Key Takeaways
- Scheduling routine sewer main line cleaning with an experienced environmental professional can help you prevent blockages and damage that can otherwise lead to costly repairs.
- Intrusions from tree roots, grease solidification, and debris collection from non-degradable items are some of the most common reasons a sewer line gets blocked.
- After using a specialized camera to assess your sewer’s issues, a specialist can use cleaning methods like snaking or hydro jetting to clear blockages. Then, they may schedule follow-up appointments and provide prevention tips.
- Cleaning methods can vary in duration—snaking may only take 30 to 60 minutes, while hydro jetting may require up to 1 or 2 hours. Still, factors like blockage type or pipe length and material may impact the duration.
Learning About Sewer Main Line Cleaning and Its Typical Duration
Having a trained professional regularly clean your sewer main line is essential to avoid blockages. A clogged sewer line can cause severe damage that requires more expensive repairs, making it essential to keep your drain lines and main line in the best condition possible.
Sewer inspections can detect what is causing a blockage, whether it is a natural source like tree roots or manmade debris that has gathered in your pipes after flushing non-degradable products. After the sewer inspection, the environmental specialist will choose a cleaning method that fits the unique needs of your property, such as hydro jetting or snaking the sewer main line.
Each cleaning method takes a unique amount of time; snaking usually requires around half an hour to an hour to complete, while hydro jetting can take up to two hours. Moreover, factors like pipe length and the accessibility of entry and exit points can impact the process’s length.
After it is complete, Scheduling follow-up appointments and heeding prevention advice is the best way to avoid future problems with your sewer main line.
Why Do Sewer Main Lines Get Blocked?
When left unchecked, how inhabitants and nature interact with a property can lead to clogged sewer lines. Some common causes for clogged sewer lines are:
- Tree growth – If trees or other large plants are located near the property’s sewer main line, destructive roots can grow toward the sewer system’s moisture and eventually penetrate the pipe, causing cracks and blockages
- Grease and oil – If you wash down animal fats, butter, grease, or oils, the liquid can solidify in your drain pipes. As the material collects, it can restrict proper drainage.
- Non-degradable debris – Flushing non-biodegradable items like wipes or hygiene products can accumulate debris in your sewer main line and catch sewage.
Blockages like the ones caused by the contributors above can lead to various problems, including slow drains and backups or sewage overflow that can generate water damage. If these issues arise in a residential or commercial property, they can require costly repairs or remediation efforts and hinder the daily lives of the property’s inhabitants.
How to Prevent Your Sewer Main Line from Clogging
Thankfully, there are several precautions you can take to help prevent blockages. Some examples of adaptations you can make to prevent clogging your sewer main line are:
- Avoid sending non-degradable items down toilets—only flush toilet paper.
- Add mesh drain screens to sinks and showers to catch hair and debris.
- Dispose of grease and oil in the trash instead of the sink.
- Limit how much food waste goes into your garbage disposal.
- Regularly run hot water through your drains to dissolve soap buildup.
- Plant trees and shrubs far away from your sewer lines.
- Install root barriers to protect pipes from the growth of existing tree roots.
Even after implementing the aforementioned preventative measures, you should educate household members on what cannot go down drains and schedule routine sewer cleaning appointments with a trusted professional, asking them to clear minor buildups before they become a problem.
At Alpha Environmental, we use the latest methods to provide thorough sewer inspection and repair services.Keep Your Sewer System Functioning with Professional Support
Sewer Main Line Cleaning Methods
Although preventative strategies can reduce the risk of blockages, sometimes they still occur. If this does happen, a qualified professional can try various cleaning methods to clear obstructions. The efficacy of these different techniques depends on factors like clog severity, location, and pipe material.
Some sewer systems, especially ones with heavy clogs, could benefit from hydro jetting, which uses high-pressure water to remove debris. On the other hand, less severe blockages may be better suited for snaking or cabling, a process that uses a cable with an auger to clear out minor obstructions.
Although hydro jetting and snaking are the most common sewer main line cleaning methods, other approaches may be used in unique circumstances. For example, rooter services that rely on specialized cutting tools may be necessary if invasive tree roots have damaged the pipe. Contact a trustworthy environmental remediation company like Alpha Environmental to get individualized info about sewer inspections and cleaning methods for your specific property.
How Long Does Sewer Main Line Cleaning Typically Take?
Sewer main line cleaning durations depend on which cleaning methods are used. For instance, snaking typically takes 30 to 60 minutes for minor clogs. If there are more severe blockages in the sewer line, hydro jetting may require 1 to 2 hours since it can take longer to set up the equipment and implement safety measures that reduce the risk of property damage.
In addition to the cleaning method chosen, some other circumstances that can influence the required cleaning time are:
- Type and severity of blockage
- Pipe length and diameter
- Accessibility
- Pipe material
- Condition of pipes
- Weather conditions
Unfortunately, some blockages result in sewer lines breaking before a professional is able to clear them. In this case, more extensive environmental services may be required, extending the amount of time that your sewer system will be out of commission. Luckily, trenchless sewer repair is usually much quicker than excavation-dependent methods, often allowing it to be completed within two days.
What to Expect During a Sewer Cleaning Process
Since each property has a unique sewer system, unclogging your drain may require a different approach. Still, some components that may be a part of your sewer cleaning process are:
- Inspection – Before your specialist can plan a cleaning approach, you will need a sewer inspection. During this step, a small specialized camera may be used to locate the clog and assess its severity.
- Taking precautions – The specialist should take precautions, such as equipping personal protective equipment (PPE) or containing the sewer line’s exit point to avoid safety and environmental risks.
- Sewer Line Cleaning – Based on the information gathered in the inspection, the specialist will execute whichever cleaning method is the most appropriate, such as hydro jetting or snaking.
- Cleanup – After the job is complete, sewage cleanup may be necessary to return your property to its original condition. Cleanup tasks can be minimized if the specialist takes steps to prevent backflow before the job is started.
- Follow-up appointments – To ensure that the sewer cleaning was successful, the specialist should return after a few weeks to reassess buildups in your sewer main line.
Even though sewer cleaning should yield immediate results, reliable environmental remediators like Alpha Environmental focus on long-term solutions, meaning they may provide tips to help prevent future blockages, such as reducing garbage disposal use. Listening to the advice of a qualified professional is the best way to ensure you experience the benefits of your cleaning for as long as possible.
Benefits of Professional Sewer Main Line Cleaning
Do-it-yourself main sewer line cleaning can put your health and the state of your property at risk. For example, coming into contact with sewage or sewage-contaminated water can cause diseases like campylobacteriosis and E. coli. Plus, improper pipe handling can cause water damage throughout your property, requiring more expensive repairs.
It is highly recommended that you stick with professional sewer services because experienced specialists can guarantee a safe and effective service. Additionally, professionals have access to advanced technology, such as specialized cameras that are needed for inspections and state-of-the-art cleaning tools. With their arsenal of supplies, a professional is more likely to finish sewer main line cleanings faster than inexperienced individuals.
How Alpha Environmental Services Can Help
Regularly scheduling professional-led cleanings for your sewer main line can prevent costly repairs by eliminating blockages. After performing sewer inspections, specialists can also give tailored advice that facilitates the prevention of clogged sewer lines, considering the things that people send down their drain lines play a large role in the health of their sewer system.
With over 24 years of experience operating in Portland, Oregon, Alpha Environmental’s team of sewer specialists can effortlessly pinpoint the source of any clogged sewer line. We also offer valuable consultations that can clear up client confusion, making it easier to understand why and how our top-of-the-line sewer services can benefit properties. We can provide reliable quotes with transparent pricing during these consultations to promote informed decision-making.
Contact Alpha Environmental today for expert trenchless sewer repair services.
