Your Portland, OR plumbing system is a complicated network of pipes and joints that runs all over your home and under it, an issue that occurs in one region of your home can have a knock-on effect and cause problems in others resulting in the need for a drain cleaning service.
A good example is a clog that causes your sink and bathtub to drain more slowly. Many people will pour drain cleaning fluid down the sink to remove it. But what if the clog is located far from the sink, the chemicals may not even come into contact with it. Overuse of harsh chemicals is bad for old pipework and joints, by causing corrosion they can start leaks. Harsh chemicals are not good for the environment are they will eventually flow into the main sewage network.
You need a professional drain cleaning service that will remove clogs without damaging your pipework and protect the environment, you need the experts from Pilot Plumbing. We are Portland’s most trusted plumbing service, don’t take our word for it, just check our many five-star reviews online.
Signs You Need an Expert Drain Cleaning Service
The following warning signs suggest that you need a professional drain cleaning service. Ignoring these signs will only make the problem worse.
The Sink and Shower Tray Are Taking Longer to Drain
Have you taken a shower and it takes forever to drain? Do you find that the water in your shower tray is lapping over your ankles? It looks like you have a clog in your plumbing. Clogs are created by grease, food, hair, and other materials sticking to the inside of the pipes. As the clog develops it will slowly restrict the water flow, eventually blocking the pipe. You need a professional drain cleaning service from Pilot plumbing.
Once cleaned the best way to prevent clogs reforming is to stop pouring warm grease and food down your sink. Put these items in the compost or waste disposal. Another good idea is to place hair traps over the shower drain to prevent hair from blocking the pipes.
The Clogs Keep Reforming
Clogs can be difficult to remove especially if they have been in place for some time. Pouring some chemicals down the drain may remove them but repeated use is only going to cause damage to your pipework. Only a professional drain cleaning service will remove them without causing damage to your pipes.
You Live in a Hard Water Area
The problem of clogs is only made worse if you live in an area with hard water. Minerals that are dissolved in the water, can form layers of limescale on your pipes. Look for any formation of limescale in appliances to see if you have a problem. Limescale can also form on the heating elements in water heaters, and it is worth asking your friendly plumber from Pilot plumbing to check this for you.
You Hear Gurgling Noises When the Water Drains
Another sign of a clog is the sound of gurgling as the water drains. This sound is caused by air bubbles been created as the water flows over the clog.
You See Discolored Water Backing Up into Your Sink and Bathtub
Look for discolored water backing up into your sink you may have a serious problem. It could mean that your sewer line is blocked and potentially damaged. A blocked sewer line will mean that any wastewater is unable to escape to the main sewer network. Without anywhere for the water to go it will back up into your home.
Any sewage entering your home is a serious health issue and you need an emergency drain cleaning service straight away. Sewage is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and can cause a whole host of problems.
You Can Smell Sewer Gas and Other Unpleasant Smells
As well as discolored water backing up into your home, you may experience the smell of sewer gases. These gases can be hazardous to breathe as they contain ammonia, carbon monoxide, and other dangerous gases. You need a professional drain cleaning service to quickly locate and remove any blockages to your sewer line. Should there be any damage you need experts on hand to repair or replace any damage to your sewer line. Pilot Plumbing has the right equipment and specialist knowledge to deal with these problems.
Your Toilet Is Blocked
Just like your kitchen sink you should not pour anything unsuitable down your toilet. You should only flush water, human waste, toilet tissue, and some gentle cleaners down a toilet or you run the risk of causing a blockage. Items like wet wipes and Kleenex are not recommended as they are not designed to dissolve easily in water and will cause blockages if not flushed away properly.
Pouring strong chemicals down a toilet is not a good idea as overuse can weaken the pipework and joints. Our plumbers have removed many a child’s toy from a blocked toilet, and no amount of chemicals is going to dissolve a plastic toy.
Constant flushing of a toilet is also unlikely to remove a serious blockage. The most likely outcome is that you are going to cause your toilet to overflow onto your bathroom floor, along with all the hazardous germs and bacteria. Remember the chemicals you poured down earlier; well, they are going to be on your floor as well. We advise that you do not attempt the cleanup yourself, this is a job for one of our plumbers. They use special protective clothing to reduce the risk of infection. When everything is cleaned up, we can get on with the task of locating and removing the source of the blockage.
The Best Plumbing Services in Portland, OR
Pilot Plumbing is the drain cleaning service expert of Portland, OR. Every job must be professionally completed. We realize that cleaning up after an overflowed toilet is stressful and you just want someone to come over quickly to sort the mess out. The team at Pilot Plumbing is on call 24 hours a day, every day, and we use the latest in drain cleaning technology to remove even the worst of clogs and blockages. If you have any drain cleaning problems, then call Portland’s Pilot plumbing today!
