Drain Cleaning Service in Ridgewood
Pratt Services has proudly been a part of the Ridgewood community, serving the area since 1927. As a locally owned and operated business, we have upheld a stellar reputation for nearly a century, earning the trust of our customers as the most dependable drain cleaning company in the region. Our commitment to excellence is further reinforced by our complete insurance, bonding, and licensing, ensuring your full confidence in our workmanship. Our team is made up of highly experienced, hardworking, and honest professionals, each dedicated to exceeding the expectations of every customer we serve. Whether you find yourself in need of residential, commercial, or emergency drain cleaning, it would be our pleasure to assist you. Don't hesitate to reach out to Pratt Services today and allow us the opportunity to turn you into a satisfied, loyal customer!
What is hydro jetting?
A special hose is utilized during hydro jetting to drive high-pressure water through a plumbing system. When you allow us to complete this non-invasive service, the first thing we'll do is inspect the lines with a camera to identify any damage that would prevent us from removing the clog using this method. We'll start working on your hydro jetting after we insert the hose and connect it to a specialized water tank, as long as we confirm the absence of damage. Before we insert the hose and begin the process, we must carefully select the ideal location in which to do so.Leveraging our exceptionally sturdy hose, the force of gravity, and high water pressure, we initiate the process of flushing debris from the system by directing a flow of 20 gallons per minute through a combination of forward-facing and numerous backward-facing jets that propel the nozzle along, effectively clearing obstructions. Hydro jetting doesn’t just clear clogs, but it also rids the system of tree roots, mineral scale, grease, and various other types of debris that could lead to issues down the line. In case of a deep-seated clog, your reliable plumbing company will likely suggest this method.
What are the different types of hydro jetting heads?
Plumbers have a variety of hydro jetting heads at their disposal, each with its own distinct set of benefits. Your drain cleaning specialist carefully selects these heads based on the type and intensity of the obstructions and/or debris discovered during inspection.
Penetrator Heads employ an aggressive approach, featuring a robust forward jet along with rear-facing jets. The forceful forward jet is designed to break through soft plugs by creating an opening in them. As the head is pushed out of the pipe, it carries the blockage with it. These heads are highly effective for clearing blockages in both directions.
Ice Heads attack ice dams by forcefully breaking through the ice. These pointed heads are an effective solution for dealing with frozen lines, utilizing forward- and backward-facing jets, a sharp point, and hot water to efficiently clear and melt ice.
Grease Heads are, as their name suggests, designed specifically for clearing grease. They feature a rotating nozzle that sprays water at a right angle to the head, effectively scrubbing away stubborn, adhered oil deposits from the pipeline. They are often followed by another cleaning head for optimal results because they are only capable of cleaning the walls of the pipes and could not clear a drain clog behind or ahead of the head.
Warthog Heads exemplify "bringing in the big guns." To clear the most challenging and obstinate clogs, these huge, aggressive heads spin at high speeds. However, if not used properly, this unrivaled head can cause plumbing damage. When you contact us for drain cleaning service near you, you can be confident that your hydro jetting service will be handled with care.
The Leader is a versatile nozzle employed by our experts to address challenging and hard-to-reach areas such as P-traps, pipe bends, corners, or vertical drops. The line follows the nozzle as it traverses through these locations and along the pipes.
What are the most common sources of drain clogs?
The severity of drain clogs can vary significantly, and the most serious ones may result in backups, corrosion, intricate repairs, and other bothersome problems.
Vegetable and Fruit Peels or Rinds can cause issues ranging from lodged blades in your disposal to considerable damage of drains, pipes, and disposals.
Cotton Swabs do not break down over time, making them capable of causing fixture backups and extremely stubborn clogs.
Oils, Grease, and Fats harden inside your pipes when they cool, causing difficult, severe clogs.
Toys end up in toilets and, eventually, pipes more frequently than people realize. After being flushed by young children, foreign things like these have a tendency to damage or obstruct plumbing.
Wipes and Cosmetic Towelettes are susceptible to getting snagged on pipe imperfections or in bends. Even wipes labeled as "flushable" have a tendency to accumulate and result in blockages and backups.
Eggshells possess a distinctive property - when they enter your drain, garbage disposal, or pipes, they break down into tiny granules that tend to adhere to residue within pipes, ultimately leading to the formation of stubborn clogs.
Cat Litter is not to be flushed down the toilet, even if the packaging suggests that the formula is “flushable.” Cat excrement can lead to a number of problems that negatively affect human health, and the litter can cause clogs and other problems with your plumbing. For homes with septic systems, cat feces leads to a disruption of the helpful bacteria that the system depends on, which causes severe, worsening issues. For homes serviced by local water treatment facilities, animal fecal matter is detrimental because wastewater treatment plants are not intended to process animal waste and its bacteria - they are made only for human waste processing.
Dental Floss, Hair, and Other Stringy Materials can tangle, clump together, become stuck within pipes and drains, and join forces with soap scum and grease to form horrible blockages. Pay special attention to shower drain maintenance, install a drain guard, and dispose of hair in a garbage can to avoid a clog like this.
Fibrous Foods Like Pasta, Rices, and Other Starches are known to become exceedingly sticky, expand, and attach to other substances and food particles, resulting in plumbing blockages.
Feminine Products are not designed to degrade when flushed. Instead, they grow larger and accumulate, resulting in large blockages.
What are the signs of a clogged drain?
You may need help from our drain cleaning service near you if you notice:
- Rising water bills (due to inefficiency)
- Water rising from drains after toilet is flushed
- Sewage in your sewer cleanout
- Water backing up in plumbing fixtures (sink, tub, etc.)
- Standing water
- Pests in pipes Clogs that don’t easily clear with a plunger
- Air bubbles or gurgling noises
- Overflowing or clogged toilet(s)
- Slow draining sink(s)
- Odors of mustiness or sewage
Even if you have immaculate, clean drains, persistent plumbing problems may necessitate considering either drain line replacement or drain line replacement. Our skilled Ridgewood drain cleaning company is fully equipped to provide solutions for a vast array of plumbing challenges. Because clogs tend to escalate in severity over time, it's prudent to contact Pratt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning as soon as you notice any signs of a potential blockage so we can help you prevent more extensive (and costly) issues in the future.
How can homeowners prevent clogged drains?
Don’t put food scraps down your kitchen drain. Clogs can be avoided by limiting what goes down the drain. Scrape food leftovers into the trash can before rinsing dishes.
Don’t use harsh chemicals. Chemical drain cleaners are well-known for their high acidity. While they might seem to work in some situations, the corrosive damage they can inflict remains concealed within your pipes. Consistent use of harsh drain cleaners can result in the accumulation of corrosion, leading to blockages. If you're dealing with a clogged drain, we recommend reaching out to Pratt Services for professional drain cleaning in Ridgewood. When you’re choosing household cleaners, take a look at the more natural options. Cleaning chemicals can cause a great deal of damage to plumbing, and they can also be hazardous to your health. Baking soda and vinegar are shockingly effective and versatile cleaning products, so they’re a smart choice for cleaning your home. There are also plenty of effective and safe cleaning products on the market, so it’s a good idea to give those a try.
Harness the power of simple, affordable kitchen staples - vinegar and baking soda. Baking soda is proven to be a highly effective method for maintaining the cleanliness of kitchen drains, as it has the ability to absorb unpleasant odors, leaving your sinks smelling fresh and pristine. Simply sprinkle baking soda down your kitchen drain on a regular basis and follow up with a thorough rinse of hot water. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer and cleaning agent, thanks to its acetic acid content, which acts as an organic solvent to dissolve and eliminate food particles that accumulate in your plumbing. As a weekly maintenance routine, pour a cup of vinegar down the drain, allowing it about 30 minutes to work its magic before flushing with hot water. This simple practice is a cost-effective means of preserving the condition and cleanliness of your drain. Combine a cup of baking soda with two cups of vinegar, pour it down your drain, and wait as these two potent ingredients work together to deodorize and clean the drain. Allow the mixture to fizz for around 15 minutes, then rinse well with hot water.
Know how to properly use your garbage disposal. Many individuals are unaware that trash cans and garbage disposals are very different things. Garbage disposal clogs can be both costly and messy. Garbage disposals are convenient, but it's critical to understand what you can and cannot put in them. Avoid letting of any of the following foods, items, or substances enter your disposal: Paper Products Meat Bones Chemicals Rice Coffee Grounds Pasta Fibrous Vegetable or Fruit Peels Eggshells Paint Turn on your cold water faucet while using the garbage disposal and for about one minute afterward. This will aid in the grinding process, reduce unpleasant odors, and allow food particles to pass freely through your plumbing.
Rinse kitchen drains regularly with hot water. Every time you use the kitchen sink, get into the habit of running hot water to push tiny food particles, soap, and other substances down the drain and to prevent clogs. If your sink is prone to clogs, you can try to mitigate excessive accumulation by running extremely hot water down the drain once a week.
Use a mesh drain strainer. Mesh strainers are an easy and cost-effective solution to keeping food and other debris out of the drain. It only takes a second to install, and emptying it at regular intervals will keep your pipes and drains clean.
Keep grease far from your sink. If plumbing had an arch nemesis, it would be cooking oils or grease. Oils and grease solidify when they cool off, and they tend to adhere to solids, then form tough, complex clogs. Rather than pouring these problematic substances down your drain, collect them in a can or glass jar and discard them in your household waste.