Sooner or later, everyone needs a drain cleaner. Sometimes the drain cleaner comes in a bottle or can, with the name “Liquid Plumber” or “Drano” on it. Larger problems require a real, live plumber. But heavy duty drain cleaning might be beyond the scope of your friendly neighbourhood plumber.
The nastiest drain cleaning problems require excavation and drainage experts who can get to the root of the problem on your home’s main water line. And it may be an actual root. Tree roots are the top cause of clogged sewer lines, especially in older homes.
Your local plumber may be a whiz at fixing leaking sinks and toilets– but not necessarily main sewer lines or drainage systems. That’s where Groundhog Excavating steps in with professional expertise, backhoes, and the necessary equipment for drain inspection, cleaning, and repair tasks. But how do you know when the drain cleaner you need is one that can handle of those big jobs?
Understanding Drainage
It’s helpful to understand your home drainage as a system– like a tree, with one main trunk line running out of your house and small branches coming from it. If there’s a clog is in the mainline, any water you run in the house will cause more problems. If there’s trouble in the secondary line, you’ll have a drainage problem isolated to that area.
A dirty, clogged sewer line could cause severe damage to your home and belongings. Do you see expensive home and foundation repairs in your future? No one does. But a little knowledge can go a long way in preventing unnecessary costs.
Small drainage problems such as those caused by hair or grease in your sink can be fixed by you and a bottle of drain cleaner, or by a call to the friendly plumber down the street. It’s important to identify the tell-tale signs of a big drain problem that could require the talents of professionals who aren’t just drain cleaners and de-cloggers, but also repair experts. The good news is that drainage issues aren’t always big ones.
Here are a few simple warning signs to help you spot the difference between a big drain problem and a small one.
Gurgling Toilet
Excuse this personal question, but does your toilet gurgle after using any water in the house– especially after you do laundry or use the dishwasher? Do you also notice that your bathtubs and floor drains have water coming up? If so, your main line may need cleaning or repair– or both. However, if your kitchen or bathroom sink is clogged, but you can still flush all toilets without water coming up the bathtub or floor drain, it’s likely a problem isolated to just that drain.
If your drainage issue is just a single, slow drain, it’s likely that only that particular drain is affected. However, if all your drains seem to be slower, you may have a more serious issue. If multiple drains are affected AND your toilets gurgle, it’s likely a clogged sewer line.
Water Level
If your toilet’s water level rises or drops, it indicates a problem in the system. It’s possible that you may have a troubled toilet. But if you have multiple commodes in your home and more than one of them are having water level issues, you may be witnessing the beginning of a clogged sewer line.
Bad smells
Mysterious bad smells can make a simple gurgling toilet seem like a minor thing. (Unless the gurgling toilet is also calling your name.) A stink from your sink or basement it could spell a more severe problem, such as sewer gas coming back into your home. You may need to head for the hills, literally. But call a professional drain cleaning and repair expert on your way out.
If you suspect your drain problem is more than a small, isolated one, call Groundhog Excavating. We have the experience, equipment, and expertise to analyze the complete system. Then, we’ll discuss your options with you and solve the problem — whether it’s cleaning and clearing clogs — or sewer line repair. Phone today: 778-233-7499. We’ll provide an analysis and free estimate. You can also get in touch with us via our online contact form