We know that for most people it can be hard to know where to start when looking for sewer cleaning Palo Alto residents can depend on. To help keep you better informed, we’ve prepared a basic FAQ for sewer cleaning Palo Alto home and business owners can learn from.
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What Kind of Work Goes Into Sewer Cleaning?
Cleaning sewer lines typically involves using high pressure water hoses and vacuum trucks to blast out debris, as crews flush pipes and catch basins. Debris is collected and properly disposed of, and crews typically wear protective clothing and gear as they clean the sewer. There are some other techniques, but flushing and jetting are some of the most common and effective choices.
Why is Sewer Cleaning Important to Perform?
As time progresses, sewer systems age and develop a risk for deterioration, blockages and collapses. These are major concerns that can be fixed and even prevented by regular cleaning and inspections. Preventative measures are essential to maintaining a properly functioning system of sewer lines, and can go a long way towards preventing costly problems.
How Do Sewer Inspections Work?
Some visual inspection can be done, but one of the most effective ways to inspect sewer lines is by using video inspection. During video inspections, special metal lines are extended into the sewer line with a lighted camera at the end, allowing for the full visual inspection of the interior of the sewer line, no matter how big or small it is. This visual mapping can be highly effective in finding the exact location and cause of problems, as well as to observe the overall health of the pipes and note any possible areas where problems may be building up and cause serious issues in the future. This can help identify which areas need attention, and what methods for cleaning need to be used.
What Preventative Measures Can I Take to Maintain the Health of My Sewer Lines?
A few simple preventative steps can really go a long way towards preventing serious problems in your sewer lines. First, never pour grease down the drain as it can build up over time and harden inside the pipes, clogging them. Next, be careful about where you plant trees and shrubs, because the roots of these plants can grow into cracks in your sewer line system and invade the water- and nutrient-rich pipes, clogging them. It may seem obvious, but you should also watch what you put down the drains – don’t flush anything other than human waste, water and septic-safe toilet paper. Don’t flush things like diapers, thick paper towels, paper wrapping, etc. Finally, another good practice is to only feed your garbage disposal things it can handle – avoid things like onion peels, corn husks, celery, artichokes and other tough and fibrous items which can be easily thrown away.
Sewer cleaning isn’t the most commonly understood topic, but hopefully these facts have helped you gain a better understanding of how the process works. As you can tell, cleaning, regular inspection, and preventing are all crucial components in keeping your sewer lines clean. If you’ve got any additional questions or are ready to get started, give us a call and our friendly staff will be happy to take care of your needs.