Drain and sewer cleaning procedures are both fairly common and they serve a unique purpose. However, many of our clients tend to confuse the two, and we want to go into greater detail about what separates them. You should remember that the clean water that comes from your plumbing fixture will then enter your drain containing dirt, debris and organic waste materials. The drain then transfers any wastewater to your sewer line. Over time, however, a clog begins to develop, but the location and cause of the clog are what makes it important to know these differences.
Here is what differentiates drain and sewer cleaning services:
Drain Cleaning
Drain clogs involve the individual drains throughout your home that are attached to various plumbing fixtures, such as your kitchen sinks, faucets, toilets, and shower drains. You can also add laundry room sinks and drains to that list.
Why does the clog occur in your drain in the first place? There are several reasons why this happens. It usually has to do with the stuff that you are sending down your drain, to begin with. Kitchen sinks in particular are prone to clogs because we tend to send grease, oil and remnants of food down them. Grease and oil will coagulate and form a gunky layer of buildup along the inside of your pipes. It’s common for homeowners to get into fo habit of sending anything down their garbage disposal, which is something you want to avoid.
Drain cleaning is a much more simple process than sewer line cleaning and it’s because the issue is usually isolated to a single plumbing fixture. This makes it much easier to locate the clog and go about removing it. Professional plumbing services are very effective at unclogging shower drains as well as other bathroom and kitchen drains. Among the more common drain cleaning methods include hydro jetting and drain snaking. A drain specialist will know exactly which method to utilize given your circumstances.
Sewer Cleaning
A clogged sewer line is a lot more worrisome than a clogged drain. Why? It’s where all the drains in your home converge to dispose of any wastewater and sewage. When your sewer line is clear and free of any buildup, then all you need to worry about are the individual drains throughout your home. However, if the clog occurs inside your sewer line, then this will affect every drain throughout your home. A severe clog will slow down the draining process and make it much more difficult to dispose of wastewater and sewage. Depending on the severity of your clogged sewer line, you may need to contact a 24-hour emergency plumbing service.
How do sewer lines get clogged in the first place? It can happen for many different reasons, but not in the exact same way as a drain clog occurs. In addition to all the food and waste material entering your sewer line, you also have additional sources of a clog: wet wipes, soap scum and various hygiene products, such as detergent and body wash. Also, another common cause of a clogged sewer line is due to tree root intrusion. This is where an overgrowing tree root collides with your sewer line and creates a blockage. Furthermore, the ground underneath your home tends to undergo geological shifting that will degrade your sewer line over time.
When you experience a clogged sewer line, your plumbing repair specialist will need to undergo a camera inspection. This involves the use of video and audio monitoring equipment to determine the exact cause and location of the clog inside your sewer line. This will eliminate any guesswork involved in undergoing sewer cleaning procedures while also making it easier to determine the best course of action in removing any clog.
Drain Cleaning
Drain clogs involve the individual drains throughout your home that are attached to various plumbing fixtures, such as your kitchen sinks, faucets, toilets, and shower drains. You can also add laundry room sinks and drains to that list.
Why does the clog occur in your drain in the first place? There are several reasons why this happens. It usually has to do with the stuff that you are sending down your drain, to begin with. Kitchen sinks in particular are prone to clogs because we tend to send grease, oil and remnants of food down them. Grease and oil will coagulate and form a gunky layer of buildup along the inside of your pipes. It’s common for homeowners to get into fo habit of sending anything down their garbage disposal, which is something you want to avoid.
Common Problems
Despite their differences, it will benefit you either way to undergo regular drain and sewer cleaning services. It serves as a kind of preventive procedure that eliminates any future issues – issues that are easily avoidable. Here are some of the more common warning signs:
- Slow drains: A particular plumbing fixture in your home is slow to drain out any water.
- Recurring clogs: Despite undergoing multiple drain snaking procedures, the clog keeps recurring. This is usually a sign that you should hire a professional to undergo drain cleaning services.
- Nasty smells: Are you at home and you suddenly smell an awful odor in every room? This typically indicates that certain pollutants are collecting inside your drainage system.
- Overflowing toilets: This is a common problem that any plumbing specialist can remedy. There are several methods they can employ to unclog your toilet.
- Backups: Backups are never fun to deal with because they pose a major health and safety risk to you and your family. With any backup, sewage and wastewater are like to enter your home, which creates an incredibly unsanitary situation.
- Gurgling drains: Any noise that emanates from your drain usually means that there is a clog or buildup inside it.
Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting is quickly becoming the most efficient method of removing clogs and blockage inside residential and commercial plumbing systems. A professional plumber makes use of highly-pressurized water hoses that blast water throughout your system, including your drain and water lines. It is incredibly effective in removing hair, silt, sand, debris, grease, food buildup, tree roots and much more. Hydro jetting will also eliminate any limescale that is building up inside your system.
Most homes and businesses are now utilizing hydro jetting for its efficiency and ease of use. It will remove most clogs and obstructions inside your drains and sewer lines. However, we should inform you that only a residential or commercial plumbing service will have access to the equipment to undergo proper hydro jetting procedures.
Have any questions about the differences between drain and sewer cleaning services? Give us a call today! One of our plumbing experts can explain everything in greater detail.