A blocked sewer drain might have several causes at any point from the toilet bowl to the sewer main, including:
- Paper, plastic, or waste clogs near the toilet
- Tree roots growing into the sewer pipe
- Severe pipe damage
- Pouring grease down the drain
- Damaged or misaligned joints
- A sagging sewer line
Ways To Unblock A Sewage Drain
Most people don’t think twice about their plumbing system until it stops working right? Blockages often happen over time as materials are flushed or washed down the drain. When you flush the toilet, the force pushes waste material back through the sewer drain and up through your toilet. If the sewer waste floods your bathroom, it can damage your surfaces and cause a serious health risk. The sooner you realise there is a problem with your plumbing, the sooner you can prevent future damage from happening.
If an outside sewer line is blocked, a plumber requires different tools for the sewer blockage removal. Unclogging the main sewer line is a different process than sewer cleaning for a blockage that is close to the toilet. Some of the most common tools the plumber uses to unblock a sewage drain include:
Electric Power Augers
Augers, also known as plumbing snakes, are long steel cables with a bladed tip that rotates like a drill. The auger connects to a motor that causes the tip to rotate and feeds the cable into the sewer drain. The blades tear through the clog.
High Pressure Water Jetters
Jetters are long lengths of hose with nozzles on the tip that use the pressure from water to propel through the sewer drain. It cleans the pipe as it feeds through it, delivering high pressure to clogs that break them apart.
When sewer cleaning isn’t enough, your plumber might use any of several methods to repair a damaged pipe. Pipe patching, junction repairs or pipe relining are some of the most effective methods available for pipe and drain repair depending on the scale and location of the problem.
Diagnosing A Blocked Sewer Drain
Before determining how to unblock a drain, the plumber must diagnose the cause and location of the blockage. Placing a CCTV camera down the drain allows the plumbers to see the inside of the pipes for a thorough drain inspection. They can assess the damage and determine whether sewer pipe cleaning will take care of the problem. The camera provides them with the information they need about the type and location of the entire pipe.
A blocked drainage pipe that is still intact might require cleaning and not a repair or replacement. Clearing the sewage blockage can restore the pipe to its original condition.
For pipes that are old, damaged, or sagging, sewage blocking removal might not be enough. If the camera shows that there is tree root infiltration or deterioration, the pipe will need to be rehabilitated. The fastest, most effective way to repair a sewer drain is by pipe relining. This system allows you to repair a pipe without digging a trench or tearing up your property.
If you’re looking for tips on how to clear a blocked drain, contact us at Pipe Relining Solutions to request a free*, competitive quote. We’re here to take care of all your blocked drain problems.