Homeowners living in a home built in the 1980s or before have a unique problem lurking just beneath the surface of their yard. Alternatively, if you are buying a home built during this time frame, then you should have the plumbing inspected before signing on the dotted line.
There are several factors determining whether your plumbing will back up. Some of these originate underground, while other factors are those you do yourself.
Let’s examine these factors.
Tree Roots
Of course you can’t see tree roots from the surface of the yard. Deep beneath the grass, however, the roots are stretching deeper for a better toe-hold, and they get more nutrients. If something is in the way such as sewer pipes, then the roots wrap around it and sometimes penetrate it. This squeeze can cause water to back up into the tub and sinks.
Sludge
Grease, soap scum and the effluvium from washing detergents all combine to make a coating on sewer pipes. Add to these hair, food particles, shaving creams, lotions and hair dyes. These take years to build up. When they do, they choke off flow so water drains more slowly. The next hairball or dump of bacon grease down the drain could be the last straw, closing the pipe and requiring a plumber’s help.
Foreign Objects
Many babies get away from Mom, and in just a few seconds they can jam baby wipes and dirty diapers down the toilet. Often her keys and wallet follow. Paper towels are a common thing that gets flushed. These create a blockage that no drain cleaner or snake can penetrate. A plumber will be necessary.
Leaves and Twigs
Older homes were built with pipes made of porous materials. Often, leaves, twigs and other nature materials will get into the pipes. A thorough inspection by a plumbing expert will find the entry point. Still, these things present a problem to homeowners that need to be addressed.
This is where pipe jetting services enters the picture. The first thing homeowners do when they find a backup is to pull out the chemicals. Drain cleaners, however, have to be so strong to break up a clog, that they also damage the pipes. If that doesn’t work, homeowners get a snake to punch through the clog. This doesn’t always work, though, because it doesn’t address the build-up in the pipes. The snake may make a hole in the blockage, but it doesn’t remove the blockage altogether. It is at this point that homeowners call on a plumber.
Pipe jetting services use pressurized water to power out sludge, build-up and other jetsam and flotsam that shouldn’t be there. The water comes out of a nozzle equipped with little holes, out of which the water shoots backward. It is pressurized from 3500 psi to 4000 psi coming out of the nozzle. When the water shoots down the pipes from the clean out, it is traveling at tsunami speed. When the truck retracts the hose, the sludge, dirt, and debris comes with it. Pipe jetting does no damage to the pipes or the environment.
The rush of water will tear through tree roots blocking the pipes. The sludge will be a thing of the past, and all that will be left will be sparkling clean pipes. Once the blockage is removed, homeowners should have pipe jetting services performed every six to nine months. This prevents sludge from forming and keeps tree roots where they should be, instead of around your pipes. The next time the bath fills up, but you’re taking a shower, contact us. We’ll blast it for you.