If you notice that water is not draining down your sinks or appliances normally, you may need to clean your sewer lines. Sewer cleaning involves clearing out build up and debris in the sewer line so that water and waste can flow down the line without impediment. This is usually done using one of two methods: cabling or jetting. Keep reading to learn about each of these methods, and how to determine which one is suited to your cleaning task. 

Cabling

Cabling is a process that is used to remove stubborn clogs in a sewer line. As you might guess from the name, it involves inserting a cable into the drain line that has a head that can retrieve items, such as toys, or chop up debris like tree roots. The biggest advantage to cabling is that it can quickly break up and remove large blocks from the line, however it isn’t as effective for dealing with build-up that’s caked onto the side of the pipe, like soap residue and grease. 

Jetting

The second method that is used for sewer line cleaning is jetting. In this case, a hose is inserted into your sewer line that sprays out pressurized water. This helps to break up clogs that are formed by food or scum, while also cleaning the pipe walls. The advantage to jetting is that it is able to remove residue and clean the lines in a way that cabling cannot. The downside to jetting is that it cannot also remove larger obstructions that are firmly lodged in the sewer line. Also, if your sewer lines are older or in poor condition, jetting may not be an option, as the pressurized water may cause damage to your pipes. 

If your sewer line is in need of cleaning, give Best Plumbing a call. We offer both cabling and jetting services and will help determine which is the best method for your sewer lines. Contact our experts today to schedule a cleaning appointment. We proudly serve Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Bothell, Redmond, Shoreline, and Bainbridge!

Today we’re sharing more about trenchless sewer repair. Take a look at this video, which shows what goes into this type of repair and what owners can expect. In the previous post, we covered some of the preparation work before the actual repair. We also want to let you know how our plumbing team gets into the thick of things as they install the new pipe and access point.

Joining Pipes

For this particular job, our team used a welding process call butt welding (also known as heat fusion) to join to pieces of pipe together to fit the length repair site. This method involves simultaneous heating both pieces of HDPE – High Density Polyethylene – up to 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit and pressing them together for 4.5 minutes per inch of pipe. When done correctly, the joint between the two pieces of pipe becomes indistinguishable.

Getting Ready to Pull

Next, our team members install the hydraulic ram used to drag the new line through the tunnel, making sure to use a faceplate to reinforce the worksite and help protect the surrounding landscape. They install a bursting cone on the other end of the new line and start pulling. As it travels, the bursting cone breaks up the old pipe and expands the bore diameter slightly larger than the new pipe — helping reduce friction. The new pipe travels approximately 1-2 feet per pull.

Considering the Future

While part of the team focuses on pulling the new line, another one of our plumbers works on a new cleanout point. After the repair is complete, they’ll make a patch between the original plumbing and the repaired section. Then they’ll create a covered entrance point so that the section can be easily accessed in the future if it ever needs to be examined with a camera scope or cleaned out. All the pipe fittings are equipped with shielded Fernco to prevent plant roots from growing into connection points.

If you have any questions about sewer repairs or replacements, give Best Plumbing a call at 206-633-1700. Before disaster strikes, make sure that your sewer lines are in good working order. We’ve proudly served greater Seattle and Bellevue areas since 1968!  

This video on our Youtube channel provides a great overview of a rooting and sewer line repair we did for a Seattle homeowner. 

After our plumbing team arrived on the site, one of the first things they did was to locate a sewer cleanout and use a camera scope to perform a video inspection of the line to figure out where the problem was located. They were quickly able to determine that a broken side-sewer outside caused the backup. These sorts of breaks commonly develop when plant roots grow into and expand hairline fractures in older pipes. It highlights how getting your pipes rooted periodically — especially if you have trees on your property — can help prevent costly sewer repairs.

After they pinpointed the location and determined severity of the break, our plumbers decided that trenchless sewer repair methods would be the most effective and least disruptive way to replace the broken section of the side sewer. First they dug small holes at either end of the pipe section to be replaced. They then used a Jetter (a high pressure water jet) to cut out roots and clear out any debris. After the pipe was clear, our plumbers used a technique called cured in place pipe (CIPP), to create a whole new pipe within the shell of the broken section. This new pipe was then seamlessly attached to the city sewer line and the side-sewer attachment point for the house.    

After passing an inspection by the Seattle Public Utilities Department, the dirt was put back in the holes and the job was done. The whole job only took three days, and we were able to arrange it so that our clients never lost plumbing service and were able to use their facilities the entire time!

We are available 24/7 to provide expert plumbing service to residents of the greater Puget Sound area. We proudly serve the greater King County area. Call us today at (206) 633-1700 for any of your plumbing needs!