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Drain Cleaning Tips
Hydrostatic Line Testers
Hydrostatic line testers allow you pump water into a closed off section of your pipeline, set the pressure, and see if there are leaks in that segment of the pipeline. Hydrostatic line testers are often used after performing sewer jetter services to make sure the pipes were not damaged in the process, but there are other times hydrostatic testing is useful. After construction or sewer installation projects, a contractor will use a hydrostatic line tester on the new pipe system, to make sure it is functioning correctly. If you have any doubts about a particular system you are working on, hydrostatic testing for inherent flaws in the system could be quite revealing..You shouldn't take the blame for "damaging" a faulty pipe or a flawed system!
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Sink Drains, Grease, And Drain Cleaner
Grease is not supposed to go down a sink drain, but it often does. Once grease gets into your plumbing system it's only a matter of time until clogged drains become a problem. Sometimes using a chemical drain cleaner can help, but more often than not you'll need a sewer jetter or similar drain cleaning equipment with a pressurized spray to get the job done properly.
If you hire a drain cleaning business to do the work for you, pay attention to how they do the job, and you'll see the company uses cold water instead of hot water to clear a grease blockage. You'll also see that they don't force the sewer jetter hose into the sink system, but rather let the machine determine how quickly the hose goes in. After watching a crew at work you may be tempted to buy your own drain cleaner gear. Once you get the hang of operating main drain cleaning equipment, you could be in a position to help your friends and neighbors with their own plumbing issues, or even start your own drain cleaning company.
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Using a Protruding Tap Cutter With Your Sewer Jetter
Sometimes the sewer pipes of a building are connected to the main sewer line by cutting a hole in the main, and then inserting the pipe. But if the lateral pipe is inserted too far into the main, it won't drain properly. This is called a protruding tap, or protruding service, and it can be a problem in main drain cleaning. You can use a protruding tap cutter, an attachment with a special cutting bit, to cut through the protruding tap, leaving only a short stub. This restores the line to normal flow, and you can then use the sewer jetter with the usual drain cleaning nozzle to complete the drain cleaning services. When using the tap cutter, you may find it cuts better with a lower engine speed. Just keep the cutting steady, and soon you will be back to main drain cleaning instead of tap cutting.
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Should I Use A Sewer Jetter Or Chemical Drain Cleaner?
Cleaning clogged drains isn't as easy as dumping a chemical drain cleaner down and waiting. Did you know that there are separate waste removal lines that feed into a larger main line carrying waste water away from your house into the sewer system? Residences have a "soil line" which carries kitchen sink and toilet waste to the main line. They are also equipped with a "waste line" which handles showers and bathroom sinks. This means there are two opportunities for clogs before the main line, which itself can be clogged. Part of sewer drain cleaning is discovering what part of your system has the problem.
No matter where your system is clogged, experts say you should never use a chemical drain cleaner to fix a "total blockage". You'll need the aid of a sewer jetter, which blasts away the blockage and restores the pipes to a more pristine condition. After using a sewer jetter, it's a good idea to test the integrity of your sewer systems using a hydrostatic line tester. If there are existing leaks in the pipe system sealed up by debris, that temporary seal was washed away by the sewer jetter. The hydrostatic line tester will help you identify such leaks so you can repair and prevent further damage.
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Using a Sewer Jetter in Below Freezing Temperatures
When it's could outside, keep your sewer jetter drain cleaner in a heated area. When the temperature drops below freezing, unprotected pump heads, hoses, and other parts of your drain cleaner can be permanently damaged. If you don't have heated storage for your drain cleaning equipment, cut a two-foot long piece of garden hose with a connector on one end. Attach it to the hose fitting on the sewer jetter. Hold the hose upward and use a funnel to pour in a mixture of half water and half antifreeze. Cycle the motor until antifreeze comes out of the water outlet. If you store your gear in an unheated area, it's best to repeat this process after every drain cleaning job done in the cold weather season. Your drain cleaning machines will survive the winter intact.
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Spray Patterns For Sewer Jetters
When using a sewer jetter for cleaning blocked drains, you may need to adjust the spray pattern depending on the task at hand. A complete obstruction will naturally require you to use a laser nozzle. Sometimes just punching through the obstruction isn't enough, and some flushing action is required to complete the job. Do you need to "punch and flush?" Use a laser or corner nozzle. This is especially helpful on longer lengths of pipe.
When the obstruction is cleared, you may wish to use the sewer jetter to blast away any remaining scum or debris on the sides of the pipe. Set your spray pattern to 90 degrees for this job and you'll get it done with little trouble. Once this job is done, don't forget to run some hydrostatic testing to make sure your drain system is free of leaks or other compromises.
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Nozzle Combos
Are you using your sewer jetter nozzles effectively? Sometimes the best way to clean a sink drain is to use a combination of nozzles. If you have a line that is clogged with heavy grease, start with a grenade nozzle to break up the blockage, then flush the material out with a rotating nozzle. For larger pipes, use an industrial penetrator nozzle to loosen debris, and follow up with a flushing nozzle. One way to prevent excessive wear and tear on your sewer jetter nozzle is by using a metal protector called a skid. Worn out sewer jetter nozzles may not produce the correct amount of pressure, reducing the effectiveness of your drain cleaning.
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The Drain Cleaner
Is your plumbing backed up? There's a pressure washer designed to solve your plumbing woes. The sewer jetter is a drain cleaner that will unclog your pipes and have the water flowing like normal again. Using a process called sewer drain jetting, these pressure washers will clean drainage pipes connecting sinks and bathtubs, even at long distances. Whether you have minor sediment deposits or lines clogged with roots, these units can fix the problem.
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A Drain Cleaner You Can Really Move
You don't have to be stuck leaving your drain cleaner at one job site, only to need it at another location. Sewer jetters come available with a trailer to make transporting your drain cleaner easy and efficient. These units are perfect for scheduled cleanings as part of preventative maintenance because of their transportability. Whether you need a model to clean soap scum, grease, and hair or for root cutting and corrosion removal, you'll be sure to find a model suited to your needs.
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Add Drain Cleaning to Your Services
If you're a pressure washer contractor and you're considering adding a drain cleaner to your business, not only is it feasible, it's a smart business move. You'll find a great deal of business from home owners, property management firms, municipalities, and businesses who will have plumbing lines needing cleaning. Since you already have a working knowledge of pressure washers, adding a sewer jetter will round out your business and bring you additional clientele.
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Hose Attachments for your Drain Cleaner
The drain jetter hose is the perfect tool to use with your drain cleaner to help clear out those clogged pipes. The size of hose you use with your drain cleaner will depend on the pipe you're cleaning. Here's a chart to help you get the right hose for the job:
Pipes to 4" – Use a 1/8" jetter hose Pipes to 6" - Use a 1/4" jetter hose Pipes to 10" – Use a 3/8" jetter hose Pipes to 12" – Use a 1/2" jetter hose
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Sewer Drain Jetting
Sometimes hair, mineral deposits, and food will clog your drainage pipes. A special pressure washer called a sewer jetter is an efficient and cost effective drain cleaner. Sewer drain jetting is the process of clearing out those clogs with a sewer jetter. By sending high pressure water at a force of up to 2,500 to 4,000 PSI down the drain at a rate of 3-20 GPM, the sewer jetter clears out clogs with a sewer drain nozzle. This sewer drain nozzle makes its way down the pipe to clean out the blockages.
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Drain Cleaners Are Top Rental Items
According to a recent survey by the American Rental Association, drain cleaners are among the top five rental items in the equipment rental industry. A leading home improvement and hardware retailer has even reported drain cleaning equipment to be among their most rented items. This piece of equipment has year round use and is economy proof. There is always a client who needs plumbing services. So if you have a rental center and are considering items to add to your business, it would be a wise move to add a drain cleaner to your equipment list.
