Anyone who has dealt with sewer clogs knows how annoying they can be and how quickly they get out of hand. Sewer clogs need immediate treatment before they become significantly costly to repair. But how do sewer clogs become so bad that you need professional sewer cleaning services? Here’s everything you need to know.
The Accumulation of Grease and Fats
Grease or fat accumulation is one of the leading causes of sewer clogs. When hot grease or oil makes its way down the drain, it solidifies and slowly adheres to the walls of the pipes. With time, layers of such grease trap food particles and debris, becoming an infuriating blockage. Unlike soluble materials, grease does not wash away easily and remains in the pipe until it clogs the sewer line. There comes a time when no drain cleaner or plunging can clean out any pipe that is filled with grease. The only way to bring the drain and sewer back to its original condition is through professional sewer cleaning services that use high-tech systems to break down and flush grease and oil out of the pipe.
Tree Root Intrusion
Tree roots are inherently attracted to moisture which makes underground sewer lines a target. Entering from the most minor cracks in the pipe, once inside, roots rapidly expand creating a thick net of roots that trap debris and create extraordinary blockages. Left untreated, tree roots can cause pipe damage, leakage, or even collapse the sewer line. Root intrusion is among the most difficult types of sewer clogs to intervene with. The strategies to deal with roots provide temporary relief but if you don’t clear the sewer, it will get worse. Having it professionally inspected, and roots professionally removed will keep your sewer lines clear and operational.
Pipe Scale and Mineral Deposits
In the long run, hard water will cause mineral deposits to accumulate inside sewer pipes which form a rough, uneven surface that becomes capable of trapping waste and debris. Such scaling constricts the pipe diameter to where it can easily become clogged. These mineral deposits are mainly calcium and magnesium, which cause serious plumbing problems due to the abundance of hard water.
Pipe scaling cannot be cleaned by conventional drain cleaning methods. More severe methods have to be applied like hydrojetting by professional sewer cleaning services to break up mineral deposit buildup and restore the proper flow in the sewer system.
Foreign Objects and Debris
Accidental disposal without minding what goes into a sink or drain becomes another common cause of sewer blockage. In small quantities, it may include bits of food scraps, coffee grounds, hair, soap scum, and even little bits of plastic that find their way into the plumbing system. But once caught in the sewer line, all these materials mix to form clumps that build up and restrict water flow.
Routine sewer line inspection and preventive maintenance by sewer cleaning experts can uncover hidden blockages before they damage systems severely. The blockage of lost items in the sewer lines may require professional equipment to prevent damage to the lines.
Preventative Measures and Professional Solutions
The only way to avoid the blockage of sewers is through regular maintenance and professional inspections. Professional sewer cleaning services remove these buildups, detect leaks early, and ensure the system operates smoothly. At West Coast Drainage, we are plumbing systems maintenance specialists in sewer maintenance for commercial and residential properties. Our advanced techniques enable our team to unclog, prevent a reoccurrence of blockage, and maintain sewer lines in the best condition.
