Indoor floor drains capture overflow from sinks, toilets, tubs, water heaters, washing machines, etc. Outdoor floor drains quickly move water away from surfaces during and after heavy rainstorms. Whether indoors or outdoors, floor drains are designed to efficiently and safely direct water to a sewer or municipal storm drain so that the floor stays dry and rooms don’t flood. The purpose of traps is to prevent sewer odors and gasses from making their way through the drain and into your home. Make sure to fill or prime these traps regularly to ensure they’re full of water and working as they should – simply pour a gallon of water down each floor drain to keep it primed. This is also good practice to assure you that the drain line is open and water flows through it as well. The water will fill the trap, forming a barrier between your home and your sewer system.

Many different types of debris collect on your floor, from pet hair to dust bunnies. All the debris runs the risk of potentially clogging the floor drain. The first sign of a drain clogging is if it is draining slowly. If you catch the clog early on, clean it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of flooding. Typically, a few strong pumps with a plunger can clear that minor clog. If not, try pouring a solution of baking soda and vinegar down the drain. If you have a drain auger, feed the cable into the drain until you meet resistance, then turn the cable and try to reel back whatever is clogging the drain.

At least once each quarter, check your drains for debris and clear them. If necessary, use a safe liquid drain cleaner or, if your drains haven’t been cleaned in a while, have a professional plumber do the job for you. It’s also a good idea to schedule professional drain cleanings annually to prevent clogs and keep your drains running.

When you work hard to maintain your lawn and assorted landscaping features, it can come as a blow that plumbers need to dig a trench to access an underground sewer pipe. However, trenchless plumbing repair techniques such as pipe bursting or pipe relining requires only one or two small access holes, usually at the entrance and exit of the pipes. This will significantly reduce the damage to your landscaping and will save thousands of dollars in yard repairs.

Trenchless pipe repairs put in cured-in-place liners or seamless Polyethylene piping, providing a better quality piping material for long-term benefits. These pipes help prevent off-set pipes, cracks, corrosion, rusting and tree root invasions. This benefit makes trenchless methods perfect for reducing the need for future repairs for decades to come.
In addition to providing a higher quality material, the trenchless pipe liners can increase flow capacity, helping the pipes to last longer and preventing future clogs. Homeowners can rest easy that they won’t have to clean out their sewer line as often or need to worry about a burst pipe in the near future.

The trenchless plumbing repair method can take substantially less time than older traditional approaches, but a variety of factors come into play. Crews often finish in a single day, depending on the extent of the repair. This benefit means that homeowners will enjoy a quick and tidy repair without a lot of damage to landscaping, driveways, sidewalks or trees.

When you have a main sewer line problem, your sinks, toilets, floor drains, and other plumbing fixtures will drain slowly or not at all. Multiple fixtures may be affected by this problem. For instance, if you run the washing machine and the toilet overflows or the laundry room sink backs up, that’s a definite sign of a blockage somewhere in the drainpipes – after all, the water has to go somewhere.

Also, if you hear gurgling sounds when you flush that could be a sign of a blockage in the drain system. These noises may be an indication that tree roots are to blame for your blockage; root systems are one of the biggest culprits of main sewer line issues. So if you have a large tree near your sewer line, its roots could be the problem. This is particularly true if you have an older sewer made of clay or concrete because roots can work their way inside the pipe via the pipe joints. Tiny feeder roots find their way inside seeking moisture. Once inside, they will grow larger, acting as a net to catch toilet paper and waste until a clog forms.

If it seems you’re experiencing more toilet clogs than you used to, that’s an indication that the real clog problem might be farther downstream in your drainage system. The same is true with your kitchen sink. Is it clogging or running slowly more often than it used to? The fact is that if you have more than one slow drain in your house or multiple slow drains, that’s the best indicator that the source of the problem is a clogged sewer.

A sewer clog cannot be treated with a plunger or with over-the-counter chemicals. To clear the sewer line of roots and debris, professional cleaning is required with a heavy-duty drain machine. These electric drain and sewer cleaning machines have a strong, stiff steel cable with a sharp blade on its tip. The cable spins as it travels through the sewer pipe so it cuts away obstructions. It will even shave roots right down to the pipe walls to restore full flow in your sewer pipe. If the Roto-Rooter machine can’t get through the pipe, your service technician can request a video camera inspection of the sewer pipeline to ascertain where the blockage is and its cause. A trained eye will then be able to recommend repair options to the homeowner.

Using the proper kind of plunger for your drain – and yes, there are plungers that are appropriate to use on a sink. They are usually red rubber and have a shallow suction cup. Plunging the drain may be all you need to do. The suction could force the clog away, leaving you with a clear drain.

After the plunger method, your drain may not be totally clear. If this is the case, pour a cup of baking soda down it and then 3 cups of very hot water. This can resolve clogs nicely, but if it doesn’t, there are still other tricks to try.

Vinegar and baking soda may bring elementary school science projects to mind, but in reality, they make a great combination for cleaning drains. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, and then half a cup of white vinegar. You can also heat the vinegar first or follow up the combination with very hot water if it’s a really stubborn clog. Some people also swear by adding just a little lemon juice to the mix.

The same goes for water pressure. If you notice the faucet isn’t spewing out water at its normal rate, it can be because your aerator is blocked or the fixture needs to be replaced completely. If your faucet pressure is lower than usual, don’t ignore the problem – get it looked at.