ATLANTA PLUMBERS

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Drain cleaning

Depending on the cause and location of a clog, drain cleaning may or may not be effective.  Additionally, because clogs in multiple places can contribute to the problem, successfully clearing one problem spot might not solve all long-term problems.

Sink trap blockages. Sink trap blockages are relatively easy to clear because the trap is easily accessible under the sink and can be completely removed and cleaned.

Toilet clogs. Clogs can often be cleared with a toilet plunger.  Since a toilet plunger is much less expensive than a plumber's visit, every house should have one.  If, however, the clog is difficult to remove with a plunger, plumbers can use special tools called augers, or snakes.  Snakes are long, flexible, spring-like tools that are inserted into the clogged drain and rotated to manually break up the clog.  Reputable plumbers will have with them the right tools for the job, tools that won't damage fixtures. 

Grease clogs. Grease clogs may represent a more difficult problem.  Grease clogs usually occur in the two-inch drainpipe connecting the kitchen sink to the main four-inch drainpipe that handles toilet waste and leads to the sewer.  Because the washing machine pump forces water into the same two-inch drainpipe, a grease clog is commonly misdiagnosed as a clogged washing machine drain line.

Because grease naturally sticks to the walls of drain lines, it is relatively difficult to remove.  In some cases, the most economically feasible alternative is to replace the two-inch drain line.  However, because of the high cost of replacing the line, the first attempt at alleviating the problem is to use a plumber's snake to punch a hole through the grease and remove as much of the grease as possible.  Because this repair cannot remove all of the grease, in time the line usually reclogs.  If the same drain repeatedly clogs, you may need to replace the line instead of investing more money in additional snaking. 

Clogs in the main sewer line. Broken seals, joints, or pipe sections are the primary cause of most sewer line clogs.  These breaks allow roots to penetrate and grow in the line.  From a tree's perspective, a sewer line is a great source of water and nutrients.  As the roots grow in the line, they gradually fill it and block the flow of water and waste.  The only way to remove all of the roots from the line is to replace it, which is very expensive.  In many cases, enough of the roots can be cut from the inside of the line with a sewer machine to open up the flow.   Unfortunately, because damaged roots can grow back in a fertile environment, the line often reclogs.  Furthermore, because some partially cut roots tend to shift position, the line may reclog almost immediately.  If the sewer line re-clogs after the sewer machine cuts the roots, you may be better off replacing the line instead of investing more money in additional rooter attempts.  Remember that cutting the roots out of a sewer line only treats the symptom of the real problem, which is a broken seal, joint, or pipe section.

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