Drain Clearing: What Is It & When Do You Need It?
Drain clearing can be needed when a drain is blocked. Understanding the purpose of drain clearing and when you need it is important in knowing what it does for your pipes and what it doesn’t do.
Drain Fundamentals
Knowing the basics of drains can help you understand better how blockages can occur and allow you to see that there are more to drains than water leaving your home.
First, there are individual lines and every single line attaches to the central drain line. The central drain line allows the water to flow into the sewer, as well as the septic tank, if you have one.
The drain trap is the second fundamental part of a drain. This trap prohibits damaging sewer fumes from entering back into a household.
The third fundamental element of a drain is the vent. Vents stop airlock blocks, or pouches of air that trap water in a pipe and allow the water to freely exit the drain. Being familiar with these drain fundamentals allows you to understand how blockages occur, but also allow you to recognize how drain clearing works.
What Is Drain Clearing?
Drain clearing occurs when a plumber, like Art Rooter, Sewer & Drain Cleaning, discharges a clog from your drain. Drain clearing begins when a plumbing snake is introduced into the clogged pipe. A plumbing snake is a durable cable that is powered by a motor, which has revolving blades attached at the end of the cable. When the motor is powered on, the blades spin around and break up the blockage.
When the blockage is cleared, the once-flowing water will resume its natural streaming movement through the pipes. Although the clog has been cleared and water is flowing, clog fragments will linger in the piping. These leftover fragments could pose future drain issues.
Drain clearing only clears the clog, it does not clean out your pipes, so there will be past fragments of your clog remaining in the pipes. Because of this, there is a chance for a returning clog. Drain clearing is better suited for an older building; snaking the drain is the best approach to take when discharging a clog, as it is the least invasive drain restoration. Snaking an older building’s drain can refrain from cracking the pipe. If you want your pipes to be completely flushed, then we suggest looking into drain cleaning.
Depending on the severity and site of the clog, emergency drain cleaning services may be needed.
Drain Signs That Signal You Need a Plumber
Signs you’re experiencing drain issues:
- Drains, such as sinks, tubs, and shower drains, are not properly expelling water
- The plunger is not solving the issue
- Slow, stagnate draining
- Water leaks
- Foul sewage odor
- Strange bubbling noises from your plumbing when using appliances like the washer or flushing the toilet
- Tinged water, such as green water (green water signals that copper plumbing is deteriorating) or blue water (the plumbing has entirely deteriorated).
- Reduced water pressure
These drain symptoms are excellent reasons to contact a professional plumber, such as the ones at Art Rooter, Sewer & Drain Cleaning.
Drain Clearing Plumbers Near Me
Understanding the purpose of drain clearing and when you need it is important when determining if drain clearing is the right approach for your drain issue(s). If you do have drain issues, the next step is contacting your local plumber and deciding the next best move for your drain problems.
Do you have more questions on drain clearing? Check out our services, follow us on Facebook, or call Florida’s trusted plumber, Art Rooter, Sewer & Drain Cleaning, at 1-888-773-1524.