When you have problems with your home’s plumbing you may require the services of a plumber. A plumber is a person trained and licensed to provide you with plumbing services. This includes the repair of pipes, unclogging drains and sewerage systems and other related tasks. A licensed plumber in Allegheny County, PA, for example, completes 576 hours of classroom training and four years apprenticeship with a registered master plumber. This allows the individual to attempt the journeyman plumber examination, before attempting the master plumber certification after two additional years on the job.
If you have ever dealt with a plumber you may have heard, the use of certain terms to describe your home is plumbing system. These terms may have been a reference to a procedure, tool or work that needed to be performed in order to repair or restore your plumbing system to good working order. How did you know if these terms were relevant to your repair or words that the plumber used that ended up costing you more money but were not related to your repair? Here is a primer on some of the words you should know.
Common Terms Used by Your Plumber
Your familiarity with these terms will help you understand the nature of the problem identified or repair being proposed by the plumber. This knowledge will also help you determine if the service or repair suggested by your plumber is necessary or an unwarranted charge that you do not need. The terms you will hear when discussing a plumbing problem with a licensed plumber include drain snaking, hydro jetting, trenchless sewer repair and sewer video inspection.
- Drain Snaking
Drain snaking is a process by which the plumber places a cable attached to an auger. The drain snake may be powered or manual and is used by a plumber to unclog your pipe. Drain snaking may be required is you are experiencing a backup of water or sewerage due to the build-up of hair, paper products or some other blockage.
- Hydro Jetting
If drain snaking is not enough to clear a stubborn clog in your pipes, your plumber may recommend the use of a hydro jet. Hydro jetting uses water, blasted at high pressure (around 4,000 pounds per square inch or psi). The use of a hydro jet may be more effective as a solution for your clogged pipes however, it is also more expensive than drain snaking. If your plumber suggests hydro jetting over drain snaking, ask if the least expensive option might be effective for your plumbing problem.
- Trenchless Sewer Repair
Trenchless sewer repair involves the replacement of existing pipes that may have been damaged with newer lines. The new lines, made from a material known as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are fed through the existing pipes (acting like a conduit). Trenchless sewer repair can be expensive and may not necessarily be the best repair for your problem. Again, ask a plumber recommending this type of repair for your options.
- Sewer Video Inspection
A plumber uses sewer video inspection to get a better view of your plumbing. The system may be used to identify a leak or severe blockage in your plumbing system. This equipment, which feeds a camera line through your pipes and sends video to a monitor, can be expensive to use and should only be recommended in extreme situations.
Become educated about the types of terms that a plumber may use when repairing your home’s pipes. Take the time when meeting with a plumber to ask questions, seek clarification of any term or process you do not understand and alternate repairs or solutions.
Work with Pittsburgh plumbers you can trust by contacting the team at Mister Sewer. For over 25 years, the Mister Sewer team has built a reputation for their quality of work and commitment to excellence for all your home plumbing repair needs. From clogged pipes and drains to leaky faucets and more, call Mister Sewer for efficient repairs to all your plumbing problems.