Most home owners spend little time thinking about their drains, but
when a stoppage occurs, it can be frustrating. You don’t know how it
happened, nor do you know how to fix it.
There are a variety of reasons that a drain can become clogged, and
much of it depends upon where the stoppage occurs. Unlike plumbing
pipes, drain pipes have no pressure. They are slightly inclined and use
gravity to move the waste. They begin at a specific point such as the
kitchen or bathroom sink. The drain pipe then extends to the main drain
line that extends out to the street. This is where the main sewer line
of the city is located.
When you see only one drain clogged, it is because the stoppage
occurs before the drain pipe connects to another pipe. Sometimes all the
drains will be clogged. This will mean that there is a stoppage that
occurs in the main line to the street.
There are different ways to clear the stoppage. The most common is
the use of a drain cleaning machine. These consist of long flexible rods
that rotate as they are pushed through the drain. They have cleaning
fixtures on the ends to ensure the drain is cleaned as well as the
cleared of the stoppage.
There are large versions of these machines designed to clear the
main line. Often this line is clogged because of the roots of trees
nearby. Over time the roots grow through small seams in the piping
connections and debris collects on the roots causing a stoppage. These
drain cleaning machines can be equipped with cutting blades to break
through the roots.
Most stoppages occur simply because drains need to be cleaned from
time to time. Build up of waste in the line will occur, and you will
need the drain pipe cleaned. The main line, however, is another issue. A
persistent problem can be from trees and other vegetation. If this is
the case, the trees will have to be removed, or a cleanout can be
installed.
If you are experiencing a slow or clogged drain, do not attempt to
clear it yourself. Simply contact All About The Pipes Plumbing, and they
can clear the drain as well as make future recommendations for your
drainage system.