Sunday 07.30 2017

What’s the root cause?

Picture this … you were treated to a nice thunderstorm last night with the thunder and rain stopping right before it was time to hit the hay. You wake up in the morning and it’s a bright, sunny day and everything smells fresh.

You grab your morning coffee and then remember you need to throw a load of laundry into the washer. You open the basement door, take a few steps down and end up with wet feet.

Your beautiful morning comes to a crashing halt and you’re stuck with a clean-up nightmare!

So what’s the root cause of this catastrophic water back-up in your basement?

For many homes in this area, the root cause is, well … roots!

That’s right, one of the most common causes of sewer line back up and basement flooding is pipes clogged because of roots. In many homes in this region, older clay sewer lines develop micro-fractures that allow roots to creep in. In other cases a tiny crack around pipe junctions provides just enough room for common roots to infiltrate older (and sometimes newer) sewer lines. This causes decreased flow and drainage issues, and in some cases a complete blockage. With no place to go, this dirty water backs up and often ends up in the basement or creates a septic pool in your backyard.

So how can you get to the root of the problem?

Wouldn’t it be great if there was some magic way to see into those pipes to see what the true problem really was? Lucky for you, TJ’s Plumbing has access to some cutting edge diagnostic tools to identify what the problem truly is, and keep remediation costs to a minimum for you.

We start by using an advanced camera system from Spartan Tools. This camera allows us to see exactly what is causing the blockage and where. It also helps ensure that the entire blockage (and in some cases blockages) is cleared so you don’t have to worry about another back-up anytime soon.

Once the blockage is identified, we determine the best approach for clearing. In some cases a power snake and root cutting blades are used. We also have an industry-leading power jet (The Spartan Soldier Sewer Jetter) that is able to deliver a 3,000 psi jolt to clear debris and ensure your sewer lines are clear and free-flowing.

Keep your pipes root-free and your basement bone-dry!

At TJ’s Plumbing, our plumbing experts are trained on the proper use of these cutting-edge tools. We can help you identify and fix problems before they cause a major problem like basement flooding. And, if you do wake up with a flooding emergency, we can usually have a crew onsite shortly to help fix the issue right away.

From routine maintenance to emergency repairs, TJ’s is your trusted plumbing and HVAC contractor! Call us today!

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