Experience a drain clog or sewage overflow? Suffered water damage to your home from a drain backup? Routinely have problems with tree root growth into your drain piping? Searching for a residential plumbing contractor knowledgeable in camera inspections and drain stoppage clearing.

Home Performance Group LLC is an established, local, veteran owned plumbing firm delivering safe residential plumbing inspections, drain stoppage clearing, and repairs. Our team maintains the skills and practical experience to inspect drain and sewer piping with advanced camera technology, mechanically clear stoppages, and repair damaged drain and sewer pipes. If you have experienced drain clog or sewer overflow, Contact our service team today.

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Plumbing Drain Stoppages – Did you Know

The United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), estimates there are nearly 75,000 sewer backups per year. The most common causes for sewer overflows are improper design and installation, pipe breaks and defects, and blockages from non-biodegradable waste such as sanitary napkins, as well as fats, oils, and grease (FOG). The International Plumbing Code (IPC), section 302.1, and Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), section 305.1 both prohibit flushing of any material dangerous or detrimental to a plumbing system. The code specifically disallows rags, oil, grease or any other insoluble materials capable of obstructing, damaging, or overloading the building drain or sewer. The Journal of Oleo Science finds in the United States, nearly 47% of drain blockages are caused by Fats, Oils, and Grease, commonly referred to as FOG. As liquid FOG flows through a drain line, it cools, eventually coagulating into a gelatin substance sticking and settling inside pipes. Continuous deposition of FOG slowly decreases the capacity of a sewer drain eventually causing a blockage. 

Poor design and installation of sewer pipes include low slope, no slope, or non-uniform slope of the pipe. Often, issues with slope are caused by a lack of compaction or settling of material. Ground movement can lead to pipe bellies allowing solid waste material to settle and collect, restricting drain flow. Over time, material accumulates and may lead to a clog. Breaks, cracks, and other defects in a pipe, allow for the infiltration of tree roots, underground water, and other debris to enter the pipe. Underground clay and cast-iron sewer pipes are notorious for deterioration, corrosion, and breakage. Tree roots seek out water and nutrients, both of which are present inside a sewer line. Over time, roots will continue to grow into the pipe, obstructing waste material flowing through the pipe, eventually blocking the pipe altogether.

To break down clogged materials, and clear a drain blockage, multiple techniques may be employed. All drain cleaning techniques fall into one of three primary categories; water-jetting, mechanical cleaning, and chemical treatments. Water jetting is the least evasive method with the lowest probability of causing damage to a drain or sewer line. As the name implies, cleaning is accomplished by injecting high pressure water streams into a pipe. Hydro-jet machines pressurize water through specialized jetting nozzles aimed at a 15 to 20 degree angle. The angle minimizes the possibility of pipe damage but ensures a 360 degree scouring of pipe walls, effectively breaking up obstructions, and flushing away debris. Water-jetting is very well suited for the removal of debris other drain cleaners may not be able to remove, namely, coagulated Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG). Sewer jetting can be used on moderate clogs as well as preventive maintenance of drain and sewer lines to ensure longevity and sanitary operation.

Mechanical drain cleaning is a more common technique. Most mechanical sewer cleaning machines use cutting heads attached to a steel cable and motor. The motor rotates the steel cable at high speed allowing specialized heads to cut through tree roots, and other blockage debris. The rotational force generated causes the cable to spin a complete 360 degrees inside the pipe. Mechanical cleaning is often used for very difficult drain blockages and significant tree root infiltrating a building sewer. 

Finally, chemical treatments may be used as a preventive maintenance option, or an alternative to hydro-jetting, or mechanical cleaning. Chemical treatments are classified as caustic, oxidizing, or enzymatic. Caustic chemical treatments and strong acids or alkaline, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide, are found in both liquid and powder form. They work by chemically breaking down drain blockage material. Caustic chemicals are particularly dangerous and must be handled with extreme caution. The severe corrosive nature of acids and caustics can produce damage to steel, copper, or cast-iron including weakened pipe walls, and are therefore recommended only in plastic or non-ferrous drain and sewer pipes. If spilled, they can cause serious chemical burns to the body. Oxidizers, such as peroxides and chlorates, generate a chemical reaction during the process of breaking down a blockage, releasing both heat and gases. Like caustic chemicals, oxidizers can damage certain types of metals and cause burns, therefore should be handled with care. Finally, enzymatic treatments, use bacteria or other biological enzymes to break down organic material inside a pipe. Enzymatic treatments are slower and must be given sufficient time to work, generally 6 to 8 hours. However, these types of drain treatments are inherently safer to work with for people and pipes, and the only chemical treatment safe to use with septic systems.

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Better people

Our team’s highest priority is safe restoration of drain plumbing services. We strive to inspect and clear drain stoppages promptly, delivering to clients, both convenience and sanitary health. We maintain a Master Plumbing License and participate in yearly continuing education to further deepen our skills. The above-industry-standard training we receive in plumbing theory, hydraulics, and pneumatics, and drain system design ensures our workmanship meets all requirements of the plumbing codes as well as industry best practices.

Better products

When selecting a clearance method, the equipment we select must demonstrate a history of safe operation, are appropriate for the conditions of use, and possess a proven track record of reliability. Our supply chain partners lead their respective industries in manufacturing quality, emerging tools and technologies, as well as innovations in safety. When possible, we buy American made products.

Better solutions

Our skilled team possesses the technical knowledge in drain system hydraulics and pneumatics as well as code requirements for fittings and drain devices to ensure our clearance of a stoppage causes no harm to existing piping. Coupled with cautious product selection, our solutions deliver immediate restoration of service and long-term options.