Although it’s not the most glamorous part of your home, your plumbing plays a critical role in keeping you comfortable. Mr. Rooter plumbing of Regina realizes that most homeowners might not be familiar with the details of their sewers and drains or how a proper cleaning works so we’ve compiled the basics of what you need to know.
Here are the top five things you must know about your sewer and drain drains:
1.Signs That a Problem is Coming
Plumbing, like anything else, deteriorates over time. There’s no stopping it. That’s why at one point or another we’ve all experienced some problematic signs indicating a drain cleaning should be around the corner.
Here are some of the signs that you can detect without the help of a professional:
- Odours - if there’s a foul smell coming from any of the plumbing outlets in your home it’s a sure sign that there’s an issue down below. Something has stopped on its way down the drain and is literally rotting in your pipes.
- Slow draining - an obvious one that often goes ignored until it comes to a flood in the home. Slow draining occurs because an obstruction isn’t allowing the water to pass through as it should.
- Gurgling - a sound to look out for in your walls. Sometimes water will go down your drain only to meet a blockage further down your pipes. At this point it’ll slow down significantly trying to pass through the smaller opening, gurgling along its way.
2.Sewer and Drain Cleaning Isn’t Just for Clogs
Clogs should be a thing of the past. With proper homeowner maintenance and plumber checkups, you should never even experience them. A clog in your home means that you’ve gone much too long without a drain cleaning or have placed something in your plumbing that you shouldn’t have.
We recommend that you have your drains and sewer lines checked out every year or two by a licensed plumbing professional as a form of preventative maintenance.
3.The Dangers of Sewer Backups
Many homeowners hate to see their own wastewater overflowing in their home let alone public waste backing up into their homes. The main reason that you want to get your sewer lines cleaned regularly is to prevent sewer backup from entering your home. Exposure to wastewater can result in serious health concerns for you and your family. The bacteria and viruses that exist in wastewater can cause you to get serious infections and could even harm your pets. This further stresses the importance of sewer and drain cleaning in your home.
4.What a Professional Plumber Can Do
Aside from the experience and knowledge that a professional plumber brings when assessing the situation, there are several ways to handle your sewer and drain cleaning.
- Plumber’s Snake - a professional auger that you would never invest in yourself can pull out some of the world’s toughest clogs. Your plumber will insert the coil tip of the snake down the drain and twist it into the clog. When the snake is pulled back up, so is the nasty clog (hopefully).
- Pressure cleaning - Water at high pressures can jet wash anything that’s sticking to the walls of your pipes. Goodbye, clog - you never stood a chance.
- Camera - your professional plumber should have a camera that can submerge down into your sewer lines and drain pipes. This handy device will show you exactly what’s wreaking havoc down in your plumbing.
5.What You Can Do on Your Own
Most importantly, you can properly maintain your plumbing system through monitoring what goes down your drains and regularly using eco-friendly cleaning products to eat away at anything stuck to the inside of your pipes. We recommend a bacterial cleaning agent that safely eats away at the residue on the walls of your pipes. Make this part of your monthly plumbing maintenance routine.
Next, make sure to never flush any grease, food or hair down any of your drains. Contrary to popular belief, your toilet cannot handle leftovers.
Should you be experiencing a clog that you want to try tackling on your own first, try using a manual hand snake or pouring hot water down the problematic drain.
Do keep in mind that if you are experiencing a persisting clog, it’s time to call a professional plumber to come to the rescue. Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Regina at
(306) 205-1817 to schedule your drain cleaning appointment today.