The Essential Calgary Sewer Cleaning Guide

Is there slimy sludge sitting in your sewer line? If you’re constantly frustrated because of a slow drain or annoyed with any other sign of blocked sewage pipes in Calgary, you might be the victim of soft blockage build up. In the worst case scenario, that unpleasant blockage will result in broken pipes—but even in calmer situations, disruptions are bound to stir up and challenge your home life.

It's impossible to stop blockage from building up; it will do its thing eventually. But, by taking the right steps, residents of Calgary can help fight off many associated issues. For example, sewer cleaning can be part of a routine maintenance service—which is the easiest way to stop a clogged drain or sewage backup before it has a chance to really affect you.

Regular cleaning appointments with a local plumbing company are an essential part of preventative maintenance for plumbing systems. Your local Calgary plumber at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary provides quality plumbing services and answers all your questions about why, when and how plumbing should be done. We do this because we understand the importance of excellent customer service.

Getting help for problems is impossible if you don't know if you need them. With the right information about reliable sewer cleaning, Calgary homeowners can make an informed decision about how to resolve a drainage issue and get the benefits of professional service from a licensed plumber. Our experienced team is ready to help!

What Is The Sewer Line?

Other technical plumbing terms include main drain or main line, which is typically a four to six inches in diameter drainage pipe and connects with our secondary drain lines that collect all the liquid waste coming from our plumbing fixtures (i.e., toilet, sink and tub). You might wonder where your sewer line is exactly. Locating it might be tricky, as it could be built into a concrete slab beneath your home's foundation, or it's somewhere beneath the front of your house or in the backyard. It’s easiest to locate your cleanout (sewer trap), which is the pipe that gives you direct access to the sewer line. You should find it in your basement, garage, crawl spaces or outside your home. Keep an eye out for a pipe with a cap on it. If you’re unsure, your Calgary plumber will be happy to help. The cleanout is the gateway to main line inspection and probably the most important pipe for scheduled sewer cleanings. Calgary property owners are responsible for covering the costs of water, wastewater treatment and drainage executed by the wastewater treatment plant. Our wide range of drainage services includes sanitary sewer water and stormwater treatment. Your main line connects to the city sewer, enabling your city to do the dirty work for you. But what happens on our property is our responsibility.

If sewer line cleaning doesn’t quite apply to you, you likely have a septic tank that gives you the independence to manage your water and wastewater on your own without relying on your municipality. You are responsible for pumping and cleaning your tank.

Note: It’s important to note that Calgary property owners are responsible for protecting their stormwater systems. During heavy rains or snowmelt, you have to ensure that water is directed safely to the catch basins in the street.

When Should You Get Calgary Sewer Cleaning Service?

Whenever you experience an unusual plumbing issue like slow drain, you should get help from a professional Calgary plumber. Many problems in plumbing fixtures are actually signs of larger issues down the line. Without fixing the underlying issue, that minor inconvenience will just keep coming back—until it becomes a major problem.

Signs You Need Sewer Cleaning – Calgary, AB

• Gurgling toilets and other odd noises
• Slow moving drains or standing water
• Rotting smells and other foul odours
• Frequent backups or drain clogs (including laundry drain lines)
• Leaky drains
• Sink flies
• Sewage backups
• Floor drain backups
• Draining cleanout
• Wet patches on lawn

A main line clog in Calgary is often a sign of sewers stuffed with debris, but they may be a sign of serious damage instead—like underground drain leakage or collapsed pipes. In those cases, issues are sometimes very obvious, but there are also additional signs of more serious situations that you should look for.

If you see any serious warning signs, you might need trenchless sewer repairs rather than Calgary sewer cleaning. Getting quick, reliable help for those emergency situations is important for limiting water damage and other unpleasant effects.

How Do You Detect Sewer Damage?

Before we go ahead with any Calgary sewer cleaning services, we must inspect the existing pipe to ensure it’s in decent condition. As touched upon before, clogs could just be stubborn drain blockages that have built up over the years. However, clogs happen a lot faster if your sewer line has a leak or damage of some sort. We rely on the following tools to gather greater insight:

Plumbing Video Camera Inspection

The sewer camera inspection device travels through the sewer line via the cleanout where it will be able to detect various things, while at the same time, we can follow the inspection from the surface area. The camera will locate clogs and drain issues as well as determine the sewer line material. Your licensed Calgary plumber will follow the camera with a signal receiver to mark off the affected area from the surface.

One thing our sewer camera inspection can’t do is detect leaks, for which we will utilize supporting devices such as acoustic listening equipment, an infrared detector and soil probe.

Once we have confirmed that your sewer is not damaged, we will go ahead with sewer cleaning. With this, Calgary homeowners can count on our hydro jetting to get the job done.

How Does Calgary Sewer Cleaning Work?

There are many methods of blockage-busting that professional plumbers use. The exact solution for a drain issue depends on the severity and location of the problem.

Calgary Sewer Cleaning Tools:

1. Powered Augers: This isn't the type of auger used for drilling holes. Plumbing augers are long, flexible tools that replace drain snakes when professional plumbers are dealing with a drainage issue in larger lines, like your sewer pipe. Augers come in many shapes and sizes, from smaller, manual, hand-held equipment to larger, self-powered systems.
2. HydroScrub® Jetting Technology: Hydro jetting is a process where jets of high-pressure water are used to eradicate blockage inside your pipe walls. The device consists of a high-pressure hose that’s connected to a water pressurizer and tank. You can fit different types of spray nozzles on the tip of the hose, depending on the purpose of the clean. The average psi used to clear pipes starts at 1500 but could reach up to 3500. The main water jet shoots out of the front of a long, flexible hose and several others shoot out of the sides, facing the other direction. With this comprehensive technique, the hose blasts through waste lines, removing any grime and other debris. It's even powerful enough for the cleaning of tree roots, making it superior to its snaking counterparts because it delivers faster and more effective results. Moreover, it’s safe for most types of pipes and increases their longevity.

Chemical Cleaning Products

In general, most certified plumbers in Calgary avoid using chemical drain cleaners for sewer cleaning because of the additional risk involved—and the damage that they can cause. They are corrosive by nature and not recommended if you have metal pipes, such as cast iron or galvanized steel. However, some Calgary drain cleaning specialists do choose to use products called enzymatic drain cleaners.

What are Enzymatic Cleaners?

Enzymatic drain cleaners use bacteria cultures instead of chemical compounds. They naturally eat organic substances like hair and food waste that create blockage in a sewer system, which makes them an excellent option for regular cleaning appointments in your regular maintenance plan—but they won't do anything against stubborn clogs.

Is Calgary Sewer Cleaning Necessary?

One should never underestimate the benefits of a regular drain cleaning job that will enable proper drainage throughout your home. Soft blockage is always going to build up naturally inside your sewer, so routine maintenance is key to preventing damage incurred by various plumbing disruptions in Calgary. If you have a clog in your kitchen drains or you're simply suffering from a clogged toilet, you might be able to deal with that yourself.

Cleaning out sewage systems requires more than standard consumer solutions. If you have a sewer backup, you'll need professional equipment to solve that problem—plus knowledge about safe, effective use. Improper plumbing repairs and maintenance are common reasons for emergency service appointments in Calgary.

Sewer cleaning from your community's friendly plumbing specialist will save you time, effort and money. Plus, Calgary drain cleaning services use superior plumbing technology that brings exceptional results and increases your protection against a wide array of plumbing problems.

Benefits of Professional Sewer Cleaning – Calgary, AB

• Guaranteed service
• Full insurance against any accidents
• Support for any other needs revealed by the cleaning process—like tree root maintenance and drain pipe repairs
• Quicker, more effective, non-invasive equipment and techniques
• No equipment fees for purchasing or renting necessary tools to do it yourself
• Thorough sewer inspections—along with any other necessary plumbing inspection

Nothing will restore your pipes and give you more peace of mind than the certified support of a reputable plumbing company. The expertise that comes from years of experience can't be undervalued. Your local expert won't just clean out all the gunk in your drainage system; they'll also point out any potential problems and provide excellent service for immediate solutions.

How Often Do You Need Professional Cleaning Appointments in Calgary, AB?

Your specific needs will vary based on what you flush down your drains. As long as you don’t flush garbage down the toilet, you will be one step closer to maintaining a healthy plumbing system. This includes paper towels, tissues, dental floss, cotton swabs, cigarette buds, feminine products and anything else that’s not human waste or toilet paper. Also, refrain from washing down fats, oils and grease. Otherwise, you'll need more regular appointments to prevent blockages from grease build-up. If you avoid flushing any harmful materials, then you'll only need an appointment every year or two.

Emergency Services – Calgary Sewer Cleaning

A plumbing emergency can include many issues such as foundation leaks to basement floor drain backups and floor drain floods. If any disaster occurs on your property, it will be your responsibility to call for help. We will be prepared for you no matter what time of day. We understand your frustration of dealing with unavailable plumbers during inconvenient times, or if they try to charge you an overtime fee for an emergency that is not your fault. That sort of service hardly contributes to happy customers.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary, we never charge for overtime. Besides, our excellent customer service reps are available 24/7 to take your call. One has to act fast and detect the underlying issue before more damage occurs and leads to costly plumbing repairs. Our experienced team of professionals is available to help all property owners and residents in Calgary and the surrounding areas whenever you need us for emergency repairs. We have seen it all, and our emergency plumbers already have a solution ready to help you without losing any time. We will arrive promptly at your property with our inspection devices to investigate that clog and offer dependable sewer cleaning. Calgary’s emergency plumbers will eliminate any issues that pose health risks to you and your family.

Do You Need Sewer Cleaning Service in Calgary, AB?

If you have foul smells coming out of the kitchen sink, an annoying slow drain, clogged toilets or any other plumbing issue, then count on the certified plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary to get down to the root problem. We bring many years of experience in fixing minor to major plumbing issues, expertly providing you with preventive solutions to keep you and your plumbing fixtures healthy. We're your locally-owned and operated plumbing specialists, proudly serving communities like Altadore, Lincoln Park and Forest Lawn. Experiencing drain issues at your local business? Feel free to ask us about your commercial drain cleaning services as well.

For convenient appointments and 24/7 emergency plumbing service, call to chat with our customer service reps about our range of services—or about any current plumbing disruptions you may be undergoing. Our excellent customer service staff and friendly plumbers are just around the corner!