Tag: residential drain cleaning

Drain Clog: Causes and Quick Solutions

Posted on by Joshua

After you take a bath or use the kitchen sink, you notice that the water drains really slowly. This is a sign of a drain clog. Maybe the blockage is only partial. But sooner or later, the clogs can get bigger and completely block the flow of water.

When that happens, your normal daily activities will get disrupted. Sure, the plunger or a mixture of mild chemicals might do the trick. For most cases, this approach is enough. But if the problem occurs frequently or you notice a bad smell, perhaps it’s time to ask professionals for help.

What causes clogged drains?

For most drain systems (whether large or small), the common cause of clogging is the accumulated debris. In kitchen sinks, it’s the accumulation of food particles and grease. For tub or shower drains, it’s the collection of hair strands and soap scum.

The case is similar with toilets and stormwater drains. Solid particles might aggregate and eventually block the water flow. This could happen gradually as particles stick together. It can also happen suddenly when there’s a massive outflow of stormwater and dirt.

Aside from debris blocking the flow of water, another possible cause of clogged drains is the collapsed or warped pipes. These lead to the further narrowing down of the flow path. As a result, the debris gets accumulated much faster or the water won’t just be able to pass through.

Tree roots and the ground above might put weight on the pipes which results to partial or complete collapse. In addition, degradation of pipes can also lead to warping. Both these cases can block the free flow of the water.

Possible expenses

In the latter situation, warping or collapsing of the pipes might require repairs or replacements. This can be a bit expensive because of the costs on parts and labour. It can also cause inconvenience both on homes and commercial establishments.

That’s why many Toronto residents and business owners opt for early drain inspection or maintenance. This is to prevent problems and minimize interruptions. This also leads to cost savings because you prevent the damages early on.

For minor drain clog problems such as most clogs in toilets, sinks and shower drains, drain snaking or even the Do-It-Yourself approach might already suffice. This is already enough for relatively new homes or establishments or if the whole drain system is installed properly. For these minor drain problems, the cost would be free or minimal (if you hire a drain professional).

Clearing shower drains and toilets

Clearing a shower or tub drain can be an easy and straightforward task. You can remove the drain stopper and fish out the clog (most commonly hair strands).

Unblocking the toilet can also be an easy task. However, it’s an unpleasant one because of sanitary and aesthetic issues. It could also get messy on the bathroom floor even when just using a plunger.

Using the plunger is enough to solve almost all toilet clogs. But many residents don’t want to do it. That’s why they hire Toronto drain professionals instead. These professionals are willing to make their hands dirty (they do this type of job every day). They also ensure that the site is clean after fixing the toilet.

Clearing sink drains

In kitchens, bathrooms or wash areas, sinks can get clogged from time to time. A plunger is very handy for this type of problem. But for some clogs, drain snaking might be the more appropriate solution.

Drain snaking is a straightforward way to completely remove the drain clog. Even if the clog is deep down the drain system, the drain snake will find a way. It can move through joints and bends without difficulty.

However, drain snaking can still be laborious and messy. This requires disassembling of some parts and putting them back together. You also need to prepare the surrounding areas because water and dirt might come out.

If you have the time and the tools, you can do the drain snaking yourself. But if the clog is pretty solid and it requires a more powerful tool, professionals should do the drain snaking. The pros should also do it if you prefer having someone else do the dirty work.

Drain clog Toronto

Many Toronto families and businesses call AAA Drain Experts when it comes to clogged drains. For over 15 years, we’ve been solving drain problems in the most efficient and economical way.

We also clean up the mess after each job. Call us today at +1 416-858-4444 for a free consultation.

Drainage Pipe: Function, Problems, and Solutions

Posted on by Joshua

A drainage pipe is a system that “drains” away water from an area. Commonly, this is to prevent the accumulation of water or flooding on basements and yards. In addition, drainage pipes also help prevent soil erosion and the creation of swamp-like conditions.

As a result, if each drainage pipe is working properly, this can prevent damage to properties and maintain sanitation in certain areas. This will help you avoid repair and replacement costs. You will save your money and instead spend it elsewhere. Your drain systems will be working 24/7 even without your constant attention.

What happens if a drainage pipe isn’t working properly?

But if the drains don’t work well, water will accumulate in the areas instead of flowing out. For example, if the basement gets flooded, the floors, walls, and your items will suffer from damages. You will spend money for replacements and repairs. In addition, this is also a huge hassle because everything takes time before it gets back to normal.

The problem gets worse because the weather is unpredictable. It could be that before you have time to recover, heavy rains start pouring again which further floods the basement. That’s why it’s important to make sure that each drainage pipe is working at its best. If you have suspicions about any problem, you should check or ask a professional.

How to determine if there are any drainage pipe problems?

There are common signs. One is the slow rate of draining. If the water is slowly flowing out, it means there are clogs already in the drainage pipes. The accumulated debris (or a large enough object made its way into the pipes) blocks the water from freely flowing out. This results to the slow rate of draining.

When heavy rains come or there’s a sudden inflow of lots of water in an area, the drain rate might be too slow. This will lead to flooding or having stagnant water in the yard or basement. It’s also a common scenario in bathtubs and sinks. The water fails to freely flow out which is a clear sign of clogged drain pipes.

Aside from clogged drains, another problem is deformed or warped drain pipes. This also prevents the water from flowing because the pipes are now far from their ideal shapes (hence hindering their sole function).

Deformed drain pipes can be a result of years of use (the usual wear and tear). It could also be a result of dozens of other causes known by professionals. Whatever the case, it also causes the same problem as clogged drains. Deformed drain pipes also make it easier for dirt and debris to accumulate. This can also lead to clogging and flooding eventually.

What is the solution?

There are two approaches. One is the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach and the other one is asking professionals to do the job.

The DIY approach is straightforward. You use your own tools and expend the effort yourself to fix the problem. If the drains in toilets or sinks are clogged, many residents use a plunger or mixture of mild chemicals to dislodge or dissolve the debris. In many cases it works. In addition, it requires urgent attention that’s why they do whatever they can at the moment.

Some residents use a simple drain snake to directly remove the clog. You can readily buy one from a hardware store and use it immediately. However, you may need some other tools to completely perform the job. Some drain repairs require you to disassemble parts or dig around to spot and repair the problem. In addition, it could get messy and laborious. It’s not even a sure approach especially if you’re not certain about what the problem is.

That’s why residents (and many commercial and industrial clients) prefer working with drain service professionals. These pros accurately determine the problem and deal with the root cause of each issue. They also use powerful tools to repair and unclog each drainage pipe in homes and commercial establishments.

Many residents and other clients choose us because we have over 15 years of experience in solving both simple and complicated drain problems. We also offer a FREE consultation if you call us at +1 416-858-4444.

Let us repair or unclog your drainage pipe if you need a prompt and professional service. We are available 24/7 and we provide urgent attention and action to each problem.

Drain cleaning Mississauga

Posted on by Joshua

Drain cleaning Mississauga, drain unclogging, drain maintenance, repair, and more. This is your short guide to learn the important facts about drain repair and maintenance. In this guide, we’ll discuss residential, commercial, and industrial drain cleaning. We will also discuss why do drains get clogged and what are the solutions available for you.

Drain cleaning Mississauga for offices, homes, and other areas

For drain cleaning Mississauga (for industrial, commercial, and residential areas), it is a must. Why? The reason is to prevent more costly problems in the future. Drain cleaning is much more affordable (and more practical) than drain repair and replacement.

For homes and other residential areas, drain cleaning will prevent sewer backups and sudden flooding. We mentioned above that drain cleaning Mississauga will prevent future problems (which can be costly). For example, sudden flooding (due to clogged drains) of the basement and the yard can result to costly repairs. Sewer backups can also cause sanitary issues in the surrounding areas.

The same thing happens in commercial and industrial areas. Clogged drains can also cause sudden flooding. It’s even more costly in these areas because there are supplies and equipment. Sewer backups and flooding can cause damages to these items and make them unusable.

Whatever the case, regular drain cleaning will prevent those costly problems. It means fewer headaches and less stress for residents and business owners. We may need regular drain maintenance to avoid accumulating clogs.

Why do drains get clogged?

Drainage systems carry away the water when we perform our daily activities such as showering, flushing the toilet, and washing the dishes. These systems also drain the rainwater that pours down. This way, we prevent rainwater from accumulating in areas inside and around our homes.

However, drains also carry away other things. As the water flows from different sources (e.g. while bathing, after washing the dishes and flushing the toilet, while raining heavily), the water takes up some dirt and debris. These things can flow through the drain pipes or get accumulated. That results to clogging.

When enough dirt has been accumulated, the clogs will be large enough to block the continuous flow of water. At first, the water flow might just be slowed down. We won’t notice the problem because everything still seems all right. But after some time, the problem gets worse.

The clogs will then be soon large enough to significantly slow down the water flow. The worst scenario is that those clogs can completely block the water flow. Starting from small clogs, it gets easier to make them bigger. This happens especially during heavy rains. Dirt from different areas (driveways, garden, home) can be washed away by the rainwater. All these dirt will go straight to our drain systems. These will stick to the existing clogs.

Another scenario is when a significantly large object gets carried away by the water and falls down the drain. For example, a toy or a piece of jewelry accidentally gets dropped and goes straight through the drain pipe. This can happen if the drain protector or strainer was displaced (especially in bathrooms). There will be nothing to block the object from going inside the drain.

An object inside the drain pipes can easily accumulate hair, dirt, and debris. Soon enough, the drain gets clogged. The wastewater then fails to pass through. The water can accumulate in sinks, bathtubs, and toilets. It will be an unpleasant thing to see for families, visitors, managers, and employees.

How to clean drains and remove clogs

Drain cleaning Mississauga is the solution to prevent future hassles and problems. Drain cleaning can prevent sudden flooding (internal and basement waterproofing can also help). This is important especially when rainy season or a storm is coming up. Massive amounts of water will pour down and flow through the drains. If there are clogs, flooding will be inevitable.

Drain cleaning is best left to professionals. That’s because they get to the root of the problem and perform the job thoroughly. It means you won’t have to worry about drain clogs anytime soon. You also save money in the long run because drain maintenance is always cheaper than repairs and replacements.

However, some people still attempt to do the drain cleaning on their own. Removing the clog could also be part of the cleaning process. People perform the drain cleaning on their own because it’s free and quick. In many cases, choosing the DIY approach is good enough. This is true especially when we need a quick solution to our drain problems.

For example, sinks and toilets can get clogged suddenly. We need a quick solution because toilet and sink clogs are hassles. They’re also an unpleasant sight for both the residents and visitors. Taking the DIY approach could be our first choice.

When taking the DIY approach, there are two options. These are the chemical and mechanical methods. Let’s discuss each one.

Chemical drain cleaning

This works by dissolving the clogs and debris through the drains. When the clogs become small enough for them to pass through freely, it solves the problem. The clog is removed and the water can move through the pipes without much obstruction.

Most of us already have household chemicals that can help in unclogging the drain. Vinegar, baking soda, and muriatic acid commonly belong to that list. We can readily use them to dissolve (somehow) the clogs.

However, there’s the issue of safety. Even if the chemicals mentioned are regular household items, they can still cause eye and skin irritation. Also, if we mishandled the chemicals they can cause damages to our drain pipes. That results to replacements or repairs and thereby leading to more expenses. Finally, chemical drain cleaning might just be a temporary solution (or it might not solve the problem at all).

Fortunately, there’s another method to perform drain cleaning. Let’s discuss that next.

Mechanical drain cleaning Mississauga

This method can be much more effective than chemical drain cleaning. That’s because the mechanical method gets to the root of the problem. It’s also the preferred way for removing the solid obstructions that block the water from flowing freely.

Mechanical drain cleaning is a straightforward method. The principle is we directly remove the clog or make it move somehow. This way, the clog won’t be there anymore to block the flow of water. As mentioned earlier, it gets to the root of the problem.

There are two general ways of performing mechanical drain cleaning. One is through the use of plunger. The other is through drain snaking.

Many of us already have experience with using the plunger. It’s one of the first things we do whenever the toilet or sink gets clogged. That’s because the plunger is easy to use and it often solves the problem quickly.

However, there are cases when the clogs are pretty solid. The plunger won’t be powerful enough to remove the clogs. These problems can’t be solved no matter how forceful or how many times we do the pumping. That’s where drain snakes come in.

Drain snaking is a more direct way to getting rid of the clogs. Drain snakes can push the clogs (or pull them out). That’s because drain snakes can go inside the drain pipes. They can navigate their way through the twists and turns. Contrast that with a plunger because it doesn’t deal with the clogs directly.

Some people also take the DIY approach when it comes to using the drain snake. One reason is that we can readily buy a drain snake from the hardware store. We can then use that to remove the solid clogs we have in our drains.

When to hire professionals (Drain cleaning Mississauga services)

Taking the DIY approach has limitations. There are cases when you really need help to fix the problem. For example, the clogs can be pretty solid (after months or years of accumulation of debris or a large enough object suddenly makes it way to our drain pipes). You also need some help if the drain problems are recurring.

To save you from the troubles and hassles, we’re here to help. As a team of experienced professionals, we can completely remove the clogs. We use the proper tools for each job and we are available 24/7. We respond promptly because we know clogs are urgent and important concerns for each residential, commercial, and industrial client.

Our friendly and honest drain professionals are always ready to help. You can contact us now (with FREE consultation) at +1 416-858-4444.