How roots get in
Older sewer lines are clay pipe laid in short sections with a joint every few feet. The joints let out a little moisture. Roots follow it, work into the joint as fine hairs, and thicken inside the pipe. Paper catches on them and the line backs up.
The warning signs
- The main line backs up on a schedule, every six months or every year
- Toilets gurgle when the washing machine drains
- The lowest drain in the house, usually a tub or shower, backs up first
- Several drains run slow at the same time
- A patch of lawn over the sewer line that stays greener than the rest
Snaking
A cable machine with a cutting head opens a path through the roots. It is the cheapest fix and the line drains again the same day. The roots are still there, though, and they grow back. If snaking gets you a year, that can be a fair trade. If it gets you two months, it is time for a different tool.
Hydro jetting
Jetting uses high-pressure water to cut the roots back to the pipe wall and wash them out. It clears far more of the line than a cable and lasts longer. With hydro jetting from One Hour Plumbing Service the camera inspection is free, so you see the line before and after.
When the pipe needs repair
Roots get in through a joint, but over time they can crack the pipe or push a section out of line. If the camera shows one bad spot, that section gets dug up and replaced. That is a spot repair, not a new sewer line. Full replacement is for a line that is broken in several places, and you should see the footage before agreeing to it.
Do not take a replacement quote on faith
A recommendation to replace the whole line should come with video of the damage and a location for each problem. If you were quoted a full replacement in Whittier and did not see the camera footage, call Mickey before you sign. Second opinions are free.
Related service: Sewer Hydro Jetting
Service area: Plumber in Whittier