Drain Cleaning Tampa alleviates clogged drains, sewer, and septic systems. It also helps prevent serious damage that can result from a serious clog.
Caustic drain cleaners such as lye and caustic potash are bases that introduce electrons to the organic clog material, breaking it down. They also generate heat and release gas to help remove obstructions.
Hydro jetting is a powerful tool that professionals use to blast away obstructions like grease, soap, dirt, mineral deposits, and tree roots. This process involves sending pressurized water through a long hose with a specialized nozzle attached at the end. The plumber will then fire the nozzle at a drain or sewer line to remove all buildup within the pipes while keeping them safe from damage.
The best part about hydro jetting is that it uses zero chemicals. Store-bought drain cleaners contain harmful acids and other ingredients that can eat away at your pipes, which can lead to costly repairs in the future. Hydro jetting is the perfect alternative, as it doesn’t only destroy clogs but also cleans and flushes your entire plumbing system.
If your home is plagued with repeated clogs, or if your sewage line backs up into the house, then it’s likely time to call a professional for hydro jetting. However, you should always have your pipes inspected by a plumber before getting hydro jetting. Some pipes are too old or damaged to withstand such high water pressure, and only an experienced plumber can make this determination through a thorough onsite inspection.
Restaurants are another type of property that commonly needs hydro jetting. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) accumulate in kitchen drains and can cause blockages that are difficult to break apart with a snake or chemical cleaners. For this reason, restaurants should have their main sewer lines hydro jeted every year or so to ensure that they’re not dealing with dangerous raw sewage backups.
The Cost of Hydro Jetting
The cost of hydro jetting depends on several factors including clog severity and location, as well as the condition and accessibility of your pipes. If the clog is located deep in the pipes, then it will take more time to clear and can increase your overall bill. Additionally, if your pipes are in poor condition, then they may need to be replaced before hydro jetting can safely occur.
The best way to avoid expensive drain cleaning bills is to prevent clogs and maintain your pipes with regular maintenance services, such as snaking or chemical cleaners. However, if you do encounter a stubborn clog, then hydro jetting is a great option that can quickly and thoroughly clear out your pipes without damaging them.
Chemical Cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners are liquids, gels, or powders that travel down the drain to break up and dissolve severe clogs. They usually contain strong acids, bases, or oxidizers that travel down the pipe and attack the organic material in the drain and clog until it is small enough to be pushed through the pipes. Most of these products come with instructions on how to use them and what safety precautions to take while using them. It is recommended that you read the instructions carefully before starting to use any chemical drain cleaner.
Oxidizing cleaners are typically comprised of household bleach, peroxides, and nitrates that cause an oxidation reaction within the organic material in the drain and clog, which breaks it down into smaller pieces that can be pushed through the pipes more easily. These types of cleaners are generally safer than acidic drain cleaners and are a good option for removing soft hair or soap clogs.
Acidic drain cleaners aren’t often used in homes as they are very potent and may damage modern plastic or PVC pipes. They also may destroy older metal pipes and can release chemicals into the environment that are harmful to aquatic life. These cleaners also release strong fumes that can irritate eyes and lungs, especially when working around them for extended periods of time.
Caustic drain cleaners are commonly made of sodium hydroxide (lye or potash) that breaks down fatty substances and soaps by chemically dissolving them. These types of cleaners are effective at removing grease clogs as they are able to melt and liquefy fats, oils, and waxes.
These types of cleaners aren’t good for septic systems as they can kill the bacteria that break down waste in the tank and cause it to overflow into the home. They are also dangerous for the environment as they can pollute the water supply and poison plants and animals that live near the drain lines. It is important to always consult a professional before using any chemical drain cleaner in your home and always follow the directions on the label.
Enzyme Cleaners
Enzyme drain cleaners are a natural solution to organic material buildup in commercial drain lines. The enzymes in these cleaners act as natural bacteria that break down the organic materials in a drain line. This helps to remove odors, slow drains and clogs. These cleaners are safe for use in most drain lines and will not harm stainless steel pipes or septic systems.
Commercial drain lines are susceptible to a wide range of problems, from foul odors that drive away customers to issues with the plumbing system that can lead to costly maintenance and downtime. Many of these problems stem from a buildup of organic matter such as food particles, hair, paper products, or other waste. An enzyme-based drain cleaner can quickly and safely fix these problems without the need for a corrosive chemical or a caustic cleaner that can damage or erode a plumbing pipe.
The key to using an enzymatic drain cleaner is to follow the product’s label instructions closely. Most of these cleaners require you to pour them down a drain and let them sit overnight or for several hours while they break down the organic material in your drain line. After the enzymatic cleaner has done its work, it is important to flush the drain with warm water to wash away any remaining debris and to help prevent a clog.
There are simple enzymatic cleaners that can be purchased in most hardware stores and even some grocery stores. These are usually formulated to break down the proteins and fats that make up most household dirt and grime. These cleaners are a good choice for kitchen sinks, garbage disposals and bathtub/shower drains. There are also extended-performance bacterial enzymatic cleaners that can be used in most drain lines, including septic tanks and main sewer connections. These cleaners are formulated to break down larger molecules such as FOG (fats, oils and grease) that can cause black slime build-up in drain lines and clogged sinks, toilets, tubs and showers.
Both types of enzymatic cleaners are more natural than chemical cleaners and do not require the use of caustic chemicals that can damage or erode your plumbing pipes. The only drawback to enzymatic cleaners is that they are not as fast-acting as chemical-based drain cleaners and may take a few hours for them to completely clear your clogged drain.
Plumber’s Snake
Drain snakes are the tools that plumbers use to remove tough clogs. They have long cables that uncoil from a drum and have a corkscrew-like auger on the end. They can be either hand-cranked or powered by an electric motor.
Unlike a drain auger, which is more powerful and designed for larger clogs in sewer pipes, a plumber’s snake is smaller and can be used on household plumbing. The cable can extend up to 25 feet and is pushed down the drain by the user. If it encounters an obstruction, the auger head twists and entangles it. Then, the snake is pulled up through the pipe and the clog is removed with it.
When using a plumber’s snake, the user should always wear rubber gloves for safety and carefully feed the head of the snake into the drain. They should also keep the handle close to the drain entrance and rotate it at a slow steady pace. Attempting to push it into the pipe with too much force can damage the drain entrance and the pipes.
Once the snake is inserted, the user should slowly crank the handle to propel the cable through the pipe. As they do so, they should feel for resistance that indicates they are coming up against an obstruction. When this happens, the operator should stop cranking and pull up the snake.
If they are unable to break up the clog or if the drain snake gets stuck, it might be time to call in a professional plumber. Otherwise, continuing to use the drain snake might result in further damage to the pipes and could even cause the snake itself to break.
Using a drain snake to remove stubborn clogs can help you avoid expensive repair bills in the future. However, to prevent drain clogs from occurring in the first place, try to throw away food scraps rather than washing them down the sink and install a garbage disposal. You can also prevent buildup by putting strainers in your drains and bathtubs to catch bigger debris. And, most importantly, run water for a few minutes after using the sinks and tubs to flush away any remaining debris.