Burnaby Drain Cleaning

Sometimes, it’s quite obvious that you have a clog. But many of the early signs that your pipes are too congested can be a bit trickier to spot. To know when to call a plumber before a backed-up drain turns into a burst pipe or flooded basement, familiarize yourself with the following warning signs:

• Slow Drainage: Do you find yourself standing in a few centimeters of water when you shower? Or perhaps your bathroom sink takes forever to empty? Slow drainage in your shower/tub or sink is a common indication you have a clog. Since blockages form over time because of too much build-up, high-use areas like the kitchen and bathroom tend to have the most trouble with backed-up pipes. Food, grease, soap, and hair prevent water from draining out of the sink, tub, or shower and entering your pipes. Thus, the water pools and empties very slowly.
• Toilet Won’t Flush: Does your toilet have trouble flushing, or it backs up frequently? If you find yourself constantly reaching for a plunger, then you likely have a clog on your hands. Blocked toilets are generally caused by too much toilet paper or items like baby wipes, hygiene products, and even toys being flushed down the toilet. But, sometimes a clogged toilet can indicate a more serious problem deep within your system. When your sewer becomes blocked, it can make the toilet back up and even overflow.
• Pools of Water: Although Burnaby certainly gets its fair share of rain, especially in the winter, if you have pools of water in your backyard it might not be because of the weather. Sometimes, tree roots might infiltrate your sewer or main water line and cause flooding in your yard. If the puddles smell like sewage, then you need to call one of our emergency plumbers right away. We’ll dispatch one of our experts to get the situation under control as soon as possible.
• Bad Smells: Smelly sinks or showers can be caused by a couple of things. It could be that food waste or hair has become trapped in your drain and is starting to rot. Unfortunately, icky smells will permeate through your home until the clog is taken care of. On the other hand, if your drains smell like sewage, you either have a blocked sewer line or a dry P-trap. The P-trap is a section of pipe shaped like a “P” below the sinks. It’s designed to prevent debris from getting stuck deep within your plumbing. The P-trap also stops harmful sewage gas from entering your home. But, to do so the P-trap always needs a small amount of water sitting in it. If you smell sewage, pour a little water down your sink. If the smell doesn’t go away, then the P-trap is likely working fine, but the issue will be with your sewer.
• Gurgling Noises: It’s common for Burnaby homeowners to think gurgling noises are a normal part of how your home’s plumbing works. But, this is not the case. Plumbing is actually designed not to make gurgling noises. If you hear gurgling or see bubbling water in your toilet, it means there is a clog. Both water and airflow through your pipes. When there is a blockage, the air becomes trapped and struggles to escape and gurgles.

This depends on how bad the clog is and where it’s located. Build-up that’s loose and located near the top of your tub, toilet or sink can take between 5 and 10 minutes to clear using a plunger or plumber’s snake.

However, serious clogs caused by significant build-up or tree roots in your sewer can take a few hours to clear. With our HydroScrub^® jetting technology, the Burnaby drain cleaning process takes about an hour to complete. Often, the cleaning process is followed by a thorough inspection, which might take an additional hour.

When it comes to drain cleaning, Burnaby property owners should schedule annual services to maintain their pipes, prevent clogs and keep their plumbing in peak condition. That said, if you live in an older home, have a big family, or don’t take very good care of your plumbing (such as pouring grease down the sink) you might need bi-annual appointments.

The best way to maintain your plumbing is through routine cleaning services. However, there are a couple of other things you can do:

• Clear debris out of your drains and P-traps
• Clean any calcium build-up off your faucet aerators
• Look at your pipes for signs of rust and corrosion
• Look for any leaking pipes
• Examine your toilet tank for wear and tear
• Flush your water heater annually
• Use a water pressure gauge to ensure your water pressure is between 40 and 65 PSI
• Flush toilets and run sinks in bathrooms you don’t often use

Are you ready to schedule your next cleaning appointment? If so, we invite you to call our courteous, professional service representatives. We’ll help you book a convenient time for our expert plumbers to spotlessly clean your pipes so you don’t have to worry about clogs, unpleasant smells, or leaks. You can reach our team for more information.