Things to Know About Sewer Repair in Los Angeles
Given its importance, it is truly amazing the disregard with which homeowners treat their sewer system. The reason being that disturbance to a home's sewer system can cause severe plumbing issues. If left untouched, a gradual drainage problem may lead to a major clog that will affect every plumbing element in your home, resulting in situations ranging from troublesome to insanitary, both of which can be total nightmares. To find out the best way to take care of a sewer repair in the Los Angeles or Orange Country area, it is necessary to first identify and determine the cause of sewer problem. Why am I limiting this post to those two counties, you ask? Because each city, and state, has different regulations and what may work for one person may not work for the other. So I’m trying to be inclusive while still maintaining accuracy as much as I can.
A simple yet effective tip is to base the quality of your home's sewer system off its age. Meaning, if it’s from the 50s, 60s, 70s etc., it probably has deteriorated quite a lot by now and is in need of attention, Plumbing problems occur natural, as unbelievable as it sounds; this is because plumbing is--especially older plumbing systems--exposed to the elements and not maintained nor installed with longevity in mind. As such, a slow drainage issue may develop into a complete clog that affects every plumbing fixture in your home, simply because the already compromised sewer system is put under more stress, resulting in nightmarish situations for homeowners. Having said this, to determine the best course of action for sewer line repairs, you must first identify and understand the cause of your sewer problem.
Tree roots are a big problem. And when I said big, I mean BIG. Roots are capable of causing massive damage to your sewer lines, resulting in extremely expensive repairs. The prefer method of removing roots is known as “snaking”, and it is due to it being a cheaper solution. The second approach is to have a professional do something known as “hydro-jetting”. Both will do a good enough job that the clog will go away, but one is more thorough than the other; and as expected, more expensive. That said, here is a brief description of the clearing process that a professional undergoes:
1. Making use of sewer camera, a plumber will be able to determine the cause of the problem, whether it is roots, build-up of grease, other cooking debris or an unrelated foreign object is actually causing the obstruction. However, it should be noted that the damage may be due to water pressure issues or a deterioration of the pipes themselves that may have led to cracking or damaging of your sewer lines.
2. Depending on what you prefer, the plumber will then snake or hydro-jet your sewer lines to clear the stoppage.
3. Once cleared, the plumber may do one more camera inspection to verify that the clog has been taken care of.
So, to summarize, if you contract a qualified plumber, he may recommend to perform a sewer camera inspection to find the actual location of obstruction or source of damage. If the problem is tree roots, the plumber can unclog the drain by snaking a hole through the blockage of tree roots. If you seek a more thorough removal of roots, you can ask the plumber to perform hydro-jetting on the drain line in question.
If you decide to tackle the problem yourself, it is quite possible that the root will remain and clog the system once again, and you will be forced to deal with the same problem again. That's why it is necessary to contract a licensed plumber with the appropriate equipment that can identify the location of roots--or whatever other obstruction may be stuck in there--and make sure that it has been completely removed. If you were to do the job yourself, without the required equipment, you may end up wasting time, money, and resources.
So if you’re in the Los Angeles or Orange Country area, and are looking to get the best results possible, it is advised to contract a licensed and experienced plumbing company for drain repair. The last thing you want to hear is that your efforts have worsened the problem.