Commercial Drain Cleaning Basics
Commercial drains must be kept running smoothly for the safety and convenience of your clients and staff. Unfortunately, commercial drains often experience heavier usage than a residential drain, so the tactics you know for managing clogs at home won't translate to the office. The following are some of the techniques professionals must use to keep commercial drains clear.
Camera Inspections
A clogged drain in a commercial building often requires a full camera inspection—especially in larger buildings with multiple floors. For example, a clog on an upper floor could be due to an obstruction in a pipe lower in the building. A drain cleaning service could figure this out via trial and error, but the process is much quicker and simpler if they perform a camera inspection. Further, inspections can help catch other issues before they become major problems, especially in an extensive commercial drain system.
Augering
Once a commercial clog has been found, your drain clearing service will determine the best method for removing it. If the clog isn't very deep down a drain, the quickest and most cost-effective solution is to auger it. Augers, also known as drain snakes, are long metal cords that are fed down a drain and then rotated so they can tear through the clog and clear the drain. There are hand-cranked models, but these are better suited to residential use. In a commercial building, your cleaning service will likely use a powered version with a longer reach to ensure that the auger can get through the debris that is blocking the drain.
Hydrojetting
Hydrojetting is an effective option for more severe clogs or those deep within the drainage system that can't be reached by an auger. A hose is inserted into the drain and a high-pressure jet of water is sent down the pipe, clearing out any debris that is in its way. Hydrojetting isn't just for clearing clogs, though, it is also for preventing clogs. It's not uncommon to bring in a drain cleaning service annually to hydrojet all the drains in the building so that you won't have to worry about clogs or sewage backups occurring in the future. This is especially helpful in buildings with heavy drain usage.
These are just a few ways that a plumber or contractor would address your needs and concerns. You can contact a local commercial drain cleaning service for more help with your drain issues.