How Can I Get My Sewer Line Cleaned Out?

Your main sewer line may not seem like something you should be concerned about – until it is. You know how it happens. All of a sudden, the sinks and toilets won’t seem to drain. Then the wastewater begins to creep into your tubs. YUCK! Then you will need your sewer line cleaned out, and fast.

Don’t be caught wishing you had your sewer line cleaned out when you first noticed the slow drain. You see, Flow Pros Plumbing professionals perform routine maintenance and sewer and drain cleaning. If your home or business has floor drains, downspout drains, storm drains, and sewer drains, we’ve got you covered at Flow Pros Plumbing.

Which Drains Require Cleaning?

Most homeowners don’t realize just how many drains there are in a home. Well, there are several, and likely, they all need a clean-out from time to time. In fact, all the plumbing lines in the house lead to one main sewer drain, which is the most critical piece of plumbing you own. Here are some of the drains we clean regularly.

• Kitchen Drains
• Bathroom Tub and Sink Drains
• Utility Room Drains
• Roof Drains
• Restroom Floor Drains
• Outdoor Drains
• Sewer Drains
• And Commercial Drains

Each drain has its specific clean-out and service needs, and your local plumbers know just what they are doing. However, if you are the DIY type, you can try to clean it out yourself.

*Warning- This can be a nasty job, and attempting it on your own may mean you still need to call a plumber. So if you give it a try and get frustrated or learn you don’t have all the right tools, you can rely on the expertise of Flow Pros Plumbing.

Understanding Drain Clog Causes

There are many reasons a drain can get clogged. Do you have pets? Maybe there are people in the home with long hair? Well, material blockage, excess scum build-up, sticky foods like pasta and rice, grease, hair, and pipe corrosion are just some of the causes of drain clogs. 

When tree roots impede your drain line, they can intrude on the pipe and even cause leakage. Land shifting also causes pipes to move and get blocked. There are so many reasons for a drain clog. That is why plumbers are trained on all the identifying clog causes. That way, your plumber can get right to the proper fix.

So, if you have a drain that is continuously clogged or drains very slow. Call for help. If there is a foul odor coming from any of the drains, call for an expert right away.

Recognizing A Drain Clog Where You Need a Sewer Line Cleaned Out

Occasionally, an entire sewer line replacement is needed when drain clog removal just doesn’t work. So, you should be able to recognize the signs of a sewer line that is beyond repair.

1. Serious Pipe Damage leads to backups. This can happen due to heavy trucks running over the ground where sewer lines lie. Shifting soil and increased traffic in the area can damage pipes over time as well as corrosion and leaking joints.
2. A Sewer Line That Sags will occur when the round begins to sink in an area. There, repeat paper blockage will happen until you have to replace the pipe entirely.
3. Tree and Bush Roots can infiltrate your pipes and cause leaky joints and even breakage.
4. Pouring Grease in the Drain of Your Kitchen Sink will eventually cause a clog. Learn what you can and cannot put in your kitchen sink and disposal here.
5. Flushing the Wrong Things can break pipes and cause blockage and leaks. Learn more about that here.

Additionally, if your lawn begins to change colors, you may have a leak. Be sure to have that checked before you have a nasty soupy yard smelling up the neighborhood. Again, YUCK.

Trying the DIY Way? Here is What You’ll Need to Know

So, you are still intent on giving it a try? Okay then. Let’s make sure you have all of the information you’ll need to get the repair done right the first time.

First, Gather the Tools You Need

Let’s start with having the correct tools. You can find them at the local hardware store.

• You’ll want waterproof heavy-duty work gloves.
• Get a garden hose the length you need to extend to the main drain.
• Rent or purchase a professional auger (snake).
• And you will need a pipe wrench.

If you don’t want to go to the expense to purchase or rent these items, call your local plumber to clean out the drain line for you.

Get Started With the Clean Out

Alright, it is time to dig in. Here are the steps to a drain clog clean-out.

1. Loosen the cap on the drainpipe. That is where the pipe wrench comes in handy. Don’t fully open it as there may be a pressure build-up that needs to be released first.
2. Open the cap and let it drain as much as needed. Be sure to step away quickly, or you may get soaked. Now the waste and water that was clogging the drain will come spewing out. Allow this process to go on until it stops on its own.
3. Now, use the auger to clear the remaining clogs. Feed the auger into the drainpipe following the instructions on your drill. Keep feeding it until you reach the clog. As it gets harder and harder to feed through the pipe, you will know you have hit blockage material.
4. Here is where you may need a bit of effort. Continue pushing through until you feel the clog release. Then, go a bit further to ensure there is no more to the clog.
5. As the water recedes and becomes easy to move through the pipe, you will know the blockage has been released. But keep going to ensure there are no more small blacks forming.
6. Now run the hose on full force down the pipe, cleaning the auger and the tube. This will remove any other gunk and clean off the auger too.
7. Finally, pull the auger out slowly as you rinse off any debris. Then, give it a good rinse or two in the yard to clean it off properly before it gets rewound on the reel.

Now, take off the gloves and shoes and go back into the home. Let each faucet run down the drains that seemed to have a blockage. If they are clearing, Congrats! You did it. If not, you know what to do. Call your local plumber. They do this kind of thing every day and are more than ready to help solve the issue, so you don’t have to.

Flow Pros Gets Your Sewer Line Cleaned Out So You Don’t Have To.

With excellent 24/7 service, the plumbers at Flow Pros Plumbing will clean out those pipes to be draining like new. And at Flow Pros, we have a couple of tricks of the trade at our disposal. Using the proper inspection tools can be the answer to not spending a fortune on a repair and getting it fixed right the first time.

Here are two of the things we use to check out your pipes.

Video Camera Pipe Inspection: Underlying problems are discovered with cameras. Then, if the pipe is cracked, corroded, or has a large block, we can identify the treatment needed.

High-Pressure Water Jets: Cleaning drains and sewer lines are best accomplished with a water jet made from a flexible hose, which altogether removes build-up in no time.

If you need your sewer drains serviced or cleaned, call the professionals with the experience.

Contact Flow Pros Plumbing today.

Flow Pros offers professional residential and commercial plumbing services to Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, and customers from all over Tampa Bay. We are a licensed and bonded team of professional plumbers for residential and commercial plumbing.