Our drain and sewer service offerings include:
Drain Cleaning
Slow or clogged drains are among the most common Plumbing problems homeowners encounter. Over time, grease, soap scum, hair, food particles, and other debris can accumulate on the inner walls of your pipes, narrowing the passage and eventually leading to blockages. A single clogged drain can disrupt your routine, but multiple slow drains could indicate a more widespread issue within your system.
Our Drain Cleaning services utilize professional-grade tools and techniques to effectively remove blockages and restore proper flow. Unlike chemical drain cleaners that can potentially harm your pipes, our methods are designed to be safe and highly effective. We can clear clogs from various fixtures, including sinks, toilets, showers, and floor drains.
Sewer Camera Inspection
When the location or nature of a drain or sewer problem is unknown, a Sewer Camera Inspection is an invaluable diagnostic tool. This non-invasive process involves inserting a high-resolution camera attached to a flexible rod into your sewer line or drain. The camera transmits a live video feed, allowing our technician to visually inspect the interior condition of the pipes.
A camera inspection can reveal the exact location and cause of a blockage, whether it's tree roots, foreign objects, grease buildup, or collapsed pipe sections. It also helps assess the overall condition of the pipes, identifying cracks, leaks, corrosion, or misaligned joints. This detailed view allows us to recommend the most appropriate and cost-effective solution for your specific issue, eliminating guesswork. It can also be used to help understand the layout of your system, which can be useful for homeowners wondering about their sewer line location.
Pipe Repair
Damaged pipes can lead to leaks, water damage, and recurring drain issues. Pipe damage can occur due to age, corrosion, shifting soil, or root intrusion. Depending on the severity and location of the damage, various pipe repair methods are available. Our technicians can assess the damage, often confirmed through a Sewer Camera Inspection, and determine the best course of action.
Pipe repair might involve fixing a single leaky joint, replacing a damaged section of pipe, or addressing corrosion. The method chosen depends on the material of the pipe (common in older homes in areas like Culver City), the extent of the damage, and its accessibility. Timely pipe repair helps prevent further damage, costly water loss, and potential structural issues caused by persistent leaks.
Trenchless Sewer Repair & Replacement
Traditionally, repairing or replacing a damaged sewer line required extensive excavation, digging a trench across your yard, driveway, or landscaping. This process was disruptive, time-consuming, and expensive to restore. Trenchless Sewer Repair & Replacement offers a modern, less invasive alternative for addressing main sewer line issues.
This technology allows for repairs or replacements with minimal digging, often only requiring one or two access points. Techniques like pipe bursting or pipe lining can rehabilitate or replace the old pipe underneath the ground without disturbing the surface significantly. This method is ideal for addressing issues like root-damaged pipes, cracks, or collapses in your main sewer line, preserving your property's landscaping and hardscaping.
Hydro-Jetting
For stubborn blockages and heavy buildup, Hydro-Jetting provides a powerful cleaning solution. This process involves using a high-pressure stream of water to scour the inside walls of your drain and sewer pipes. The force of the water effectively breaks apart and flushes away grease, sludge, soap scum, mineral deposits, and even minor tree roots.
Hydro-Jetting is particularly effective for clearing pipes that experience frequent clogs due to accumulated debris. It not only removes the blockage but also cleans the entire diameter of the pipe, restoring it to near-original condition. This preventative cleaning can significantly reduce the likelihood of future clogs and improve the overall efficiency of your drainage system. While trying to unclog a sewer drain yourself with plungers or augers might provide temporary relief for surface clogs, deep or solidified blockages require the hydraulic power of hydro-jetting.
Understanding Drain and Sewer Problems
Drain and sewer issues in Culver City homes stem from various sources. One common culprit is the accumulation of fats, oils, and grease (often referred to as FOG) in kitchen drains. When washed down the sink, these substances cool and solidify on pipe walls, gradually building up and restricting flow. Similarly, hair, soap scum, and toiletries are frequent causes of bathroom drain clogs.
Tree root intrusion is a major issue for sewer lines, especially in older homes with clay or cast iron pipes. Tree roots are naturally attracted to the water and nutrients found in sewer lines and can exploit tiny cracks or loose joints to grow inside the pipe. As roots expand, they can create severe blockages and eventually crush or break the pipe, requiring significant repair. Foreign objects accidentally or intentionally flushed down toilets are also a common cause of clogs. Over time, pipes themselves can deteriorate due to age, corrosion, or ground shifting, leading to cracks, collapses, or misaligned sections that impede flow and can cause backups.
Addressing these issues effectively requires professional diagnosis and appropriate tools. DIY methods, while sometimes temporarily effective for minor clogs, often fail to remove the underlying cause of recurring blockages, such as extensive grease buildup or tree roots in the main line. Professional services like camera inspections can pinpoint the problem, and advanced techniques like hydro-jetting or trenchless repair offer more permanent solutions compared to simple snaking for severe or complex issues.
The complexity and severity of a drain or sewer issue, the specific service required (cleaning vs. repair vs. replacement), the accessibility of the problem area, and the condition of your existing pipes are all factors that influence the scope of the work needed to restore your system.