Slow Drains First Sign of Clogged Plumbing
June 18, 2013
For maintenance workers with drain-cleaning responsibilities, the first sign of a blocked trap below a sink or shower is slow draining. They can easily clear the blockage with liquid drain cleaner. The cleaner should react in the drain for at least 30 minutes before flushing. They might need several tries before the drain flows freely. For more persistent trap buildups, a snake or spinner auger can be the answer.
Quickly clearing multi-fixture blockages requires up-to-date knowledge of the piping systems. In most institutions, several drain lines exit through several laterals connecting at different points to the sewer main, so fully understanding which fixtures drain to which laterals before entering the sewer main is essential.
For instance, if sink A and toilet B drain into a common sewer drain lateral C, and they are backing up, the place to go to correct the blockage is the cleanout in lateral C that serves both drains. Timing generally is important in such situations, because of the disruption and health issues that can result from clogs and backups. Consequently, a good preemptive measure is to locate these drains ahead of time and determine the fixtures that drain into them before an emergency arises.
Another valuable troubleshooting tool is keeping good records of all maintenance work orders involving various piping systems. This tactic will save precious time when an emergency occurs, since workers will not have to waste time tracing the lines to find the right cleanout fitting.
Giving some thought about quick access to these cleanout points is also important. Technicians need to have access to these points without having to open a hole in a wall or remove permanently mounted wall panels.
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