What are the Common Drain Problems?
The most typical calls we get for a drain are due to a plugged drain, sewer flood, an overflow, or a backed-up drain. Sometimes these drain issues are simple blockages, but in some cases can, or are causing real damage.
When you call “Your Personal Plumbers” at Eric's Plumbing & Drain Cleaning our customer care representative will ask you a series of questions to better understand the type of back up you are having. This is so we can better prepare your plumber for your problem, determine the level of emergency, and ensure we have all the equipment necessary.
These questions will let us know if it is a main line problem or a secondary drain backup. Though these phone questions are important, we will not be able to fully diagnose your problem over the phone, but it will give us a start. An in-home drain inspection or diagnostic will be needed to give clear direction.
This evaluation will allow us to better serve you and to get to know your home better. Once we can determine the problem, we can then start building options for you. Every home and problem are different, not every drain takes the same amount of time or equipment.
Often plumbers will entice a customer with very low drain fee, with criteria that most drain cleanings won’t meet. Often the customer is surprised by the proposal given. At Eric’s Plumbing & Drain, we don’t believe this is a good way to start off a long-term relationship. It will usually lead to unrealistic expectations of what you get for that price and a bad break up. We come to your home ready to work, diagnose the problem, present transparent pricing from our Straight-Forward Pricing Guide, and as you choose, we fix it – guaranteed.
How Can We Take Care of Your Drain Problem?
Let’s start with a main line back up and visual inspection with the use of a sewer camera. In order to access this line, we will need to enter through a cleanout in the yard in the home (typically located in the wall) or by pulling a toilet. Then we will use a special camera to follow the line down, showing us the line condition, blockages, roots, offsets, bellies, other abnormalities, or even if the line is in proper shape.
Sometimes, the conditions are such that water has filled the line. Unfortunately, you cannot see anything reliably under water and determining an issue in the dark is almost impossible. Try watching a movie blind folded and with no sound. You will get as much information about that movie as you would with a camera that can’t see underwater. We will then have to clear the line and get it flowing again first. Then, at that point, a visual camera inspection can be done.
There are some circumstances where the line cannot be cleared and the experience of our plumbers can make a good assessment without a visual inspection. Then, the camera may be put down the line to locate the area where the camera stops. Cool right? That is because our special cameras send a signal to a hand-held locator telling it where it is located underground. We have great plumbers with great tools; We will fix it.
To clear your main line we may present some of these options: Auger, Hydro-Jet, and Flex Shaft Sometimes, it may take a combination of tools or procedures to clear a line. For example, after augering a line, it may be determined that further work needs to be done like jetting to clear sludge, or descaling using the flex shaft machine, or even to clear the line of all roots.
Secondary Drains
For a secondary drain we would access this at the drain location…or even on the roof. Many people ask, “why do you get up the roof"? Well, each drain in your home lets water flow down the drain, but also connected to each drain is a vent that extends up to the roof. This is so each drain can “breathe”. It’s like putting your finger over a straw when it is in water. When you pull the straw out, the water stays in the straw until you take your finger off – or ‘vent’ it. Besides allowing air into the pipe which facilitates draining, this opening also gives practical access to the drainpipe for clearing blockages.
The same options for a main line may also be proposed for your kitchen drain or other secondary line. We also highly recommend hydro-jetting your kitchen drains. These drains notoriously become coated in grease and sludge which slows or blocks drainage. We will give you the best options and best experience. We’ll be transparent and straight with you. Ask to see our “Straight Forward Pricing Guide”. Call us today if you are experiencing drain issues.