Sewer drain cleaning Paso Robles

What causes sewer lines to back up?

Sewer lines and drains back up when something is blocking the pipe and preventing water from flowing into the sewer system. It has to go somewhere, so it backs up to the nearest drain, and too many times, onto the floor. Blockages can be clogs anywhere in the system.

Several things can contribute to clogs, including grease and oil, food debris, soap, shampoo, hair, coffee grounds, and egg shells in the garbage disposal, mineral deposits, and flushing inappropriate things down the toilet. Tree root invasion and broken pipes can also cause backups.

Over time, as debris moves through the pipes, it begins to accumulate until it reaches a size large enough that water can no longer flow past it.

It’s also possible that there is more than one clog.

Are sewer line backups easy to fix?

We use advanced camera/video equipment to quickly locate the blockages, and hydrojetting to quickly remove clogs and blockages, including tree roots. These tools make locating and removing blockages much more efficient, so you get your life back as quickly as possible.

Even though we can locate and quickly repair plumbing problems, it’s important to prevent backups in the first place and avoid future problems:

• Avoid putting anything in any drain that doesn’t belong there, such as grease, oil, and food debris in kitchen drains, and flushing anything besides body waste and toilet paper down the toilet.
• Use drain screens to catch hair, soap residue, skin care product residue, food debris, and anything else that doesn’t belong in the drain.
• Avoid overloading the garbage disposal, and either compost coffee grounds and egg shells, or dispose of them in the green waste bin.
• If your water has a high mineral content (hard water), consider installing a water softener to help prevent mineral buildup in the drains.

Are you going to dig up my yard to fix the sewer line?

We use trenchless piping technology, a process for repairing or replacing underground pipes without digging large trenches. The technology minimizes landscape damage, saves time, and increases restoration effectiveness.

• It works by first using advanced camera/video technology to examine the existing pipe system.
• Creating a small hole in the ground to access the damaged pipes.
• Cleaning the existing pipes to be replaced.
• Inserting a flexible, resin-coated tube into the old pipe and inflating it. Once the inserted tube hardens, it creates a smooth, corrosion-resistant inner pipe. 
• The small hole is back-filled, leaving minimal traces of any disturbance.
• If the sewer backup is causing an urgent plumbing problem, our Emergency Plumber team can quickly assess the situation and recommend the most effective solution.

Can tree roots cause sewer line problems?

Yes. Tree roots are one of the most common causes of sewer line blockages throughout Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County. Roots naturally seek moisture and can enter small cracks in sewer pipes, eventually causing slow drains, recurring backups, and sewer line damage. Busy Bear Plumbing can locate root intrusion using sewer camera inspections and recommend the best solution.

How often should sewer drain cleaning be performed?

The answer depends on the age of the plumbing system, the condition of the sewer line, and whether the property has a history of roots or recurring backups. Homes that experience frequent sewer problems may benefit from periodic sewer drain cleaning to help prevent costly blockages and plumbing emergencies.