We’ve all attempted to do a job without the right equipment or tool. Who hasn’t tried to back out a screw with the blade on a pocket knife? Who hasn’t tried (and failed miserably) to try to use a circular saw to cut a 45 degree angle on a piece of trim board?
These are classic examples of trying to make do with what you have, and while there are times we make it work, very rarely is the job done right, if at all. The exact same holds true in the sewer and drain cleaning side of the world.There are times when you can get a stopped up line flowing with just a plunger or chemicals, but usually, those just mask an underlying, deeper problem.
I was reminded of this just the other day on a call for a backed up bathroom sink. There were 2 sinks side by side and the line tied into a galvanized pipe under a thick layer of concrete that ran under the bathroom floor. Previously, another fellow had tried to open the line and was unable to make the series of turns with his machine, so he drilled a hole in the pipe for easier access and proceeded to unstop the line. Problem was, the hole was so small in the pipe that he could not get a cutter of any significant size into the line to do more than punch a hole in the problem. So naturally, the problem came back.
The day they called us, they had another fellow trying to open the reoccurring problem for nearly 2 hours. His machine couldn’t get the job done. The homeowner was referred to me, and within 5 minutes of getting my cable into the line, (the proper entry way, not through the hole that had been drilled), the line was open and flowing.
The key here was having the right equipment. My machine had enough power to get thru the tough turns, and was able to get a bigger head into the line and clean the line correctly.
Being McGyver is sometimes necessary, but often it leaves you with a shoddy result and costing more money in the long run. Get the job done right the first time and have the piece of mind of knowing it was handled correctly and that you have someone to call back if it ever happens again. You can also consider getting professional help. Make sure to get cleaning quotes beforehand to make an informed decision.
But still the right equipment is key to getting the job done right, the first time.