When Does a Clogged Sink Require a Plumber?

Clogged sinks or drains are a common problem, and many can be a DIY fix. Grease, hair, soap and food are common causes of sink drain clogs, creating a blockage in your pipes. While you should try to avoid clogs by limiting what goes down your drains and using drain strainers to catch common clog-culprits, most households experience some sink clogs. When you are facing a tough drain clog, you need to know when to call in a plumber to fix your problem.

DIY Clogs Fixes

A slow draining sink usually occurs before a complete clog. This is the best time to try to fix your sink yourself. Often, you can use a plunger to loosen the clog if it is close to the sink drain and effectively clear the pipe. Another safe solution is to use baking soda and vinegar to clear the clog – pour a pot of boiling water down the drain then a ½ cup of baking soda. Wait a few minutes, then pour a cup of vinegar and a cup of hot water down the drain and cover it. Wait about 10 minutes and then flush the drain with a pot of boiling water.

When a plunger or the vinegar/baking soda trick does not work, you may need the drain “snaked.” This is best performed by a professional plumber that has the right equipment and can carefully remove the clog without harming your plumbing. In some cases, the clog may be too far down the pipe, even in your sewer line, and may need to be removed with hydro-jetting. Contact your local plumber if you experience a tough clog to have it inspected and removed.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting is method used to clean and unclog drain lines, sewer lines, and other pipes using high pressure water.  Clogs in these types of pipes can build up over time.  Soap, grease, oils, mud, dirt and other materials accumulate on the pipe walls and constrict the flow of waste water.  If roots or other intrusions make infiltrate the pipes, these materials will accumulate rapidly and soon the pipe will drain slow or clog completely.

Traditional rootering techniques do a good job of punching a hole in clog and allowing the pipe to begin draining again, but it does little to clear the pipe of the accumulation of materials.  High pressure hydro jetting not only cuts through tough clogs, but also cleans the accumulated material from the inside of the pipe.

Hydro jetting uses long hoses to spray very high pressure water on the inside of the pipes.  The water pressure ranges somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000 psi.  This high pressure water blasts away accumulated debris from the walls of the pipe, but leaves the pipe itself unharmed.  The inside of the pipe is returned to nearly new condition.

The water pressure is so high that hydro jetting can cut through organic materials like tree roots and paper.  Since hydro jetting uses water to clear the clog and clean the pipe, the water drains through the pipe and flushes away the dislodge materials.

Hydro jetting is a great way to clear tough clogs and get your sewer and drain lines flowing freely again.  For businesses that have a high volume of greasy wastes such as restraints or industrial facilities, regular hydro jetting will keep your sewer and drain lines clog free and eliminate lost productivity due to clogs.