powerful method is used by professional plumbers to clear large blockages and maintain the integrity of your sewer line. Before using it, a plumber will carefully inspect your pipe system with a video camera to determine the size and type of obstruction. He or she will then attach the hose to the drain cleanout and start pumping high-pressure water into your home’s drainage system. It can reach clogs as far as the sewer line and can break up large chunks of debris.
A plumber will typically use a combination of techniques to clean your pipes, including snaking and hydro jetting. While snaking can be effective in removing some smaller clogs, it often fails to reach a full blockage or break up the larger ones. The pressure from the hydro jetting hose is often enough to force these larger clogs apart, and the water can wash away the debris, too.
Hydro jetting is also useful for removing foul smells from your kitchen sink or bathtub. It eliminates the bacteria buildup that’s responsible for these odors and makes your drains healthier.
Lastly, it can be used to clean out grease traps and other drains that are difficult to access with traditional plumbing methods. For example, a residential drain may be blocked by an oily residue or an appliance like a garbage disposal. A plumber can easily access these areas with a hydro jetting nozzle.
Hydro jetting should only be done by a professional plumber with the right training and experience. If not used properly, it can damage your piping and lead to expensive repairs or replacements down the road.
Video Camera Inspection
Most plumbing and sewer lines are buried underground or underneath floors, making it difficult for homeowners to know what’s going on. For these hard-to-reach areas, video camera inspections are the way to go. A plumber will place a long metal hose with a camera lens on the end down your drain, navigating pipes that can be as small as two inches in diameter. The live feed on a nearby monitor shows the plumber exactly what’s happening inside your pipes. This allows the plumber to pinpoint problems such as cracks, clogs, grease buildup, root infiltration and more. It also helps the plumber locate a specific spot for the repair, saving time and money.
In addition, a video pipe inspection is the best way to find lost valuables like rings and jewelry that have fallen down your drain. It’s also used to help find animals that have become trapped in your pipes. If you are thinking of buying a home, a video drain line inspection can take the mystery out of what your plumbing system looks like before you make the purchase.
The accuracy of a video inspection allows the plumber to find the exact location and nature of the problem, eliminating the need for guesswork and extensive excavation. This leads to huge cost savings for the property owner. This method is becoming a standard part of every plumbing maintenance plan.
Video cameras are also useful for finding leaks and other potential damage to your pipes. This allows the plumber to formulate an appropriate action plan and get to work right away. A plumbing camera can also be helpful if you have an insurance claim for damaged sewage lines. Your insurer may request a DVD copy of the video before approving your claim.
It’s important to keep up with regular preventative drain cleaning and inspection services to ensure the longevity of your pipes. The longer you wait for a problem to be repaired, the more costly it will be. Contact us today to schedule your next service. We can even create a customized maintenance plan for you.
Snaking
A drain snake, also known as a plumbing snake or a snake auger, is a long, flexible cable with a spiral end used to break up and entangle clogs. It’s typically made of steel, although some models are flexible plastic. This tool is used by both professional plumbers and DIYers to clear sink drains, garbage disposals, shower drains, pipes, and sewers. The slender shape of the snake allows it to maneuver in tight spaces. A handle or motor is attached to the head of the snake, allowing the user to control its movement and direction.
When using a snake, it’s important to understand the proper procedure in order to avoid damaging the pipes and prevent injuries. For instance, a snake should never be forced into the pipe. Doing so could damage the pipes, causing leaks or more serious issues. Instead, the snake should be fed slowly into the clog, rotating it as needed to navigate curves and bends.
Once the snake reaches the clog, it should be rotated once again to dislodge or latch onto it. It may take several attempts to break up or entangle the clog, but once it is removed from the drain, the drain should flow freely. If not, the clog may need to be cleared by a plumber.
Snaking is a relatively inexpensive and effective method of clearing most types of drain clogs, but it’s not as quick as chemical cleaners. It’s also less effective against severe clogs, especially those associated with the septic system.
Preventing clogs is the best way to keep your drains running smoothly. Putting food waste into the garbage disposal, only using drains for wastewater, and periodically cleaning with enzyme-based cleaners can help to keep your home’s drains clear of clogs. If you do experience a drain clog, however, taking the right steps can save you time and money by avoiding expensive plumbing services.