Top-Notch Drain Cleaning Edmonton

It’s sometimes hard to say exactly what caused a blocked drain problem until a reliable plumber looks at what’s happening in your drains. There are various ways to do this, and the source of the problem can also vary. It’s not something that can be diagnosed without the proper equipment, training and technology.

Although clogs are the most common problem we tackle with drain cleaning, Edmonton residents may encounter other issues in their drain lines. These can range from tree roots growing into your drains to experiencing the effects of improperly installed pipes or other environmental obstructions. It’s important to note that these obstructions are unrelated to how well you maintain your home's plumbing. Although proper maintenance is essential on the homeowner’s part, sometimes drains experience problems from the other end that must be solved with an Edmonton drain cleaning service.

That said, the most common cause of clogged sinks or toilets is something being washed or flushed that really doesn’t belong in your drain lines. The number one culprits that cause the need for drain cleaning are fat, oil and grease because they coat pipe walls and solidify into a sticky mess that grabs and holds anything that follows them down the pipe, as identified by EPCOR and the City of Edmonton. Debris, such as flushable wipes (which, in truth, are not flushable), excessive toilet paper, soap scum buildup, and clumps of hair, are other common causes of problems. Always store used fats and grease in a disposable container, not down your sink, to avoid costly blockages and fines.

Edmonton plumbers often tell homeowners that grease buildup is the leading cause of plumbing issues. That’s why even something as common as washing your dishes could cause problems for your plumbing system. You can think of the pipes leading from your sink as arteries. As the grease goes down them, it builds up on the sides of your pipes!

This happens because the grease cools and hardens as it goes, forcing it to stop in its tracks and never escape from the other end. The same thing can happen when you flush any leftovers down the toilet, especially foods that continue expanding when they come into contact with water (quinoa, rice, pasta, etc.). If you’re learning about these things for the first time, your home may urgently need the professional drain cleaning Edmonton deserves. Drainage issue complaints peak in the spring thaw and after major rain events; this is especially common in locations like Edmonton that have clay soil and older infrastructure.

Here’s a list of some common scenarios that tend to result in a need for drain cleaning service:

• You dispose of food down the sink. This food (especially fats and grease) inevitably hardens in the cooler temperatures of disposal lines and adheres to the walls of your pipes.
• You pour grease into your kitchen sink. Although this liquid may seem harmless, it can be very damaging, even in small amounts, because it builds up and clogs your drainage lines very quickly. It’s essential to prevent grease from entering your plumbing system whenever possible. If you’ve already experienced issues, we recommend seeking an Edmonton drain cleaning service to restore proper flow.
• You have young children in your home. It’s incredible what a drain cleaning can reveal—we often find small toys and other items flushed down the toilet without the parents’ knowledge.
• You host guests often. It’s hard to be certain whether your guests know plumbing maintenance rules.
• You’ve recently moved in. You aren’t sure about the previous owners’ degree of care for the home’s plumbing.
• Your toilet has been taking longer than usual to flush. This is most likely indicative of a clog forming, and it’s best to catch it before you end up in a pickle.
• Water stands in your sink before eventually entering the drainage lines. If this is the case, it's likely you’re already experiencing a clog and should call in a professional.
• You hear gurgling noises in your walls. Nope, it’s not monsters. Gurgling occurs when wastewater has a tight passage to flow through, indicating that your pipes have accumulated a buildup.
• Unpleasant odours are coming from rooms with plumbing fixtures and floor drains. A clog can trap wastewater and send fumes up the pipes and into your home. Not only is this an annoyance for your family and guests, but it’s also a health concern that should be addressed right away.

Suppose you’ve been searching online for a homemade drain cleaner. Edmonton homeowners have probably come across several sites suggesting they can easily clear a drain by combining white vinegar and baking soda. This isn't a bad idea for routine cleaning of the first few inches of the drain pipe, but it’s unlikely to have any effect on tough clogs. We all learned in elementary school that baking soda and vinegar create an explosive reaction in a closed environment, but your drain is not a closed environment. The cleaning solution will just fizzle away for a few minutes and, if anything, add more material to the clog.

We don’t recommend pouring boiling water down your drain either, because it can damage your pipes depending on the material. The minimal returns on drain clearing just aren’t worth the risk of injury. It’s also important to avoid using harsh, acid-based chemical drain cleaners. If Edmonton homeowners use them too frequently, the harmful chemicals will erode the inside of the pipes, leading to pinhole leaks and other serious issues. Besides, they aren’t very effective anyway. That’s why we really believe water is the best possible liquid to clean your drains, as long as a hydro jetting machine pressurizes it. City guidance recommends water-based, non-chemical cleaning for regular maintenance.

Sometimes you accidentally let something slip down the drain that really shouldn't be in there, and when you peer into the drain, you can actually see it sitting a few inches below the drain surface. Or, you may have a buildup of hair, soap scum and other materials that is only a short distance into the pipe. In this type of situation, you may not need to call for drain cleaning. Edmonton homeowners can often solve this problem on their own within a couple of minutes.

Take off the drain cover if you have one, put on a pair of rubber gloves and see if you can reach the item with your fingers—but try not to push it any deeper into the pipe. If that doesn't work, get a wire coat hanger, straighten it out, and make a narrow U-shaped hook at one end. Shine a flashlight down the drain so you can see what you're doing, and carefully try to insert your hook into the pipe past the obstruction. Then pull up slowly and try to hook the item to pull it back up to the surface. In homes with older, narrower drains, don't use excessive force to pull out the object, as this can damage fragile metal or plastic components.

If you can't get it out or it slips even deeper into the line, it's likely time to call your local plumber to schedule a drain cleaning service in Edmonton.

If you have a spare bathroom that never gets used, it can be surprising to wander in there one day and realize there's a foul odour coming from the sink or bathtub drain. Why would it smell bad when it hasn't even been used in ages?

This can happen because bathroom drains have a curved pipe called a P-trap, which is essentially a bend in the pipe located just below the drain surface, filled with standing water. The water blocks the smell of sewer odours so they can't waft up your drains. If you use your drains regularly, the water is constantly being replaced. But if you haven't used them in quite a while, especially in the dry climate we have here in Edmonton, the water in the P-trap can evaporate. There's a simple solution: just run some water in that fixture or pour it into the drain manually.

We value your family’s safety as well as our environment. Because of this, we choose not to use harmful drain cleaners in your home. Our plumbing experts utilize only the safest and most effective methods for drain cleaning services. Edmonton professionals use various methods to clean them, none of which contain toxic or damaging chemicals that could corrode your pipes or harm your health. Instead, we use HydroScrub® Jetting to clear your drain pipes with high-pressure water. Sometimes, the situation calls for one of our cable machine augers, which is our other chemical-free drain-clearing mechanism.

If we ever choose to use a liquid drain maintenance product for cleaning, our Edmonton plumbers rely on Mr. Rooter Total Drain, a biodegradable bacterial culture product, to provide environmentally friendly, safe drain maintenance that restores your plumbing system. This treatment utilizes bacteria to consume the organic matter commonly found in clogged pipes, including organic material, fats, oils, and grease. While Total Drain is not intended for clearing blockages, it is an excellent product for preventing future drainage issues. We recommend that you refrain from using chemical drain cleaning products to prolong the life of your plumbing.

The most effective way to avoid clogs and other frustrating plumbing problems is to call your plumber for regular drain cleaning. Edmonton property owners aren't always sure exactly how long to wait between drain cleaning appointments, though. If you are looking for the benefits of preventative maintenance, it can be challenging to determine an exact timeline, as it varies based on several key factors, and different households use their plumbing systems in varying ways. After all, the City of Edmonton spent $10 million each year on drain maintenance for its own public sewer system.

That being said, bi-annual drain cleaning is likely going to be sufficient to keep pipes clear and wastewater flowing for a typical single-family home. If you have a very large family or live in a multi-family building, it may be necessary as often as every year because increased usage puts more strain on the lines and creates more opportunities for clogs. It's also worth noting that some commercial businesses, especially restaurants and other hospitality businesses that rely heavily on commercial plumbing systems, will likely need drain cleaning more than once per year.

Aside from professional drain cleaning, Edmonton homeowners can also take care of a few tasks that will help significantly in avoiding issues such as clogged drains and slowing the effects of wear and tear.

Here are a few preventive maintenance tips for your wastewater disposal lines:

• Avoid pouring liquid grease, oil, and fat into your kitchen sink drain, and keep greasy or fatty foods out of your garbage disposal.
• If you don’t have a garbage disposal, and even if you do, always use your kitchen sink strainer to keep food scraps from slipping into your wastewater lines.
• Don’t flush anything other than toilet paper and human waste in your toilet—most notably, keep in mind that “flushable” wipes are really not flushable.
• Add drain screens to your bathtub and shower drains, and to your bathroom sink if you brush your hair over it. These basic mesh covers fit over drain openings and prevent most hair strands from entering your sewer lines.

Yes, hydro jetting is safe for your drains, as it does not use harmful chemicals that can cause pipe corrosion. Over time, the harsh chemical solutions you can buy at your local grocery store can cause your pipes to deteriorate due to their corrosive, harmful properties that slowly strip away the inner linings of your drainage system.

Hydro jetting utilizes high-pressure jets that are safe for your pipes. Instead of chemicals, it only uses water, which means a reduced risk of compromising the integrity of your home. Your drain system is a vital aspect of your home, and we will always ensure that your drain remains in the best possible condition.

During our initial inspection, our Edmonton drain cleaning experts send a small, flexible video camera to assess the condition of your pipes and examine them to ensure they are in good condition. If they don't, we can recommend additional services to help you avoid costly damage.

It should take roughly 1 to 4 hours, or sometimes longer, depending on the particles that are clinging to the inside of your pipes. Our team will always be prompt and provide a thorough drain cleaning, so Edmonton residents can avoid the risk of clogs and deal with water that won't drain from their pipes.

You will need to check your lot grading, clean your gutters, and ensure surface water drains away from your foundation to prevent damage. Improper grading is a common cause of basement flooding in Edmonton homes. Contact the City of Edmonton 311 service to report persistent drainage issues on your property.

A permit is not required to maintain or clean your drains; however, plumbing alterations do require a plumbing permit. Plumbing work that affects fixtures or pipe layout must comply with City regulations and be performed by licensed plumbers. Always verify with the City before major plumbing work to avoid fines or non-compliance.

You should avoid planting any trees or shrubs near sewer lines and consider an annual inspection and root treatment if you have mature trees on your property. Tree root intrusion causes frequent blockages and costly repairs in mature Edmonton neighbourhoods. A professional video camera inspection is recommended to catch any tree root issues early and to formulate a plan of action.

While regular drain cleaning removes debris and helps keep everything running smoothly, it also prevents foul odours, reduces pipe corrosion, and extends the lifespan of your plumbing system. EPCOR's maintenance program reports indicate that with scheduled drain cleaning, fewer emergency repairs were required. For the best results, pair regular drain cleaning with good drain habits.

Gurgling sounds that come from your walls or drain often indicate air trapped inside due to slow or obstructed drain lines. This is more of a warning sign, suggesting that a blockage in your drain is forming, and it is common in older Edmonton homes. Don't ignore gurgling; call a plumber to diagnose the issue before a severe blockage occurs.

Edmonton's freeze-thaw cycles affect drain and sewer pipes by causing soil to shift, putting stress on the buried pipes. This stress leads to cracks, leaks, misaligned joints, and an increased risk of blockages or tree-root intrusions. In fact, City drainage and adaptation documents emphasize surface drainage and lot grading management because of the moisture and freeze-thaw conditions. Basements and plumbing infrastructure are at high risk. Once winter is over, we recommend investing in a camera inspection to analyze old sewer laterals. If you notice gurgling, slow drains, or soft spots in the yard near the sewer line, call us for drain cleaning. Edmonton plumbers will get to your home quickly to prevent a backup from occurring.

Edmonton plumbers never recommend using chemical drain cleaners for cleaning your drains because frequent use of harsh chemicals can create pipe corrosion, leaks, and will not effectively remove stubborn blockages. Plumbing professionals commonly warn that chemical cleaners can damage older or already compromised pipes. 

On the other hand, hydro jetting is eco-friendly and safe for older pipes needing drain cleaning. Edmonton homes with older cast-iron or clay piping should never use chemical cleaners. Instead, our plumbers will use a cable machine or hydro jetting to protect the line and achieve longer-lasting results.

If you’re experiencing issues with tough clogs, turn to the experts for help with drain cleaning in Edmonton. It’s important to keep in mind that only a licensed plumber will be able to guarantee the work performed in your home. We care about customer satisfaction and, most importantly, their safety and well-being.

If you seek superior quality work combined with friendly customer service, the choice is obvious: contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton today to request a job estimate from our certified plumbers. From drain cleaning to sewer cleaning services, we look forward to exceeding your expectations.

Give us a call today to book your local drain service!