Pro Power Rooter providing 24 hr Emergency Plumbing, Sewer and Drain Cleaning Service to the Colorado springs community with excellent customer service, we also offer plumbing videos and tips to help with drain problems.
Seasonal Plumbing Tips & Advice
Getting ready for the summer transition from spring to summer can be exciting, to avoid potential problems with your plumbing, sewer, and drain systems. Here are some helpful tips.
- Be careful what you put down your kitchen disposal after your cook out. Most are not equipped to handle corn husks, celery, banana peels and other fibrous or “stringy” foods. Some other items to stay away from are fats or cooking oils because they form clots in the pipes. Run cold water at full pressure for 15 seconds before and after you put anything down the disposal to flush it through. Never put instant stuffing, potato mixes or similar “just-add-water” foods down the drain they can create a clog when you add water.
- More outdoor fun means more dirty clothes. Check your washing machine hoses for bulges, leaks or cracks and be sure to remove drier lint regularly. Also, move your machine at least four inches from the wall to prevent hose kinking and damage, and never leave your home while the washer is running. Remember--washing machine hoses should be replaced approximately every three years.
- In humid weather, your ductwork may sweat and create condensate. This can cause a backup if the drains are not clear. Leaks in the seams can also cause condensation. If you have an attic installation, be sure there is no water in the drain pan. If there is water you will have ceiling problems soon.
- Save money and energy when going on your vacation. You should always turn down the temperature of your water heater.
- Sewer line backups are common this time of year due to summer rainwater entering sewer pipes via cracks, new tree root growth from the spring can also cause sewer backup issues as roots are drawn toward the sewer line as a source of nutrition.
- Keeping Your Sewer Lines Clear Did you know tree roots can grow more during winter months? And that these tree roots will seek out the joints of your sanitary sewer line to find water, eventually clogging the pipe.
- To help prevent this problem, avoid planting trees and shrubs over your sanitary sewer lines.
- Never overfill your garbage disposal with food waste.
- Don’t pour paint, wallpaper glue, or drywall mud down your drains.
- Never flush any baby wipes or sanitary items down your toilet.
Drain Clogs are the main reason why Plumbers are Called.
Some Things Just Can’t Wait… Sewers & Drains are one of them.
We have the most modern, efficient, and extensive range of drain services you’ll find.
No Job is too Small or Large.
In-line video inspection to identify the exact location and extent of the problem
When pipe replacement is called for, we will let you know the exact location of the problem that needs repair work.
Bathroom Clogs
Assuming the drainage lines were piped properly, tubs and showers usually have hair as the main cause of their stoppages. Physical removal of hair is best. The regular use of a safe enzyme based drain cleaner product such as Bio Clean can help prevent slow drains and stoppages.
Kitchen Sink Clogs
The most often clogged drain is the kitchen sink. Kitchen sink stoppages are usually caused by liquid fats, emulsified by warm soapy dishwater and then carried through the drainpipes. As the water cools, it proceeds down the drain and leaves the fatty deposits along the piping. A film of grease forms on the pipe wall and so on. Coffee grounds, egg shells, etc add to this accumulation layer until the pipe becomes impassible We recommend that you pour excess grease into a tin can, not down the sink drain. When using a garbage disposal, always let sufficient cold water run to carry the particles down and into the main line to prevent buildup in the smaller waste lines.
The Plunger... A Plumber's Best Friend
In the event of a total stoppage, you should have a plunger (with a large rubber suction cup with a wooden handle). Cup it tightly over the drain and plunge it vigorously several times. It is best to try to use the suction cycle rather than the pressure cycle of the plunger. What we mean is that one "should" push slowly, make sure the plunger is sealed to the drain and then pull quickly on the plunger. This tends to loosen rather than pack down the stoppage. If it is a double drain sink, make sure you seal the other drain so water will not splash out into the other bowl or on you.
Common Drain Clogs
These items can clog pipes and cause sewage backups. Disposable Diapers Coffee Grounds
Oil (cooking) Hot Wax Dirt Feminine hygiene products Paper Products Soap Grease Toothpaste etc.
Drain cleaning chemicals are dangerous to use and are extremely corrosive.
Whether caustic or acid based, these chemicals can cause severe burns and/or property damage.
Important safety information
Before you mix up a deadly drain cleaning cocktail, please read this. Your life & health could depend on it!
Hardware stores may offer a wide variety of chemicals which claim to clear clogged drains. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. Here are 5 important things to know about using these chemicals.
Some Things Just Can’t Wait… Sewers & Drains are one of them.
We have the most modern, efficient, and extensive range of drain services you’ll find.
No Job is too Small or Large.
In-line video inspection to identify the exact location and extent of the problem
When pipe replacement is called for, we will let you know the exact location of the problem that needs repair work.
Bathroom Clogs
Assuming the drainage lines were piped properly, tubs and showers usually have hair as the main cause of their stoppages. Physical removal of hair is best. The regular use of a safe enzyme based drain cleaner product such as Bio Clean can help prevent slow drains and stoppages.
Kitchen Sink Clogs
The most often clogged drain is the kitchen sink. Kitchen sink stoppages are usually caused by liquid fats, emulsified by warm soapy dishwater and then carried through the drainpipes. As the water cools, it proceeds down the drain and leaves the fatty deposits along the piping. A film of grease forms on the pipe wall and so on. Coffee grounds, egg shells, etc add to this accumulation layer until the pipe becomes impassible We recommend that you pour excess grease into a tin can, not down the sink drain. When using a garbage disposal, always let sufficient cold water run to carry the particles down and into the main line to prevent buildup in the smaller waste lines.
The Plunger... A Plumber's Best Friend
In the event of a total stoppage, you should have a plunger (with a large rubber suction cup with a wooden handle). Cup it tightly over the drain and plunge it vigorously several times. It is best to try to use the suction cycle rather than the pressure cycle of the plunger. What we mean is that one "should" push slowly, make sure the plunger is sealed to the drain and then pull quickly on the plunger. This tends to loosen rather than pack down the stoppage. If it is a double drain sink, make sure you seal the other drain so water will not splash out into the other bowl or on you.
Common Drain Clogs
These items can clog pipes and cause sewage backups. Disposable Diapers Coffee Grounds
Oil (cooking) Hot Wax Dirt Feminine hygiene products Paper Products Soap Grease Toothpaste etc.
Drain cleaning chemicals are dangerous to use and are extremely corrosive.
Whether caustic or acid based, these chemicals can cause severe burns and/or property damage.
Important safety information
Before you mix up a deadly drain cleaning cocktail, please read this. Your life & health could depend on it!
Hardware stores may offer a wide variety of chemicals which claim to clear clogged drains. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. Here are 5 important things to know about using these chemicals.
- If the label says to use protection for your eyes, skin or clothes then by all means protect yourself. Drain cleaning chemicals work by destroying organic matter. They don’t know the difference between your eyes or the gunk in the drain.
- If your first attempt doesn’t clear the clog, do not add more chemicals. It will just make the problem more dangerous.
- NEVER mix different drain treatment chemicals. NEVER mix drain treatment chemicals with cleaning agents or other chemicals. This can create deadly fumes that have killed people before they could even call 911.
- Tell your service person if you’ve used chemicals. If the chemicals fail to clear the problem and you call a professional, please let us know about the chemicals. Failing to do so could result in property or equipment damage as well as endangering the health and safety of your service technician.
- If you are on a septic system. Drain chemicals may change the pH in your system which could lead to system failure. Use biological treatments as a preventive measure to keep your drains flowing freely.
