Are you thinking of loosening a sewer clean out’s cap with an adjustable pipe wrench? It requires a step-by-step guide after inspecting the main lateral line to drain sewage and wastewater from any building. Cleaning the sewer line is important because it improves the quality of air in the environment. Let’s learn simple techniques of cleaning a sewer line.
Installing the Right Sewer Clean Out
Sewer clean-outs are access points for plumbers to use hydro-jet tools to decongest a drain line. So, ensuring user-friendly fittings during the construction of buildings can save clean up stress. Cleaning a PVC sewer line clean-out is easier than metal versions. It’s because metal fittings like brass and copper drain pipes are difficult to unscrew after a long time. Plastic T-shaped clean-out fittings are common to find and easy to connect with the lateral.
The first step is for homeowners to insist on the right clean out material because it’s easy to unscrew. Unlike the 45-degree shaped clean-out, U-shaped (double clean-out) fittings allow wastewater faster flows of the blocked lines.
Inspect and Locate Exact Portions with Clogs
It’s essential to inspect and locate the clogged section of drain pipes. Sometimes, searching for the exact part might lead the plumber to replace the line. Professional plumbers can check the inside of pipes with special cameras to take out the guesswork of figuring out what’s clogging your pipes. Regardless of the pipe’s diameter, there are remote sensing devices that fit into the primary drain access.
Use Water Jetting Tools
Water-jetting is a mechanical cleaning technique for sewer lines. It works by using a mighty stream (jet) to decongest the exact portion of the pipe with blockage issues. When the hose connects with the end of the sewer clean-out, high-speed of water flushes debris from the other opening on the lateral line. Before using the truck-mounted water jet machine, DIY enthusiasts need some considerable level of plumbing skills to clear of the obstructions.
Apply Chemicals or Enzymes
Plumbing systems use chemical cleaning agents to force debris down the sewage and wastewater drain lines. Simply, unplug the clean-out fitting’s cap and apply the liquid-based chemical. Usually, chemicals like bacterial and enzymatic cleaners have expansion properties that help them to push the debris along the sewer pipes. Also, these enzymatic chemicals can degrade (dissolve) human wastes inside the sewer line. However, you should wear hand gloves to protect your skin from these chemicals during application.
Sewer Snakes Are Helpful
In plumbing maintenance works, feeding an auger (‘sewer snake’) down the drain requires some patience. Attach the auger cable into the drain pipe gently, and stop when there’s an obstruction. The crank is for rotating the cable material back and forth for satisfactory results. Usually, plumbers use hand-cranked devices for hard-to-reach areas of drain pipes. With constant wriggling of the auger cable, the clog will give way for the drainpipe to flow freely. However, self-propelled auger cables apply more pressure on debris that is stuck inside the pipe. After working with the auger, clean it your plumbing tools properly.
What to Do in Homes without Sewer Clean Outs?
Your building can do without a sewer clean-out fitting if it doesn’t violate municipal or state plumbing codes. It’s common to see older homes with a sewer clean-out fitting. When there’s a drain pipe blockage, plumbers will have a stressful time excavating underground pipes to fix the issue.
However, it’s cheaper to install clean-outs and use them with sewer (lateral) pipes than excavating sewage drains to unclog the pipes. So, homeowners can redesign their plumbing systems to enjoy easy maintenance services from plumbers.
