Hydro Jetting Vs. Snaking: Which is Better For Clearing Clogged Drains?

As a home or business owner, one of the last things you want to find out is that you’ve got a clogged drain. When it does happen, it’s important to act quickly to get things back to normal in the impacted fixture. In today’s blog, we’ll look at the two most common ways of clearing clogged drains: snaking or hydro jetting.

What is Hydro Jetting and How Does it Help?

Hydro jetting is a process that uses water pressure to clear clogged drains. It utilized water pressure that reaches between 3,000 and 8,000 psi to clean the walls of your pipe system. A water stream can create enough pressure to uproot a healthy tree, so it’s important to take care when using this method. It’s an option that plumbers will use for private and commercial pipes. It’s fast and effective!

What is Snaking and How Does it Work?

Snaking involves using an auger, which is a long piece of steel with a coil at the end. The coiled end of the steel digs into any obstructions like hair, grease, or other debris. Snaking has been used successfully throughout the history of modern plumbing. It can be utilized for a variety of plumbing situations, but it’s particularly useful for older pipe systems.

How Do I Choose Between Snaking and Hydro Jetting?

While snaking is the old-fashioned method, it can be used as a first step for all kinds of pipes. Homeowners can also use homemade snaking tools to attempt to clear small clogs. While hydro jetting is the new industry standard, it can do damage to older pipes due to the intense psi of the water. Snaking is the slower method, but it can only clear clogs that appear in the path of the auger. Hydro jetting, on the other hand, is designed to clear the entire pipe, including the walls. As long as your pipes are strong enough to withstand the pressure, hydro jetting is the best method due to its speed and success in clearing pipe systems. 

Have A Complicated Clog That Needs Hydro Jetting or Snaking? Call Team Rooter!

Now that you’ve learned a bit more about the differences between snaking and hydro jetting your clogged drains, call our team of experts to get your pipes serviced. Team Rooter has been cleaning tough clogs throughout the Orange County area for more than 20 years. When you need a problem found and removed, contact our experts. We’re available when you need us, 24/7/365. Call Team Rooter. We’ll be there!

Sewer Services for Line Blockage

The plumbing system in your home is designed to bring clean, fresh water inside and move used water out into the sewer. When you experience a sewer line blockage, the flow comes to a quick halt. Regular sewer services and line inspections can prevent dangerous issues if done on a regular basis. Regardless of how a line problem happens, it’s important to get the issue handled right away. Let’s take a look at how to handle a sewer line blockage.

Clear the Sewer Line

The first thing that you can do is to try and clear whatever blockage has happened. Clogs usually happen due to hair, grease, or large wads of toilet paper. Sometimes, these clogs can be cleared with a plunger or a plumber’s snake. It might take a few passes with these tools but hopefully you’ll be able to return to normal quickly. It’s helpful to try this method first, but calling a professional plumber can assist you with a more difficult sewer line clog.

Find the Broken Sewer Line

If the first process didn’t work, you can try to locate the broken part of the pipe system yourself. The easiest way to do this is to follow your pipes. In many cases, your sewer pipes will be accessible in a basement or crawl space. It might take some time to locate the sewer pipe system, but knowing the location can assist a professional plumber in getting work done quickly and safely. Another indication of the location is a soggy, bug-infested part of your lawn. This happens because the clog will not allow the drain to completely empty into the sewer system.

Call Team Rooter for Sewer Services

If you’re exhausted the options above and you still need help, call the right professional sewer services to help get you back in running order. It’s important to hire the best team of plumbers to save you time, money, and stress from a blocked sewer. It’s a health risk to have sewage backing up into your home and it can cause more damage to your home or commercial property if left too long.

When you’re ready to get the job done right, contact Team Rooter. We’ve been keeping water lines flowing throughout Los Angeles County for over twenty years. Don’t waste another moment stressing over a sewer blockage. Hire our team and get your lines running smoothly again today!

How to Eliminate Smells in Your San Gabriel County Kitchen Sink

There are two main reasons that you might come upon a sudden foul smell in your home. Old food might be stuck in your drain or around your garbage disposal. This is the most common reason and what we’ll focus on in today’s blog post. If there’s nothing stuck, you might have a bigger problem. Your sewer system might be backing up and causing a bad smell. Let’s look at how you can eliminate a smelly kitchen sink in San Gabriel County.

How to Check For Sewer Gas Leaks in Your Kitchen

If you think you’re smelling sewer gas, take a look under the sink. You should see a U-shaped pipe somewhere between the sink and the outside pipe system. Take a close look to make sure there isn’t a leak there. If there’s no visible leak, your sewer vent might have a leak, a blockage, or another problem. You need to call a plumber immediately to avoid lingering damage that can get expensive very quickly.

Try Cleaning Your San Gabriel County Sink Area

If there’s no visible leak, it’s time to try cleaning your sink. There are several ways that you can go about this. One of the fastest methods is to pour a natural enzyme-based cleaner down the sink and letting it work on any potential clogs. Be mindful not to use a commercial cleaner like Drano — these kinds of cleaners can be corrosive and cause greater pipe damage. 

You might also try dropping some ice cubes down the sink and running your garbage disposal. The disposal will chop up the ice and the chunks will dislodge food particles.

Another natural option involves boiling water, vinegar, and baking soda. Begin by pouring a cup of white vinegar into your drain, followed quickly by a cup of baking soda. Plug the drain with a stopper and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Once enough time has passed, pour a pot of boiling water into the drain. This science experiment has been proven to leave customers with a clean, odor-free kitchen in no time at all.

Still Can’t Get Rid of the Smell? Call Team Rooter of San Gabriel County

If you’ve tried the steps above and still can’t get rid of the odor, don’t wait. Call the plumbing experts at Team Rooter. We’ve been serving San Gabriel County for decades, and we’ll come find the right solution ASAP. Call any time, day or night. It doesn’t matter. We’ll be there as soon as we can. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact us and rid yourself of a smelly kitchen sink today!

How Updating Your Copper Piping Now Can Save You Time and Money Later

If you’re a homeowner, chances are that you’ll need to repair your pipes at some point. If your home was built before 1970, you might even have old materials like lead, steel, polybutylene, or copper. Today, we’ll take a look at how you can have copper repiping done cheaply, efficiently, and safely.

Copper Piping is No Longer Popular

Interestingly enough, copper began to replace galvanized steel in the 1970s. Since the early 2000s, copper pipes have been phased out in favor of other materials. Currently, one of the most popular options is cross-linked polyethylene or PEX. PEX is like the “new” copper. It’s flexible, can easily fit into tight spaces, strong, and resilient. It’s become the new standard for all in-home plumbing.

Replacing Damaged Copper Piping Saves Time and Money

While copper pipes are built to last a long time, they will eventually become damaged and can end up failing. Although it was designed to stand up to corrosion, it’s not totally corrosion-proof. Because of the material’s properties, copper piping leads to slow leaks that are hard to detect and are often not noticeable until the damage has been done. Pay attention to any new smells you notice. One of the first signs of copper pipe failure is a musty, moldy smell. You might also notice discoloration on walls and ceilings.

Repiping Requires Inspection and Repair…Immediately!

Contact a plumber if you notice any of the first signs of copper pipe failure. It may take a little extra time, but an expert plumber will take a close look at your pipes and determine a plan of attack. The solution might be for the plumber to plug a small leak or to replace a section of copper piping with PEX. In the long run, replacing your entire pipe system with PEX will provide a completely new experience for your home.

Hire the Right Piping Company

Once you’ve determined that a repair or replacement is needed, calling a professional as soon as possible will save you stress. The most important part of replacing your piping is hiring the right professionals. The right team will get the job done without wasting time or money. When you’re ready to modernize your pipes, consider Team Rooter. We’re your go-to plumbing team in Orange County. Don’t waste another minute with subpar pipes. Contact us today!