Month: May 2022

Drain issues are nothing to take lightly. They can lead to overflows, burst pipes, and costly water damage. There are even times when your health and safety can be put on the line. Here, we’ll answer common drain repair questions we receive from our clients in the Colorado Springs area.

What Are the Symptoms of a Clogged Drain?

Many don’t realize at what point their drain starts to clog. Blockages often begin as partial clogs, so your sink or tub may start to drain slowly. A total blockage will prevent it from draining at all. You might also notice odors. The deeper the clog, the more impact it will have. If it’s in the sewer line, your sink may back up when the toilet is flushed.

Can I Unclog a Drain on My Own?

That depends on the cause of the problem. Some home remedies include plunging or snaking a drain, or using baking soda and vinegar, but these don’t always address the root cause. Chemical drain cleaners can be irritating and even harm your plumbing system. Your best option is often professional drain repair to locate and permanently resolve the situation.

How Do the Professionals Do It?

A plumber can use a professional-grade auger to push debris through the drain or pull it out. Hydro jetting uses high pressure and water to force clogs through pipes and clean any buildup on interior pipe walls. If these methods still don’t resolve the matter, video cameras can be used to inspect your plumbing from the inside to determine the precise location of the issue, its scope and the best way to fix it.

What Can a Video Pipe Inspection Reveal?

Cameras don’t lie. As the technician draws the equipment through your plumbing via a flexible line, video is transmitted to a monitor. It can show cracks, leaky joints and fittings, corrosion, buildup, a collapsed pipe, and other problems. A plumber can also determine the exact location of a blockage or damage.

What Causes a Drain to Clog Up?

Drains are often clogged by hair, soap, toothpaste, skin lotions, and oils. Cooking grease can solidify in drains and pipes. Another common issue is mineral buildup from hard water. A broken water pipe can also trigger drainage issues in addition floods, higher water bills, and often the sound of running water from walls. 

Can I Stop a Drain Clog from Happening?

You can protect your drains with items like sink strainers, which stop materials from entering the drain and causing a clog in the first place. Don’t allow oil and grease to wash down the drain. Wait for them to harden in the pan and discard in the garbage. You can stop a toilet from clogging by flushing only toilet paper. If you have lots of debris in the kitchen, use the garbage disposal to break it up. But clogs still happen over time; just be aware of the signs and when to call a professional for drain repair.

Why Do I Have a Smelly Floor Drain?

Floor drains in the basement, garage, or other lowest part of the home remove water from the entire building. They’re also closest to the sewer line. In a floor drain is a trap. It’s typically filled with water to prevent sewer odors from backing up. If you smell sewage, or the drain is slow or backing up, hire a drain repair professional right away.

What If Outdoor Plumbing Issues Are Causing Drainage Problems?

Historically, outdoor plumbing problems have been more challenging to locate and fix. At One Source Home Service, we use the latest techniques to assess your outdoor drainage system and sewer lines. Our team can find blockages and damaged pipe quickly. Oftentimes, pipe bursting, trenchless sewer repair, and other non-invasive methods are used.

When Is It Time to Call a Professional?

Any drain clog, even a slow drain, should be addressed ASAP. Unless you can resolve a drain issue, contact your local plumber for help. Even small drain clogs can cause a water backup or sewage in your home, which is a hazardous situation that can lead to expensive cleanup and repairs.

Call One Source Home Service Today

We are drain and plumbing repair specialists in Colorado Springs. Available 24/7, we can address emergencies and resolve any issue fast. Drains are always in use and prone to problems, but we use repair methods and equipment that help reduce the chances of future clogs. To request drain repair or other emergency plumbing services, call 719-532-9000.

A drain machine is a mechanical tool that can remove clogs and unblock drains and pipes. It’s an alternative to using chemical drain cleaners that can harm plumbing. Depending on the type, the machine may be powered by hand, a gasoline engine, or electric motor. Most use a cable designed for cleaning out drains, so the size of the drain may determine the exact type of machine to use.

After World War II, pipes made of galvanized iron became more common. The zinc used to protect the steel was prone to corrosion, causing plaques and rust to form and clogging the drain or water line. At this point drain cleaners became prominent. But even as copper and plastic pipe started replacing iron in the 1960s, hair, oils, and grease among other culprits still caused trouble, and thus many types of drain cleaning machines came to be.

Types of Drain Machines

Plumbers use several different types of drain machines. Each has its own unique functions, although all are intended to achieve the same goal. They include:

• Handheld Drain Augers: Require mechanical force to drive a cable into the drain. This cable can be up to 25 feet long. Some augers can be used for sink traps, while closet augers are more suited for toilets. Best-suited for small-diameter plumbing pipes, handheld augers are easily found in hardware stores.

• Sectional Cable Machines: Sectional cables are rotated by the machine in the pipe, while the power auger unit is kept separate until the pipe is completely clean. These wound cables are typically 4 to 8 feet long but can be up to 15 feet. Separating the power unit from the cables makes the system easier to transport.

• Continuous Cable Machines: A drum contains the cable and is contained within the power auger unit. The cable can be 25, 50, or 100 feet long or longer. Cables don’t have to be added while the machine is operated, saving time. If the unit has a fully enclosed drum, it won’t splatter sewer waste.

• Air Burst Drain Cleaners: Use accelerated gas, usually carbon dioxide, that pushes standing water to break the clog free. The process works fast and can dislodge blockages located farther down the plumbing line than a plunger. However, this only applies to pipes with standing water inside.

• Electric Drain Cleaners: Mechanical plumber’s snakes that use a motor to twist flexible cable and drive it into a pipe. Cable lengths can extend beyond 250 feet. This type of drain machine can therefore clean long sections of sewer lines and even remove tree roots and other solid objects. It can also work around 90-degree bends.

• Hydro-Mechanical Drain Cleaners: Hydro jetting systems that break up clogs with high-pressure water. What’s left of the blockage is flushed through the line. Some units work with hot and cold water. High-pressure sewer jetting equipment can effectively clear pipe around curved or angular sections.

Key Specifications to Consider

In addition to drain size and cable length, important specifications for drain machines include line capacity. This is the diameter and length of cable used with the power supply. Drum capacity is how long a cable the unit’s drum can hold. Motor/engine power is also an important factor, and is generally expressed in horsepower (hp) and RPM, or the maximum speed of the motor or engine. Weight is important for most contractors, as it has a direct impact on portability.

Contact One Source Home Service

Our team uses the latest, most effective drain cleaning equipment. We use advanced drain machines to clear simple clogs and address more serious blockages deeper in drain and sewer lines. If you have a sudden overflow of water, a sewer backup, or just a stubborn clog, contact us for drain cleaning in Colorado Springs. For emergency drain cleaning and other plumbing services, call 719-532-9000 today.