Embedded Files
Drains are easy to ignore until they stop working. We repair and replace drainage for homes and businesses — slow drains, root intrusion, cracked pipe, and underground lines that have reached the end of their life.
Most of what we replace is aging cast iron, galvanized or ABS, which is what's in the walls of a lot of older buildings around here. We put back PVC, and we can tell you what each material is likely to give you and where it tends to fail.
Two things worth knowing up front. We don't do camera inspections or drain cleaning in-house — we work with specialists we trust and bring them in when a job calls for it. And a lot of the damage we get called out for was avoidable: only wastewater, human waste and toilet paper belong in a drain. Grease, food scraps, "flushable" wipes and chemical drain cleaners cause most of the rest.
Here's what that damage actually looks like:
Nothing is designed to last forever. Water is the universal solvent and is known to move material. A great example of water's power is the Grand Canyon. Different materials have varying reaction levels to water, but natural always wins. We try to slow down any atrophy. Water quality and what we put down our drains can prolong or degrade our plumbing.
Root intrusion — degraded underground lines
Chemical drain cleaner vs. PVC — a melted-pipe
Grease buildup — floats, sticks to the pipe crown, breaks off, clogs
Porcelain wear — years of use on a cast iron sink
Hairline cracks — cast iron and ABS; hard to spot on dark pipe
Corroded galvanized — forty years old, bottom of the pipe gone
Acidic condensate — high-efficiency appliances eat drain lines from the inside out
A note on venting. Vents let air into your drain lines. Without that air, water can't move freely — drains run slow, gurgle, and can start to smell.
The bigger issue is the trap. Every fixture has one, and the water sitting in it is what keeps sewer gas out of the house. Poor venting can siphon that water out, and once a trap is dry there's nothing between the house and the drain line.
If a drain is slow and noisy and cleaning it doesn't help, venting is usually the next place we look.
If something's draining slowly, backing up, or you just want an honest look at what's under the house, get in touch. We'll tell you what we find and what it actually needs.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse