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Electric Snakes
As many homeowners have found out, tree roots do grow into the sewer pipes leading into their homes. This causes a drain blockage that requires the help of a plumber. Plumbers use electric snakes to clean out sewer pipes that are blocked by tree roots and can snag everything and anything flowing through the sewer pipe. This will eventually cause a backup into your drains. This can also cause toilets to backup into sinks and bathtubs if the blockage prevents any drainage at all. If you have such a drainage problem, you will want to call an experienced plumber who knows how to operate electric snakes without damaging pipes.
As pipes become old, they can gather a build up that prevents the water from flowing through as efficiently as possible. The electric snake can help remove this build up, unclog the pipes and get water running smoothly again.
If you’re pipe is broken somewhere underground, an electric snake can temporarily clear the line but it will only be a matter of time before it gets clogged again. When the pipe has become broken, the only way to solve the problem permanently is to dig underground and replace the pipe where it’s broken. This is definitely a job for a licensed plumber and should never be attempted by an individual homeowner.
Electric snakes have a feed of about two hundred feet and can spin at about five hundred reps per minute. These machines are fast, and if you do not know how to operate it correctly, you could cause more harm than has already occurred. The professional plumber knows what to do and how to operate it safely. Another thing you need to remember is that electric snakes are very greasy, grimy, and dirty. If a plumber needs to bring one to your home, be prepared for this mess. However, a well respected plumber will do everything they can to keep the job as neat as possible.
If you do need an electric snake to solve your plumbing problem, you will want to have enough room for the plumber to get the unit in the basement. The unit is big and heavy and will need to have enough room to carry it down to the work area. This is probably another reason you are going to want to have a plumber do the job. Not all drain problems require this type of “snake”, but if it does, you are going to need professional help. There are smaller types of drain snakes that are used on inside drains to clean sediment and blockages in pipes as well.
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