At Drain King, we take great pride in our reliable, courteous, and highly qualified technicians. We use state-of-the-art equipment to correctly diagnose and repair whatever plumbing problem plagues you. We can detect and pinpoint a water- or sewer-line disruption at its exact location, and follow it up with an expert diagnostic solution, saving you considerable time, money, and frustration during the repair process.
While some of the most common household plumbing problems are easy and inexpensive fixes (for example: low water pressure, slow drains, a running toilet, or a jammed garbage disposal), they may be masking larger problems that can't be fixed with a Google search and some basic tools. These advanced problems require more technical diagnoses and repairs. We can determine precisely where and why your pipes are leaking and present you with a detailed explanation of the expense and labor involved in fixing them. We can correctly install or service water heaters and softeners, helping you choose the appropriate size and efficiency for your household's needs. We can locate the cause of your sewer-line disruption and fix it quickly, without having to tear up your yard or street.
The biggest advantage to these thorough diagnostic tests and repair/installation details is that, with such comprehensive information, you can decide how you want to proceed with the repair process. We at Drain King want you to be so well-educated on your plumbing diagnosis that you can make pertinent decisions about resolving the issue. If you understand the what and the why, you can determine the how and the when.
One of the first things a Drain King technician will determine is whether the problem is with the plumbing or septic system, followed by the location of the trouble, whether inside or outside the building. The remainder of the repair steps vary with each diagnosis but could include snaking, water jetting, or thawing of pipes; inspecting and/or pumping the septic tank; televising and transmitting services; and below-ground line repair and excavation. We pride ourselves on our thorough and legitimate diagnostic reports. We won't add unnecessary repairs or expenses to your report details. Trust our plumbing experts to guide you through the repair process with honesty and experience.
Plumbing emergencies are never convenient. Dealing with them is a hassle no one has time for in today's busy world. You've got problems, and Drain King has solutions we guarantee in writing.
Lift stations are an integral part of a gravity-flow sewer system. As waste is discharged into the sewer lines, it flows downhill toward a sewer treatment plant. Ideally, all homes or developed properties would be built below the existing sewer line so gravity could do its job without help, but in reality, it just isn't possible. Lift stations allow properties to be developed further away from the city's main sewer line, but gives them the ability to connect to the existing sewer framework. A lift station is essentially an elevator for waste.
Two components make up a lift station: the wet well and the pump system. A wet well is a large, circular, underground holding tank (most commonly made of cement, but occasionally composed of steel or fiberglass) that waste drains into. After the sewage reaches a certain height in the well, a series of low-voltage floats triggers a pump, telling it when to turn on and when to stop pumping—once enough wastewater has been diverted to the main sewer line. (This process is similar to the float system used in the back of a toilet.)
If they are filled exclusively with "sanitary" waste, lift stations need very little maintenance. Problems arise when excessive grease and heavy debris find their way into the wet well. These FOG materials build up on pumps, chains, floats, and sidewalls, and will clog or damage the pump impellers, making it difficult to move waste through the sewer line. When left untreated, grease will form a solid layer across the top of the well, which prevents the lift station from pumping any waste to the main sewer line. This leads to an eventual wet-well overflow of raw sewage, which is difficult to contain and eliminate, not to mention dangerous to the environment.
The professional at Drain King begin a through lift-station cleaning by liquefying any solid grease so it is easier to pump out. We then pump out the well using a sanitary vacuum truck, and all of the floats, impellers, and well walls are pressure-washed and thoroughly cleaned. Any solid debris left on the bottom of the tank is removed. Then, we test the entire system to ensure each part is in good working condition. Because a wet well is considered a confined space, special labor-safety regulations are in place to make entry as safe as possible. Because of the potential hazards that can arise from a confined space, only specially trained workers should attempt to enter them. Drain King’s experts have received extensive instruction in confined-space protocols. We are a safe, reliable choice for all of your plumbing needs.
What exactly would a plumbing emergency entail? We depend on our home’s plumbing system for several things, and it seems we might see every little problem as an emergency. A true emergency situation needs to be dealt with right away, such as a clog causing toilet contents to spill out on the floor. Normally, a toilet clog might be able to wait until morning, but not in this instance. You need to get a plumber there immediately. Situations that call for an emergency plumber are described below.
Backup of Sewer or Drain
Using a rooter on drains or sewers, no matter what size, is not always enough. Call an emergency plumber if this happens during off-business hours. Drain King’s plumbers have cameras that can navigate into basically any size pipe to reveal the reason for the blockage. After the problem is located, the plumber can make a spot repair, stopping the problem from growing bigger, while saving you money.
Repairing a Water Heater
If your water heater breaks during off-business hours, an emergency plumber should be contacted. When this happens, everyday activities are interrupted, such as washing dishes or clothes or taking a shower, and you need it fixed quickly. Many times when homeowners try repairing a water heater themselves, the problem is only made worse. In addition, there are dangers if the person repairing the water heater is not experienced.
Flooded Basement
A flooded basement can lead to a great deal of damage. Finding where the leak is coming from can be a challenge. To avoid further damage, contact our emergency plumbers immediately to find and repair the leak.
Clogged Toilet
Most times you can probably unclog your toilet yourself, but occasionally, no matter how hard you try, it remains clogged. There may be a foreign object or something else causing the blockage. Even if the toilet is not spilling over, you might not be able to wait until business hours if it is the only toilet in the house. Experienced emergency plumbers can get your toilet in working order.
Drain King’s emergency plumbers are available seven days a week, around the clock. They have the experience to find and repair any of your plumbing issues, no matter when you call.
Commercial kitchens produce a large amount of grease and fats that need to be disposed of regularly to maintain functionality and environmental regulations. Restaurants use grease traps or inflammable waste traps to collect these FOG (fat, oil, grease) materials, which prevents them from congealing in pipes and causing the sewer system to overflow. The grease collected from these kinds of kitchens can be categorized into two separate types: yellow grease and brown grease.
Yellow grease is typically used cooking oil left over from deep fat fryers and industrial-sized griddles. When the fryers need to be cleaned, the used grease is emptied into metal drum containers where it cools and congeals, and can then be recycled. It is considered a "clean" type of grease because the food it comes in contact with is either fresh or frozen, so there is no chance of contamination. Recycled yellow grease is mainly used to feed livestock, but it's also used to make soap, cosmetics, detergents, rubber, and some types of clothing. It can even be used to create biodiesel fuel! Biofuels that have been created from yellow grease burn cleaner than other types of fuel, they have a lower carbon content, and they don't produce carbon monoxide. They can be used to generate power and heat.
Brown grease is used to describe the FOG materials that are collected in grease traps or waste traps. These receptacles are designed to catch the FOGs before they can contaminate the rest of the sewer line. Some are small enough to fit under a commercial sink, while others need to be installed underground. Because the waste traps hold everything that is washed down a commercial drain, the grease mingles with rotting food and dirty water, making it unsafe and unsanitary for recycling purposes. Brown grease is usually pumped out of the waste traps and disposed of in landfills or incinerated. In the last few years, there has been some interest in creating ways to recycle brown grease. While it will never be suitable to manufacture the same types of products as its yellow counterpart, brown grease has the potential to become a viable alternative to diesel fuel and an oil substitute for heavy fuel. Developing technology may make it possible for brown grease to be processed in a manner similar to yellow grease, making it a viable source of biofuel.
The most important thing to remember about grease, whether yellow or brown, is to keep it out of your drain as much as possible. If left untreated, grease buildup almost always leads to sewer overflow. Remember to collect it and throw it away instead of dumping it down your sink or toilet! The environment will thank you, and so will your wallet!
What is storm sewer jetting? Jetting is a system that uses high-speed and high-pressure water to clear blockages and to clean pipes. Water is pumped through a high-PSI hose with heavy-duty tips attached. A gallon of water is pumped through per minute at a tremendous pressure.
Jetting can be used on sewer lines, septic lines, storm drains, drain fields, and pretty much any line that may be blocked. This is also very useful for restaurants and grease traps. Jetting will cut through grease, roots, and sand and provide a good flow. Jetting helps keep the lines clean and extends the life of the pipes by preventing buildup, which causes corrosion and breaks. This system also helps property owners avoid the need to have lines excavated and pumped out or replaced due to breakage.
Pumping a storm drain, sewer, or other lines involves a more intensive process. Lines must first be excavated, then a pump is brought in, connected to the lines, and operated. The pump is used to clear the blockage, get rid of excess water, or clean out the septic system or sewer. Numerous types of pumps are available, each suited to different jobs.
One of more common pumps is the sump pump, which is used to remove water from basements or areas where gravity isn’t sufficient to ease water flow. These are commonly used after a place has flooded or during mining, to keep water out of the pit. A sewer pumps is another type, which is brought in when a sewer backs up or needs to be emptied.
Both systems work and both have pros and cons, but if a person is trying to decide which system to use on a regular basis to keep the lines in shape and clean, Drain King recommends the jetting system. Although a jetting system may seem like a large investment for an hour of labor, it is preferable to having the yard excavated to get to the pipes and the need to bring in heavy equipment. The choice ultimately comes down to the needs of the job. Contact the professionals at Drain King to discuss these options and let us make dealing with your plumbing issues a little easier.
