The Plumbing in a home or business is a diverse arrangement of pipes, fittings and fixtures that supply the building with potable water and removes any sewage that may occur. Unfortunately, these systems are not perfect. In fact, they will eventually require the help of an expert. For example, a blockage that interrupts the drain system could be a simple clog in the toilet, tub, shower or sink. Sadly, most homeowners does not have any skills in the maintenance or repair of these systems.
Major clogs may also be the result of gunk in a pipe trap or a massive blockage in the main sewer line. The average homeowner does not have the patience required to fix this kind of failure. In fact, most property owners would prefer that professional contractors with better skills eliminate the issue, so it is handled correctly.
Eliminating a clog might be possible by plunging the problem area or forcing a bit of air into the pipes. Be careful with the latter option because too much pressure could damage the pipe or the joints that hold them together. This is one reason that hiring an experienced plumber is always a great choice. Plumbing designs can be complicated, and most folks don’t want or need to understand why certain pipes are installed the way they are.
Consider the pipe traps whose primary purpose is to block the return of sewer gases. They handle this task by collecting a bit of water in the crook of the trap. If the pipe is improperly installed, then the trap may not hold enough water to do its job. Conversely, the trap could be installed in such a way that it blocks the flow of water or increases the time required for draining the vessel.
Eliminating a blockage deep in the sewer lines requires the use of certain tools. The most common are the pipe snake, also known as a rooter. This tool uses an attached auger to push its way through a clog. The plumber should also check for blockages with the video snake. This is another tool attached to a long, flexible cable that allows the operator of the video system to peer deep into the pipes. If the rooter didn’t eliminate the whole clog, then the experts may need to use a more forceful option known as hydro-jetting or water jetting.
