Cleaning out a sewer is not the first thing a homeowner wants to do on a Saturday, much less any other day of the week. However, a blocked or failing sewer line in a home is going to turn into a big problem very quickly, making drainage impossible and home fixtures useless from the kitchen sink to the bathroom. So, home sewer cleaning and repairing a drain is a must for a home when the problem is identified.
Home Remedies Don’t Work
It’s important to understand what the sewer line means in terms of home plumbing and why that section of the line is not available for basic home remedies. The sewer line is generally the larger line that runs between the home’s various drainpipes and the sewer connection provided by the city or jurisdiction the home is in. This mid-section provides a critical exit, but it’s generally not even within the range of what a homeowner can reach, being some 10 to 30 feet down the line from the sink.
Plumbers typically have to use tools that both have the strength to clear a drain and reach the problem. The oldest is probably the plumber’s snake. The professional version will involve a cable that is motor-driven and it is inserted into the drain system. It is worked down the drain until the blockage is met. At the end of the able is a blade mechanism that, as spinning, breaks up the blockage. That then allows flow again.
An alternative approach involves compressed water pressure. Using a similar reach as the cable, a hose is inserted, and the high-pressure water is pushed through the blockage to clear it. Water cannot be compressed, so it usually works by pushing a blockage along a drain.
Why Drain Cleaning Matters
In the worst-case scenario, a drain has to open up. The section where the blockage is located tends to be identified, isolated, removed and cleared. Then the line has to be repaired, along with restoration of what was damaged to get to it.
Probably the most disturbing repair can be a drain section that is within the foundation of a home. This kind of work could involve removing the flooring and cracking the foundation to get to the pipe section. It’s a costly repair.
Being Proactive With Drain Care
Instead of dealing with a drain repair after the fact, a sewer cleaning service can be very useful for avoiding problems from starting in the first place. Drains are hardly ever maintained by the average homeowner. It’s just assumed they work. That leaves room for a lot of residue or material to build up and start creating resistance to water flow.
In addition to what builds up over time, things put down the drain may flow some distance and then get stuck. They create a partial blockage but not enough for an immediate problem. These can also create bigger issues later. Drain cleaning on a regular basis can reduce this risk effectively.
Maintenance Spots Plumbing Concerns Early
Remember, with a regular maintenance visit and inspection, a drain cleaning can also help spot other plumbing issues as well. When a licensed plumber comes into a home and looks at the fixtures to be worked on, they are already trained to spot signs of issues an average homeowner may miss. That includes everything from mold due to moisture to slow leaks in plumbing lines as well. So, a sewer clean-out, while it may be the primary service provided, isn’t the only benefit with a regular clean service applied.
Frequency Needed for Home Sewer Cleaning
Most home sewers don’t need a monthly service. However, an annual approach is a very practical approach. If a home does a lot of cooking with grease and fat, has older pipes and drain systems, or has a history of drain clogging, cleaning twice a year or more frequently makes a lot of sense. It’s a low-cost prevention approach that can be very effective in protecting a home’s drain system as well as avoiding big plumbing repair costs that otherwise may occur.
