Plumbing is the system that delivers potable water, removes waste water and ensures sanitation in buildings. It involves pipes, valves, fixtures and tanks. Professional plumbers are able to diagnose and repair any problems in the plumbing system. Contact Plumbing Express, Inc. for professional help.
Use a commercial drain cleaner like Liquid-Plumr to get rid of hair, soap scum, gunk and more in the shower, sink or toilet. Follow the instructions on the label and flush the drain with hot water afterward.
Preventive maintenance involves performing tasks like cleaning, adjustments and minor repairs to equipment on a scheduled basis. This prevents major equipment failure and downtime, which can be very costly for businesses. Creating a preventive maintenance program requires comprehensive data about your assets, including details on their age and usage history. It also takes into account the specific needs of your team, such as their skill sets and needs for resources. Penske’s fleet specialists can work with you to create a customized maintenance plan that best fits your business.
Routine drain maintenance keeps the risk of clogs at bay, reducing the need for expensive repairs and property damage. It helps keep water and waste flowing freely throughout the system and avoids unpleasant odors from stagnant, foul-smelling wastewater. In addition, it extends the lifespan of the plumbing system and reduces the need for replacement.
When issues arise, prompt identification and intervention can prevent them from becoming worse, such as pipe corrosion, overflows, or leaks. A drain cleaning specialist can identify these issues during regular inspections and address them before they become serious.
Having a dependable preventative maintenance plan in place is the most effective way to manage your facility’s plumbing. By identifying issues and scheduling preventative maintenance, you can reduce unplanned downtime, backlog, miscommunication and errors and increase the efficiency of your maintenance operation.
Several preventative maintenance strategies can help you keep your drains clean and free from blockages, such as monthly inspections and hot water flushing. You should also try to avoid disposing of items in the kitchen sink that are not meant to be thrown away, such as grease or coffee grounds, and only flush toilet paper, human waste and items that are labeled as “flushable.” Finally, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar can help dissolve and dislodge hair, soap scum, and other blockages near the surface of your plumbing pipes.
Hydro-Jetting
If you’re struggling with a blocked drain that just won’t budge, it could be time to call in the big guns. Hydro jetting uses a powerful stream of water to thoroughly clean pipes and eliminate blockages. This high-pressure method of cleaning is effective for a wide range of clogs, from hair and soap scum to grease and other fats. It’s also more suitable for older, more fragile pipes than traditional mechanical clog removal methods.
Before attacking a pipe with the high-pressure jet nozzle, a plumber will first use a video inspection to determine the severity and location of the clog. They’ll also take into account the condition of the pipes, determining the appropriate psi of the water jet. Depending on the condition of the pipes, a plumber may need to use extra equipment or take additional precautions before using the nozzle.
Unlike the drain snake, which can only grab so much debris at once, hydro jetting thoroughly cleans a drain line and eliminates buildup from its sides. This prevents future blockages and reduces the chances of an immediate re-clog. It’s also more cost-effective than drain snaking since it requires less energy and doesn’t involve chemicals.
Over time, a wide variety of debris accumulates in drain lines, causing sluggish water flow and even backups. While store-bought drain cleaners can help with some clogs, they often don’t work on more stubborn blockages, especially those caused by grease and other fats or sludge. Hydro jetting can tackle all of these, as well as clogs from tree roots. It’s important to have a professional handle this procedure, though, as incorrect pressure levels can damage delicate pipes and lead to expensive replacements down the line.
Plumber’s Snake
If a drain clog is too difficult to clear with a plunger, you might want to try using a plumber’s snake. Also known as a drain auger, this tool is a long flexible cable with a conical-shaped “auger” on its end that works to dislodge and remove blockages from pipes. The way it works is simple: just feed the snake into a drain and slowly crank the handle, letting the cable spin inside the pipe to break up or hook onto clogs.
Choosing the Right Snake
There are several factors to consider when selecting a plumber’s snake for your home. First, you’ll need to take into account the type of clog, as different snakes are designed for different types of obstructions. For example, if you’re trying to clear a grease or soap buildup, a smaller diameter snake might be more effective. Similarly, if you’re dealing with a larger solid obstruction, a thicker cable and larger auger head might be needed.
You’ll also need to decide whether you prefer a manual or electric model. Manual models require you to unroll and crank the snake by hand, whereas electric augers allow you to operate them with a switch. Finally, you’ll want to consider your budget. Professional-grade tools can be expensive, but they’re a great investment if you plan on using them often.
Once you’ve chosen your snake, it’s important to know how to use it correctly to avoid damaging your pipes. For instance, if the snake becomes stuck, it’s best not to yank on it. This could cause the head of the snake to bend or break, which can further impede your efforts. Instead, try applying gentle pressure and slowly rotating the handle to work around the obstruction.
Baking Soda & Vinegar
The combination of baking soda and vinegar is a natural, safe and cheap alternative to chemical drain cleaners. This household mixture produces a fizzy, bubbling reaction that can dislodge clogs and break them up into smaller pieces, making them easier to flush away with water. Baking soda is a base (sodium bicarbonate) while vinegar is an acid, and when they interact, they release carbon dioxide gas. You’re likely familiar with this reaction from your 6th grade science experiments on homemade volcanoes! The carbon dioxide also helps lift stains and marks from surfaces, and it can even cut through grease.
Baking soda and vinegar won’t dissolve hair or other organic materials that build up to create a full clog, but it can help with other causes of blocked drains. For example, if your sink is slow to drain, the baking soda and vinegar can break down mineral deposits that have collected inside the pipes.
To use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain, first turn on the hot water in your sink or tub and let it run for a minute. Next, pour in 1/2 cup of baking soda and follow with a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain with a plug and wait 10 minutes or until you hear fizzing. Once the fizzing has stopped, flush the drain with another cup of hot water.
Be sure to use only this method for minor clogs because the vinegar can damage some types of pipes, especially older ones made from metal. If you have a serious blockage, call a plumber for professional assistance. In the meantime, be sure to clean your drains regularly by pouring baking soda down them and following it with boiling water to prevent clogs.
Bleach
Whether it’s an old blue and white bottle of bleach in your cleaning cupboard or the chemical solution poured down a drain because you can’t find anything else to do with it – bleach should never be poured down any of your home’s plumbing lines. Bleach has some useful properties when diluted and used on household surfaces but it’s far from the best drain cleaner for your pipes.
Bleach is a powerful disinfectant that kills germs and can be helpful in deodorizing kitchen benchtops and rubbish bins but it is not a good choice for unclogging drains. Pouring any type of bleach down a clogged drain can actually cause more damage than just the immediate issue. Bleach is corrosive and can eat away at metal wastewater pipes, causing them to deteriorate. Consistently dumping bleach down your drains will only accelerate the deterioration and may eventually lead to a broken or burst pipe, costing you money and potentially causing serious health problems for you and your family.
It also destroys the beneficial bacteria in septic systems that break down waste, reducing solids and preventing buildup within the septic tank. The loss of these vital microorganisms can result in less efficient processing of waste, clogged drains and increased frequency of pumping. This contaminated waste can seep into groundwater, contaminating drinking water sources and harming aquatic ecosystems.