Sewer Line FAQ:

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY SEWER LINE IS CLOGGED?

There are several ways to know. The most common is that the toilet will back up, even after using a plunger, a sink will not drain properly, or there is waste coming up in the bath tub/shower.

Though there are exceptions, in most cases, the main sewer line will never need to be replaced. For example, cast iron piping will deteriorate over time, causing large chunks of rust to flake off and potentially block the line, resulting in a clog that may not be cleared by a plunger.

Sewer lines accumulate grease deposits over time. Older homes should have the sewer lines inspected by camera, if there are frequent issues with clogs or backups.

Tree roots in a sewer line, are due to a break or damage of the piping or fittings. Hydro-jetting or a drain snake with a cutting head are the only ways to remove roots.

Most definitely. Roots will seek out an active source of water. The sewer/septic line will need to be inspected by a video camera to locate the damage or break in the piping or fitting and repaired to resolve the problem.

The main sewer/septic line is either a 3- or 4-inch line that runs from the sewer system or septic tank to and under the house, usually to the furthest toilet from where it exits the house.

We do our very best to identify the root cause of your issue, and then offer you the best options to resolve it. We will only recommend new sewer lines for deteriorating cast iron lines, a whole house remodel where bathrooms and kitchens are being relocated, or a conversion from a septic to a sewer system.

Drain FAQ:

HOW LONG DOES DRAIN CLEANING TAKE?
The time it takes to clean/clear a drain can vary, by location and type of material causing the backup. In most cases, except for grease buildup, a drain can be cleaned/cleared in about an hour.
Drain cleaning/clearing are only done when necessary.
Clogged drains can be minimized by the following; Don’t pour grease down the sink, use the drain strainer basket to filter food particles, never put rice or spaghetti noodles down the drain, use a hair screen on the shower drain, don’ wash/rinse hair in the sink, don’t flush anything down the toilet but waste and toilet paper. Wipes do not break down in the septic tank and can cause clogs in the sewer systems grinder.
Hydro-jetting is the process of using high pressure water to clean and clear pipes.
A common misconception is that the piping under a sink is a drain. The drain is commonly the metal ring in the sink where the water goes down into the piping. Drains rarely need to be replaced, except for when they start to leak.

WaterLine FAQ:

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY WATERLINE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED?

A main waterline is the PVC pipe buried in the ground, that runs from the shut off valve at the house (if equipped) to the water meter (if connected to a municipality), or the well pump to the house. The only time a waterline would need to be repaired would be if it was damaged.

A tested way to know if your waterline is leaking is by comparing the monthly usage on your water bill (city utilities), for a well pump system, if the waterline is leaking, you will notice moisture at the PVC connections at the pump or at the expansion tank.

There are several reasons that a waterline would be leaking and are determined by where the leak is occurring. At the meter; most often is that the meter box was run over by a vehicle or piece of machinery. At the house; usually the leak would be caused by something hitting the pipe (weed eating) at or near ground level. At the well pump, this type of leak is most often caused by the metal of the pump heating up and partially melting the PVC pipe, a leak at this location could also be due to age and being hit (weed eating at the pump). In the yard: This type of leak is most commonly due to someone digging in the yard and hitting the PVC pipe. Other types of leaks are due to the sprinkler system being hooked up to the main waterline and the sprinkler head being damaged or broken.

The time it takes to repair a waterline depends on the location of where the leak is. In most cases, the repair will take about an hour for simple leaks and several hours for complicated leaks that require locating and digging up the pipe.