Clogged drains can be a real annoyance, especially around the holidays with so much extra usage from visiting family and friends. There are usually two types of clogs that occur in the house: One is a branch line clog that feeds a specific fixture like a shower or sink; the other is a clog affecting the main sewer lateral, the pipe that transports wastewater from all of the drains in your home to the public sewer main.
Clogged sewer laterals outside of the home can be particularly troubling because the result can be a backup at the lowest point in the house, and that could cause water damage. It’s best not to ignore the warning signs, which include a foul or general sewage type odor, gurgling in the pipes and faucets, or a slow-running drain.
Often the best solution is to do regular maintenance before the problem becomes an emergency. Another good solution for treating a clogged drain is to run a drain-cleaning machine with specific cable heads. Properties that have older, mature trees can have issues with tree roots getting into the sewer line. Again, it’s preventive maintenance that can save you the headache here, and having the line cleaned out with a root-cutting head once a year.
There’s also equipment available that takes out some of the guesswork. High-definition cameras can be sent down the sewer line, to see exactly what the problem is. This can help locate a break, separation, root intrusion or a belly in the sewer line (a sag or low spots). A locator that picks up a frequency sent by the end of the camera head is used here, and it will let you know the exact location of a problem. It can also help determine the depth of the pipe.
As for over-the-counter liquid drain cleaners, they’re fine if they work, but if they don’t work, they can end up just sitting in the pipe and causing even more damage. Or sometimes they will harden up like a rock due to just sitting in the pipe. That will lead to a more expensive repair, which will involve cutting out and replacing the pipe.
It’s always best to consult a professional when it comes to drain cleaning. Doing so can actually end up saving money in the long run and avoiding emergencies at the worst time.
