A clogged drain line results in sewer backups inside the home. Overflowing toilets, slow sink drains, and floor drain backups are all signs of a main drain line blockage. There are a couple of options for clearing the drain line.

Augering 

Augering is also sometimes called cabling, snaking, or rooting. The drain line is accessed either directly by removing the drain cover, or indirectly through a cleanout valve attached to the drain line. The auger, which is a strong cable with toothy protrusions along it, is fed down the drain. The other end of the auger is hooked up to a motor or a manual handle so that the cable is twisting as it goes down the line. 

The twisting action ensures the auger scrapes the drain line walls, removing anything that is stuck. Once the auger reaches the blockage it may either punch through, if the blockage isn't too severe, or it may be used to break up the blockage by ramming into it repeatedly. Sometimes the auger end is used as a hook, which can grab onto the blockage so it can be pulled out. 

When to Use

An auger isn't suitable for every drain cleaning job. It works well for debris blockages, such as those made up of non-flushable items like wet wipes or feminine sanitary items. It can also break up tree roots, although it likely won't remove them completely so it's best used only for minor root problems. 

Hydro jetting

Hydro jetting uses a jet of high-pressure water to clear the line. This method uses a hose with a special tip designed to shoot high-pressure jets of water in all directions. Much like the auger, the hose is fed down the drain. The other end of the hose is hooked up to a pressurized water tank. As the hose is fed down the line, the water shoots out of the tip. 

The spray of water completely scours the sides of the drain line. The main jet blows straight down the line, effectively drilling through any blockage. The jets spraying out the side of the hose tip will finish clearing the remains of the blockage as they pass by.

When to Use

This method works well for blockages that aren't going to break up easily. For example, grease or paint can completely coat pipe walls so that the auger punches through but doesn't remove the scum on the sides. The hydro jet can both push through the grease or paint blockage and clean the residue from the sides of the pipe. Hydrojets also clear out tree roots, no matter how dense. 

Contact a drain cleaning service to learn more.