A variety of equipment options allows technicians to diagnose, locate and remove blockages in drains and piping.
1. Auger cleaners
There are two types of snake cleaners or augers: motor-driven and hand-powered. Each type uses a flexible, long cable that is fed through the drain opening. The cable ends have a corkscrew that cuts through the clog to either break it down or allow it to be removed. This equipment has the advantage of being able to physically remove any blockages that chemical cleaners can’t dissolve or break down. Roto Rooter Plumbing of Greeneville TN is available 24 hours a day to provide routine drain maintenance, emergency drain cleaning and sewer cleaning. We offer drain cleaning services for floor drains and storm drains as well as sewer drains.
Hand-driven augers have a canister that the operator uses to drive the corkscrew through the clog. The effective range is 25 feet for most augers. The strength of the operator determines their power. They work best in small-diameter plumbing applications such as toilets, sinks, and showers.
2. Air-burst cleaners
Air-burst drain cleaners are made of air, carbon dioxide, or another gas to dissolve or dislodge any clog. The unit pumps the pressurized gas through the piping and directs the force through the water at the clog. There are units that can be used to create the initial gas pressure burst using small carbon dioxide cartridges or built-in compressors.
Air-burst cleaners have the advantage of clearing clogs quickly. Chemical cleaners can take several hours to clear a blockage. They work best in drain lines that are full of water. However, they can also reach blocked pipes further down. They are less effective in areas where the pipes are dry or large-diameter piping like main sewer lines.
3. Hydro-jetting cleaners
High-pressure water streams are used to clear clogs with hydro-jetting drain cleaners. The technician inserts a nozzle-equipped hosepipe into the drain. The nozzle forces out high-pressure water that has been pumped into it. The water pressure can reach 35,000 psi and is very effective at clearing blockages. Hydro-jetting cleaners are able to be used on long drain pipes unlike other drain cleaners. The only limitation is the length of your hosepipe. They are also effective against most blockages, organic and inorganic.
These cleaners are able to remove blockages and most contaminants from pipes. These cleaners are excellent preventive maintenance tools. Hydro-jetting can be used to clean drain lines that are regularly exposed to potentially clogging substances. This will eliminate the conditions in the pipe that could lead to clogs.