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Clogged Plumbing Issues and Why You Should Jet Your Drains

Home maintenance can be a nightmare, especially where plumbing is concerned. There’s nothing quite like backed up sewage to spoil the rest of your day. Clogged plumbing isn’t just a nuisance though; it can lead to serious house damage and health hazards.  Foul odors from a clogged drain full of pollutants can seep into your home. Plumbing untreated can lead to flooding, filling your floors with contaminated water, which can lead to mold, damaged floors or carpeting, and a very expensive clean up. Hydro-Jetting is not only economical, it’s a quick and environmentally friendly method for unclogging slow moving or completely plugged drains. As one of the most effective ways to clean pipe blockages, hydro-jetting works by spraying a continuous blast of high-pressure water (up to 60,000 psi) through a hose that’s pushed down the drain line. Whereas there are other solutions such as a plumbing snake, hydro-jetting is best used for major build ups of sludge and grease, made over time.

What Are The Warning Signs of Clogged Plumbing?

Nobody wants sewage flooding their basement. Thankfully the warning signs of clogged plumbing are easy to spot. It’s important to note that not all plumbing repairs are as simple as using a plunger or chemical drain cleaner. If you notice anything wrong with your plumbing, you need to contact a professional. Here are a few things to watch out for.

• Slow drains. If your sink or toilet is slow to drain, there could be an issue with your plumbing. A slow drain could usually mean a buildup of mineral or grease, or an improper grading of your draining system.
• Frequent clogs. The bathroom, whether it’s your tub, shower, or sink, is notorious for getting clogged with all the hair that gets washed down them. If you’re cleaning the hair of the drain too often, it’s a good sign that you have some clogged plumbing.
• Multiple clogged drains. If more than one sink, toilet, or tub is clogged at the same time, there’s a good chance that there’s a clog somewhere in your main drain system and not an individual drain.
• Washing machine causing toilet clog. An odd warning sign, but if you notice after running the washing machine, that your toilet is overflowing or backing up into the shower or tub, that could be a sign that the sewer main is clogged.
• Percolating toilet. Another odd sign, again usually triggered by using the washing machine, is if your toilet starts making noises. If your toilet sounds like your coffeemaker, then you have clogged plumbing.
• When you drain a sink or flush a toilet, and you notice bubbles rising as the water drains, this could be a sign of clogged plumbing. Bubbles form when water tries to get past the drain, and air is trapped as a result.
• A very foul odor. All drains have a trap where water sits to prevent sewer gases from backing up into the house. If the pressure in the drains is too high, that can drain all the water out, and nothing is left to prevent those nasty gases from stinking up your home.
• Sewage backup. The worst symptom is a bathroom or basement flooded with contaminated water. If your drains start backing up sewage, contact a professional immediately.

The Perks of Hydro-Jetting Your Plumbing

If you’re already suffering from clogged plumbing, hydro-jetting is one of the most effective ways to get the job done. It’s a long-term solution for what hopefully won’t happen too often in your home. It’s important to remember that even the smallest drain issue can build up to some serious plumbing damage. Don’t hesitate if you notice an issue with your sink or toilet. There are other methods out there to combat clogged plumbing, but none of them as effective as hydro-jetting, and here’s why.

• It clears up major clogs. When grease and grime, plug your plumbing, hydro-jetting can remove the sludge with its high-pressure stream, versus a plumbing snake or chemical drain cleaners.
• It cleans up your pipes. Oil and grease can be serious problems for your plumbing. Chemicals and snaking remove what’s in the center of the pipe, but not what’s stuck to the pipe walls. Hydro-jetting not only removes what remains of the pipe walls, it cleans your pipes, improving the health of your pipes and removing bacteria.
• It can remove tree roots. Tree roots are known to get caught in plumbing, and methods such as snaking aren’t strong enough to remove the tree roots.
• It doesn’t risk your health. Sometimes all a clog needs is a little draino, but filling your drain with toxic cleaning chemicals can put yourself at risk. Chemical drain cleaners, when in contact with skin, can cause rashes or burns, and the fumes can cause respiratory problems. Hydro-jetting uses water to unclog drains, meaning there are no harmful or toxic chemicals used.
• It prevents future clogs. Since hydro-jetting clears your pipes of any deep-set clogs, cleaning them, and removing any buildup, it’s less likely for new clogs to emerge.

Avoid the Unwanted Clean Up

If you notice your sink is slow to drain or that your toilet’s talking back to you, it’s time to contact a professional. Don’t wait for the worst case scenario, and end up calling people in to drain out sewage water.

A plumbing technician can identify the problem and fix it to prevent further damage to your plumbing – so don’t wait, call Cranney Home Services today for clogged plumbing issues!