Questions People Often Have When Scheduling Rooter Service

Most people do not need to call a plumber for rooter services more than a few times in their life. So, when they do need to arrange for this service, they sometimes feel like they don't quite understand what's going on and what their plumber is about to do. There might be some questions you'd like to ask in a situation like this. Common ones are included below for your reference.

What will the rooter remove from your sewer lines?

The term "rooter" suggests that this service focuses on removing roots from your drain line. That is certainly a big part of it. However, rooter services really remove anything from your drain line. If there's a child's toy, some grease buildup, soil, or even soap scum, it will get ground out of the pipe. Traditionally, rooter service is done with a big, rotating auger that just grinds up anything in its path. Some plumbers now use a hydrojet — a powerful stream of water — to do this work. However, the effect is the same. Anything and everything in your sewer pipe get blasted into small bits that then continue down the sewer line and into the public sewer.

Where will the plumber access your sewer line?

People often worry that the plumber will have to break or damage their sewer line to access its interior. But in almost all cases, homes are built with a sewer access line. This line runs vertically from the ground down to your main sewer pipe. Even if you don't know where it is, your plumber can locate it and access your sewer through it. They should not have to damage your pipes to access the sewer line.

Is rooting the pipe an alternative to replacing it?

Sometimes it is, and other times, it is not. Plumbers will often recommend rooting a line first to see if that clears it and solves the problem. Usually, rooting does clear the pipe, but the question is how long those effects will last. If roots are to blame for your clog, they might grow right back, meaning you need to have the line rooted again. Eventually, the cost of repeated rooting adds up, and you'll likely be better off just replacing the line. However, in the meantime, rooting can get things flowing again while you possibly plan for sewer line replacement.

Hopefully, this article has answered your questions about rooters. Call a plumber who offers rooter cleaning services to learn more.