The Importance of Drain Inspection and Drain Cleaning Service | The Woodlands, TX

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Although it's easy to think "out of sight, out of mind" when it comes to drains and sewer pipes, they are in fact an important part of your Houston, TX home's infrastructure. The system transports your household's waste products regional treatment facilities and literally keeps everything running smoothly.

Over time, with daily use and regular wear and tear, the drains and pipes can become clogged and back up. Clogged drains are the number one cause of water damage in homes and if not maintained proactively, those clogs can lead to fractured or burst pipes, resulting in a plumbing disaster. Here, we take a closer look at why drain inspections and professional drain cleaning services are important.

What Exactly is a Drain Inspection:

Modern technology has allowed plumbers in The Woodlands, TX to conduct camera or video inspections of sewer lines and drains. Sewers and drains are generally underground and not accessible to be inspected by the naked eye, so this technology has been revolutionary both to the plumbing industry and to homeowners.

The cameras themselves are typically inside very long, thin hoses that can be inserted into open drains. As the camera descends down the pipe, the plumbing technician is able to see what's inside via a handheld screen. This internal view allows the plumber to see if there are any blockages, leaks, or damage inside the plumbing system, which tells him exactly how to proceed with repairing the issue and if any further equipment is needed.

It is important to note that while camera and video drain inspections are incredibly valuable tools, in very old buildings with cast iron pipes, they may not be appropriate and other diagnostic resources may need to be used.

bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Northwest Houston recommends getting a camera or video drain inspection annually, especially if your home was built more than 10 years ago. Plumbing issues will happen regardless of a home's age, but the risk does increase as a building gets older and experiences more wear and tear. Regular drain inspections are one of the best ways to proactively protect your home's plumbing system and can save homeowners thousands of dollars in emergency repairs or restoration costs.

Fixing the Problem:

Once your plumbing technician is able to diagnose the problem with a camera or video inspection, he will be able to recommend the appropriate drain cleaning service or another remedy. It may be as simple as clearing an obstruction using a snake tool or it may require ultra high-pressure hydro jetting or replacing the pipe or system entirely. Even in the worst-case scenarios where parts of the system need to be replaced, the good news is that most modern plumbing system parts are made of more durable and affordable PVC. In many cases, replacements in the system make it better than it was to begin with.

If you're scheduling camera drain inspections regularly, the fix should be as simple as a drain cleaning service. These services can range from routine to clean out the interior of the pipes, to more advanced when there is a blockage that needs to be cleared.

What to Expect with a Drain Cleaning Service:

Once your plumber from The Woodlands,TX has determined a drain cleaning service is necessary, he will likely start by snaking the drain with a special tool called a plumber's auger. This tool is pushed down the drain and spiraled around in order to break up any debris or blockages and disperse them through the pipes. While this method is typically highly effective on average clogs or obstructions, in some cases heavier-duty hydro jetting may be necessary.

Hydro jetting involves shooting super-strong streams of water through the pipes to thoroughly clean their inside surfaces. Over time, hair, sand particles, and soap scum can build up inside the pipes and narrow the opening, so a hydro jetting drain cleaning service works very well to open that path.

Once the suspected blockage has been cleared, the plumbing technician will run several faucets and other water sources at once to test water flow. Typically, a final camera or video inspection will be performed to visually confirm if the issue has indeed been resolved.

Problem Signs to Watch for:

While scheduling annual drain inspections and cleanings is a good idea, it's also smart to know what to avoid doing and what red flags to watch for in your home's plumbing system. Some plumbing don'ts include:

• Never flush or rinse any hair down drains
• Do not flush feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, or paper towels
• Avoid putting any greasy or starchy food in garbage disposals

You should call a professional plumbing service like bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Northwest Houston in The Woodlands to perform a drain cleaning service if you observe any of the following:

• Seeing or hearing a toilet bubbling, especially when not in use
• Water appears to be coming out or leaking from a toilet or a sink fixed to the floor
• A foul order comes out of any drains
• Water drains slowly from sinks, shower, bathtub, or toilet
• Water backs up and/or stands in sinks, shower, bathtub, or toilets

If you're not convinced that you should schedule a camera drain inspection or a professional drain cleaning service, remember that most plumbing issues gradually build up and get worse over time until the pipes are at a literal breaking (or exploding!) point. In the morning the drains could be functioning properly and by that evening, you could be facing a serious backup or even flooding.

Having a professional plumber such as bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Northwest Houston perform a camera or video drain inspection or a drain cleaning service before you need it can prevent a worst-case scenario emergency down the road.