Lovett offers drain line / storm drain jetting.

We clean and clear all types of clogged and slow running drains, both residential and commercial!

Every drain line is susceptible to clogging. Certain drain pipe materials, plumbing codes and excellent plumbing practices can keep clogs to a minimum, but few people ever have the opportunity to specify the piping material and possess the knowledge to determine if a plumbing drainage system has been installed to the highest levels of workmanship. PVC, ABS, HDPE plastic and copper drain lines have very smooth interior surfaces. These are least likely to clog. Older homes often have drain pipes made with galvanized or cast iron pipe. Smaller diameter drain lines made with these materials are prone to blockages. The galvanized and cast iron drain lines over time begin to corrode. A scale of rust and corrosion creates a very rough inner surface that helps to grab hair, toothpaste, soap film, grease, etc. Soon the inner diameter of the drain pipes begins to get smaller, similar to a clogged artery in a heart. We have seen drain lines packed solid with rust, scale and black organic goop, greases fats and oils. Other causes may be, but are not limited to, tree root intrusion, broken or separated pipes, bellies and/or improperly installed pipes and fittings. Bellied pipe is a section of the pipe that has sunk due to ground or soil conditions, creating a valley that collects paper and waste.

To sum up the basics of a drain system: water is carried away from sinks and appliances and out of the home or building by force of gravity. Gravity forces the water through pipes ranging in size from 1-1/4 to 6 inches in diameter and larger. The size of the pipe depends on the size and outflow of the fixture or fixtures. The larger the plumbing fixture or number of fixtures, the larger the drain pipe. Kitchen and bath sinks typically drain into 1-1/4-, 1-1/2 or 2 waste pipes. Two-inch pipes are common for laundry drains, 3 and 4-inch pipes are used for most residential toilets.

However, don't think that the bigger the pipe, the better the drainage. On the contrary, the extra space within the pipe actually dissipates the pressure built by the water's gravitational flow. As a result, a smaller pipe maintains greater pressure and transports water more efficiently.

Unclogging a drain:

When you've tried every possible home maneuver (running hot water in the drain, removing the trap and cleaning it, plunging, pouring in vinegar and baking soda, using chemical drain cleaners), it's time to pull out the big guns of plumbing know-how. Take a break from your exertions, secure in the knowledge that you've done all you can do. Then, call Lovett, the drain cleaning specialists and have them clean the drain line.

A plumbing snake or auger is a long, flexible metal cable that's pushed through the drain until it reaches the clog, and then pushes through whatever is jamming the pipe. Some snakes have electric motors that can give them more power; the end of the augur, snake or cable will either push through the obstruction, tear it up with its twisting action, or become attached to it so it can be pulled up through the drain. If you have resorted to pouring a caustic/acid drain cleaner into the sink, tub or toilet, call Lovett and let the technician know what you've used to try to clear the clog so they can wear protective apparel and equipment.

Other options used to properly and thoroughly clean a clogged drain pipe or line is hydro-jetting.

Hydro-jetting is a process that uses high speed / high pressure water to clear blockages and clean pipe systems. Our hydro-jetting systems have a heavy-duty power nozzle attached to a high-pressure hose that can travel the entire distance of the drain. Operating at approximately 1000- 5000 psi, the hydro-jetting process will destroy even the most stubborn line blockages, efficiently scouring and cleaning the entire pipe. This process can and should be a regular maintenance consideration for home owners, multi-family structures and businesses such as restaurants and food processing who are subject to grease and oil by-product accumulations. Hydro-jetting will solve the problem and thereafter routine maintenance will keep the lines free and functioning properly. Maintenance of this sort will go a long way toward minimizing eventual blockages that could result in a line breakage requiring more drastic and expensive repairs.

Drain line video camera inspection:

Lovett's drain line video camera inspection systems allow us to inspect the internal workings of a drain pipe to find and assess any existing problems. A video camera pipe inspection allows for a real-time visual inspection of underground sewer lines and other piping to determine the condition inside the pipe. A flexible fiber optic cable with a specially designed high-resolution video camera on its tip is inserted into the pipe for inspection. As the cable is pushed through the pipe, the waterproof camera, equipped with powerful lights, records its journey and findings. Video images are transmitted to the camera operator who can make an informed diagnosis of any problem found. The video inspection can be saved digitally for a permanent record.

Video cameras may be used to identify pipe damage and obstructions that inhibit proper flow or create occasional or repeated backups. The camera also verifies that obstructions have been eliminated and that the lines are clean following service. The condition of a pipe typically cannot be determined without a visual inspection using video camera inspection equipment.

Video camera inspections pinpoint problems like: broken, cracked or collapsed pipe, damaged pipes requiring repair or replacement, sewer pipes that have become misaligned due to shifting soil, frozen ground, settling, etc., grease buildup or a foreign objects that are restricting or prohibiting proper flow, piping that has deteriorated and/or broken, causing sections to collapse and restrict water flow, sections of pipe that have sunk due to ground or soil conditions creating a valley that collects paper and waste. Tree or shrub roots that have invaded the sewer line, preventing normal cleaning and/or roots that have damaged the pipe.

We clean, clear and unclog everything!

• Toilets
• Sinks
• Showers
• Tubs
• Laundry drains
• Storm drains
• Floor drains
• Main lines