Living or working in a high-rise building in Chicago City is great until you have to deal with clogged drains. Compared to single-story houses, drain problems are more common in high-rise buildings because of the cumulative demand placed on such systems, says Blue Roof Management.
The relative size of the drainage system in a high-rise building means that problems such as leaks, slow drains, and drain clogs are quite common. Also, because of the drainage system’s interconnectedness throughout the entire building, these problems are often devastating.
As a result, these drain issues can make living or working in a high-rise very hard. As the owner or manager of such a building or the owner of a business within the premises, drainage issues can make your building unattractive to customers, thereby putting your investment at risk.
That is why knowing how to deal with these problems effectively is vital. It is even better if you can preempt and prevent them; stopping a drain problem before it happens is the best way to minimize its impact on your building and the occupants.
The best strategy for keeping the drains in a high-rise working at optimal levels is to clean the pipes professionally. Timely drain cleaning removes the buildup inside the pipes before it can accumulate and cause severe blockages within the system.
What are your best options when cleaning the drainpipes in your high-rise building?
Effective drain-cleaning solutions for high-rise buildings
Hydro-jetting (or High-Pressure Drain Cleaning)
This is the best method for removing buildup from the inaccessible nooks of a drainage system. It uses high-pressure water delivered through a flexible hose with an adjustable steel nozzle.
This is inserted into the drainpipe via a sewer cleanout or drain opening, and pressure from the jet stream of water is used to shatter and dislodge any clogs within the pipes. In addition to removing the clog, the water from the operation is used to wash the debris out of the pipes.
Hydro-jetting has the advantages of being faster and more thorough than other drain cleaning methods. It is cost-effective and does not pose a risk of damage to pipes. Periodically hydro-jetting the drain pipes is a great way to prevent drain problems in a high rise.
The best strategy for keeping the drains in a high-rise working at optimal levels is to clean the pipes professionally.
Sewer rodding
This drain-cleaning method uses a series of connected 3-foot flexible pipes, with a rotating steel cutting head at its tip, to remove the clogs inside your drainage lines. The pipes are joined together end-to-end and inserted into the drainpipe via a cleanout, floor drain, or toilet.
The plumber then maneuvers the line through the pipes until it reaches the site of the blockage. Once in place, a machine is used to spin the cutting head, driving it forward through the pipe. This method can remove the worst kinds of clogs from your drains.
Sewer camera inspection
This is not a drain-cleaning method. Sewer camera inspection is done before or after hydro-jetting or rodding a drain line. Sewer camera inspection is used to determine the condition of a drainpipe before cleaning it and the effectiveness of drain cleaning.
To inspect the drainpipe, a specialized camera is inserted into the line using a flexible cord. The camera is allowed to travel through the pipe and record the interior condition of the sewer line. That provides the plumber with accurate information about the issues in the drainpipe.
Doing a sewer camera inspection before hydro-jetting or rodding your drainpipe helps to ensure the effectiveness of your drain-cleaning operation. It provides detailed information about the type of clog inside the pipe and its location, making it easier to choose the right solutions.
Other drain maintenance strategies for high-rise buildings
Educate residents on proper drain use
Drain problems in high-rise buildings can be minimized if occupants don’t abuse the drainage system. Educate the people who use your building on the things they should not do to the drains. Create a list of items not allowed into toilet or sink drains and ensure all residents have a copy.
Install appliances that conserve water
Two of the biggest plumbing issues in high-rise buildings are low water pressure and water wastage. Some of the appliances in your building may be using more water than they need to. For instance, if there is low water pressure in the building, toilets that use a lot of water will encourage drain clogs. Replacing these appliances can help you avoid drain problems.
Scheduled drain inspection and cleaning
The best plumbing maintenance strategies are preventive rather than corrective. If you can detect problems in your drainage system before they happen, you will save yourself a lot of trouble. To do this, you need to have the pipes inspected (sewer camera inspection) and cleaned (hydro-jetting, or sewer rodding) periodically, even when there are no obvious problems in the system.
Finally, you want to work with a licensed Chicago city plumber when implementing these strategies. An experienced plumber with local knowledge will solve the current problems in your drainage system and help you avert future ones.