Drain Cleaning Los Altos, Ca

Tree roots growing into an old sewer line is the primary cause of blocked drains.  Shrubs and tree roots latch onto underground sewer pipes in an effort to absorb the water that flows inside. As the roots began to grow it can eventually cause the sewer line to break altogether.  Often, older sewer lines that were constructed from 1920-1970 are more susceptible to tree root infiltration. Older pipes are made from porous materials such as clay or concrete. These types of sewer lines aren’t watertight which is why tree roots are able to freely thrive in them.

Old concrete and clay sewer lines were constructed in sections of threes. As a result, these pipes move around easily when the ground shifts and changes. Since these piping sections are often short, it rearranges itself in a manner that disrupts the normal flow of water to your home’s plumbing infrastructure.

If more than one drain is constantly clogged in your home this is an indication that the blockage is occurring from within the sewer line. In this case, seeking professional help is necessary. Multiple blockages often lead to severe black water back up into homes through toilet and shower drain overflow. This can lead to cost repairs and the need for a water damage restoration company to come into your home to clean up and mitigate the sewage damage. To prevent the necessity for this type of clean up, call us today to schedule a quick and easy estimate to clear those sewer line blockages.

Believe it or not, hair is often the culprit in blocked shower and tub drains. Each strand of hair that ends up at the bottom of the shower can eventually wrap around the drain over time disrupting the normal flow of water. However, this can be prevented by simply wiping up fallen strands after your shower or protecting the drain with a hair stopper.

While it’s impossible for a bar of soap to fit down the drain,  a buildup of its remnants will clog the drain. Everytime you bathe soap scum which is a solid white residue leaves deposits on the pipes. In fact, soap scum provides the perfect base for other things like hair and skin cells to attach to which results in one big clog.

Chemicals like hair products and bathroom cleaners are packed with materials that aren’t good for the shower and tub drain. When these agents buildup in the sewage system you can expect it to eventually clog the line.

Hard water contains all kinds of minerals and micro solids. Hard water deposits will eventually accumulate in and around the drain. Hard water makes it difficult for soap, bathroom cleaners, and other deposits to dissolve properly.

An older toilet is constructed with enough pressure to be able to clear the trap of small particles which can result in regular clogging. If your toilet was manufactured in the nineties than it’s likely that you have a low flow toilet. While you don’t have to immediately replace such a toilet it’s best to avoid limiting toilet paper use and other items that are prone to backing up the toilet.

When non-flushable items like feminine hygiene products, wipes, cotton balls and other items are flushed down the toilet it will restrict the drainage and it will result in constant backups. Offending products, like tampons and wet wipes, are designed to absorb moisture and expand. It will do just that in your toilet.

All plumbing systems are equipped with roof vents which bring in the fresh air and boost the flushing pressure in the toilet. However, over time the vents will become blocked with leaves, nests, and sticks. When this happens, you’ll find that the flushing pressure decreases resulting in regular backups. It can be difficult for a novice to determine whether the toilet vent is blocked.

If you are experiencing constant clogging in a particular toilet or multiple toilets in your house is constantly backed up, this can be due to issues within the sewer line. Typically, clogs are the result of an accumulation of waste material, toilet paper builds up and putting non-flushable items in the drain. Yet, sometimes regular backing up is an indication that there is an interruption of the flow of water in the sewage system.