How to Auger Your Home Sewer Line

For cleaning sewer line, in case of minor problems, you can do it yourself. A home sewer line is the big drainpipe that runs from the bottom of the main drain in the house, down under the yard and into the city sewer main under the street.

The tool you need to auger your home sewer line, sewer augers or sewer snakes, which you can get very easily at tool outlet. This tool consists of a 100-foot or 50-foot cable wrapped inside of a metal cage-like spool, which is turned by a reversible electric motor. The auger frame has two wheels, so you tip it back and roll it around like a moving dolly. At the end of the cable is a curved, two-pronged cutter head that rotates along with the cable to cut through the clog.

If you want to auger your sewer line, then you can see the cleanout, an access hole in the sewer line built especially for cleaning. Here, a short pipe is attached to the main drain. In some old houses, you may not find a clean out, and then you need to access the sewer line by removing a toilet in the house. If this is the case, then you have to call a professional.

Process

Once the drain above the cleanout is empty, remove the cleanout plug or cover. If it is difficult to clear the clog due to no drainage, then you may need to call a professional.

Position the auger a few feet away from the cleanout and plug its power cord into a nearby electrical outlet. Pull out the cable and feed it into the pipe a few feet, then start spinning the cable in the clockwise rotation. In addition to powering the cutting action, the rotation helps the cable work its way through bends in the pipe.

If the cable is stuck somewhere in the drain due to a clog or bend, then don’t force it. Slightly retract the cable and then feed it in again. If the cutter gets stuck and you can't get the cable unwound, stop the auger rotation, hit the reverse switch on the motor, and rotate the auger backward, then pull the cutter free before resuming in the clockwise rotation.

Repeat the process until you clear the clog. A satisfying whoosh sound may be your triumphant success signal. You can run a hose down the pipe while doing the follow-up snaking, which helps clean the cable and may help flush out some debris. You can also leave the hose on for a while to clear the clog.

Call the Professionals at Santucci Construction

For many of us, it is very difficult to clear the clog and sometimes, a damaged pipe, a big root or tangles of root, or any obstruction makes the process tough. In this case, you may require the expertise and high-end equipment of a plumber or drain specialist.

Dom Santucci and his team are experts in drainage repair and installation. We offer professional drainage for Westchester residents. Our 35 years of experience allows us to quickly diagnose and repair your drainage problems. We can get the job done quickly, professionally and with the least amount of disturbance to your property. If you need any type of drainage or excavation work done, then call the professionals at Santucci Construction Corp.

For more details call at (914) 930-4968 or fax at (914) 737-1334 or you can fill up an online form which is available at www.santucciconstruction.com    so that we can contact you. You can also send mails at  dsantucci@santucciconstruction.com .