Many homeowners and property managers may have heard the plumbing term rooter service, and they don’t really understand what it means. Historically rooter service was a general catch all term for plumbing repairs to pipes or drain cleaning operations. The cause of many pipe and drain problems are intruding tree roots, and this is why rooter service became a popular way to describe these types of plumbing repairs. In modern plumbing, rooter service has grown as a term, and it now includes the removal of stubborn drain clogs and repairs to fix slow drain issues. Let’s take a closer look at a modern rooter service and what it entails.
The Rooter Service
Many homeowners call their local certified plumber for a rooter service without understanding what they actually need. The plumbing company will ask some questions that can start the diagnosis, and it’s important to include as much information as possible. Most people call their plumber because they are experiencing problems, such as wastewater backups into the home or slow moving drain issues. It’s likely that the homeowner has already attempted the typical clog removal methods, and they have not worked to fix the problem.
Diagnosing the Cause of the Problem
When the plumber arrives, they will typically use three methods to diagnose the cause of the plumbing problems.
- The plumber will visually inspect all of the affected plumbing pipes and fixtures.
- The plumbing fixtures will be turned on and tested to see how they are behaving,
- A video camera will be fed into the drain to inspect the sewer line and look for pipe damage or deep clogs that could be the cause of the problems.
After these three steps have been carried out, the plumber should know what the problem is, and this will help them to consider the repair options available. Don’t worry; a professional plumber will always discuss your options with your before the start any plumbing repairs.
Repairing the Plumbing Problems
Now that the plumber has diagnosed the problem, they will be able to explain the best repair options to restore your plumbing system to normal. If the inspection has revealed damage to your pipes or a persistent clog, the next part of your rooter service may involve one or more of the following tasks to fix the problems.
A plumbing snake or augur could be fed into the drain to manually break a clog apart and clear the drain line.
A section of your home plumbing pipe may need to be removed to clear out an extensive blockage that an augur cannot break apart.
Any sections of plumbing pipe that are cracked, corroded, or damaged may need to be repaired.
Any sections of pipe or sewer line that are collapsed, sagging or penetrated by tree roots will be beyond repair, and they must be replaced with new pipes.
If your plumber has advised you that you need a pipe and/or sewer line replacement, there are two more things that you may need before the repair can begin.
A traditional sewer line replacement will need an excavation to reach the affected sections of sewer line that may be sagging, bellied and collapsed.
A trenchless sewer line replacement is less invasive, no excavation or digging is required, and this option can be explored if the lines are still relatively intact.
If you’re lucky, the plumber can use the trenchless repair option to minimize the amount of disruption to your home. If an excavation is required this will take longer, and it will cause a great deal of disruption until the sewer line is fixed. The difference between these two approaches is largely a question of time, the longer a plumbing problem is ignored to worse it will get, and the more extensive the repairs. This is why it’s extremely important to contact your
local certified plumber when you encounter a problem to get the best advice as early as possible. Smaller repairs are typically cheaper, and acting early can save you a great deal of money.
Do You Need a Rooter Service?
As we mentioned above, acting earlier can help you to deal with your plumbing issue before it develops into a larger problem that’s harder and more expensive to fix. There are five common warning signs, if you notice these you need to contact your local professional certified plumber, they are:
- The water is draining slowly, or it will not drain away at all.
- The toilets have started to make a gurgling noise.
- More than one drain is backed up or slowly draining at the same time.
- The wastewater is backing up and flooding into your home.
- The wastewater is backing up into one plumbing fixture, and you have used a different plumbing fixture. For example, wastewater is backing up into your bathtub after you’ve flushed your toilet.
If you notice any of these plumbing problems in your home, it’s time to contact a professional plumber and get a rooter service. A clog, blockage, or sewer line break will not fix itself and delaying the repair will only make the problem worse.
The Importance of Preventative Maintenance
Avoid a clogged drain is as simple as not placing items or substance in the drain that belong in the trash. Install hair traps at each drain hole to prevent hair and other materials from entering the drain to form clogs. In the kitchen, keep eggshells, coffee grounds, and fats out of the drains and dispose of them correctly. Pouring a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar in your drain, leaving it overnight and then flushing it with hot (not boiling) water is a great way to keep your drain clear and fresh.
It’s also a great idea to schedule some annual maintenance for your plumbing system and catch any smaller issues before they develop into larger problems. A professional plumber will have the training, experience, and specialized equipment to find and fix many plumbing problems in their earliest stages.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
