Sewer Line Installation and Repair

Plumbing contractors provide a wide range of plumbing services to residential, industrial and commercial customers alike.  One of the services is the repair of existing sewer lines, as well of the installation of new sewer lines.  In most cases, the repair or installation of the sewer line, which runs to the structure to the public sewer system, is the responsibility of the homeowner up to the property line.

One of the most common issues that plumbing contractors come across is issues related to the sewer line that services the home or business requiring repairs.  These repairs include blockages as a result of broken or collapsed pipes, root intrusion where pipes have separated, damages from utility or other contractors, pipes that are not back pitched, settled ground around pipes and excessive grease build of in the pipe.   In many cases the damaged section of the pipe can be simply repaired, by replacing the affected area.  The plumber will use a special camera, which is inserted into the pipe, to diagnose the issue.  The camera provides the plumber with a real time view of the inside of the pipe and also helps pinpoint the location, which results in a minimal amount of yard damage related to the repair.

In most cases the installation of a new sewer line is the result of disconnecting a home or a business from a septic system and connecting it to a new public sewer line, which has recently been installed in the area.  While there is a cost of installing the line there are many advantages to connecting to the public sewer system including avoiding yearly septic inspections and service.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

Dealing With Grease, Fats and Oils

Grease, fats, and oils are common household waste products that many people routinely pour down the drain.  However, pouring grease, fats and oils down the drain can lead to clogged drain lines and sewer lines.  A clogged sewer line can cause raw sewage to back up into your home which is not only inconvenient but also unsanitary.

Greases, fats and oils cause clogs by sticking to the walls of your drain lines and sewer lines.  Over time, they can build up into a thick coating that restricts wastewater flow through the pipe.  Other materials such as coffee grounds, gristle, vegetable peels, hair, and debris stick to the greasy layer on the wall of the pipe and eventually build into a nasty clog.

Many homeowners mistakenly use hot water to flush grease, oil and fats down the drain thinking that the hot water will help flush them through the system.  Using hot water can actually make the problem worse because it liquefies the grease, fats and oils and helps them coat the walls of the drain pipe and sewer line as the water cools and the grease, fat and oils solidify.

You can avoid having to call an experienced Orlando plumber for sewer service to clear your clogged sewer lines by following good habits when dealing with grease, fats, and oils.  First, don’t pour grease, fats, or oils down the drain.  Second, scrape food scraps from dishes, pots, pans, and cooking utensils directly into the trash instead of down the garbage disposal.  Finally, liquefied fats, oils and greases should be poured into a storage container like a jar or coffee can and allowed to solidify.  Dispose of solidified grease, fats and oil in the trash or by taking them to your local recycling center.

Hydro Jetting For Tough Clogs

If your sinks, toilets, and drain lines keep backing up and snaking the drain does not seem to fix the problem, you may need high pressure hydro-jetting.  For homes, apartments, offices and restaurants, high pressure hydro jetting is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of sludge, grease and debris trapped in your sewer and drain lines.

Whether it’s in the kitchen or your sewer line, drains become clogged over time. Debris settles in, creating sludge which is hard to remove. If tree roots have infiltrated your drain lines or sewer lines, sludge and other debris will collect on the roots and form a clog.

An electric cable machine or a drain snake can provide temporary relief by punching through the clog, but chances the problem hasn’t been fixed. The clog will begin re-forming almost immediately and the drain will need to be cleared again.  High pressure hydro jetting will the entire clog and the debris and it will be much less likely that the clog will re-form

Hydro jetting uses highly pressurized water sprayed through special nozzles to blast through the clog and wash away the clog and debris.  Hydro jetting also cuts through and removes most tree roots.  The high pressure water scours the inside of the sewer line or drain pipe and removes grease, sludge, and other debris.  The inside of the pipe is left clean and clear of foreign material.  When used by an experienced plumbing professional, hydro-jetting is a safe, effective way to clear tough clogs.

Clogged Toilets

Nothing ruins your morning faster than a clogged toilet.  One minute everything is going great:  you’re getting ready for work and the kids are getting ready to head off to school.  The next minute the toilet is overflowing, the dog is barking, the kids are yelling, and the bathroom floor is covered with water and sewage.

When you are faced with a clogged toilet, your instinct is often to try to get it cleared so you can get on with the important things you need to do that day.  Before you take any action you should first try to find out what type of clog you are dealing with.  You may be able to save yourself the mess and frustration of wasting time on a clog that needs a professional plumber.

A backed up toilet is usually the result of a localized toilet clog, a vent stack clog, or a clogged sewer main.  You can tell if the clog is most likely a localized toilet clog by seeing if your other drains are flowing freely.  Try flushing a different toilet or running water in a sink in the lower level of your home.  If these drains flow freely, then the clog is probably localized in the stopped up toilet.

If you are so inclined, this type of clog can often be cleared using a plunger or common plumbing snake.  Otherwise, one of your local experienced Smyrna plumbers can quickly get it cleared for you.

If there are drainage problems in other areas of your home, you probably have either a clogged vent stack or a clogged sewer main.  For both of these types of clogs, don’t waste your time with the plunger.  Clean up the water on the floor and call a plumbing professional.

Root Control In Plumbing Systems

Roots from trees, shrubs, and other plants can cause serious clogging problems with your sewer and drain lines.  Roots naturally seek moisture, and they will find any cracks or joints in your sewer lines that allow any moisture to leak out.  The roots will then infiltrate the sewer line and continue to grow.  Roots in your sewer line will collect debris and partially or completely block your sewer line.

Backups cause by roots can be temporarily cleared by rootering or hydro-jetting, but they will continue to re-occur as long as the underlying problem exists.  The roots will soon grow back and a new clog will occur.

One way to prevent root intrusion is to replace your sewer line.  This is a very messy and expensive alternative, especially if your sewer line is otherwise in good condition.  Another way is to remove the offending trees, shrubs, and plants, but many times the trees shrubs or plants contribute to the beauty of the landscape.  Also, tree root systems can grow very long, and it may not be practical to remove all of the trees near the sewer line.

If your sewer line is in good condition and removing all nearby trees, shrubs and plants is not a practical alternative, there are root control herbicides available that can kill intruding roots.  Products such as RootX are designed to foam up inside your pipe and kill roots intruding in the sewer line, including the top of the pipe where most roots enter.

Root control chemicals are generally safe for your pipes regular applications can keep your pipes root free.  For best results root control chemicals and other drain cleaning products should be applied by a plumbing professional.