Whats The Best Method For Removing Scale Buildup
The method used for removing scale depends on how advanced the buildup is. A simple sewer cleaning in Frederick, MD can remove slight deposits. However, at some point, a blast of water wont do the trick.
Thats when the scale must be removed mechanically. We insert a boring head down into the pipe and scrape the scale away. It leaves the sides of the pipe clear of scale. A flow of water helps clear away the scale debris.
When you encounter slow drain issues, get a pipe repair specialist from our team to take a look. A quick inspection with a sewer camera can identify whats causing the slowdown and indicate whats the best solution to fix it.
For reliable sewer cleaning services in Frederick, MD, contact Specialized Pipe Technologies right away. Be sure to call us or fill out the online form for an appointment with our team.
Hire A Professional Plumber To Unclog The Line
If the home remedies do not work, it means that the blockage is not within your reach since its coming from the municipal sewer drain system. With the main sewer line clogged, you need a professional plumber to snake or hydro-jet the pipe that connects drains in your home to the municipal sewer line. Hydro jetting is a complex process that entails using high-pressure jets through the drain pipes to break up blockages and get rid of all debris. Call The Original Plumber for a sewer line camera inspection to help locate and clear the clog and repair your sewer line. Also, call us for other plumbing services you may need.
If you suspect that you have a clogged sewer line in your home or business, contact The Original Plumber right away. We will find the sewer drain clog and remove it before any further damage occurs. In some cases, we may have to repair the sewer line or replace it. Serving Metro Atlanta and surrounding areas, we offer easy, no-obligation estimates and emergency services as needed.
Removing Calcium Buildup In Smaller Drains
To remove calcium buildup in drains, youâll want to start by cleaning the buildup off of the affected plumbing faucets. Since the fixtures may be made from different materials than your pipes, clean the fixtures appropriately if they are bronze.
After youâve cleaned your faucet or showerhead, you will need to clean inside your drain pipes.
If located in your drain pipe and sewer pipe, you can create a mixture of one part white vinegar and one part baking soda if itâs not too bad.
Once you create your mixture, use it right away as the chemical reaction is most effective when the ingredients first come into contact with each other. You can add water to create your preferred consistency and add lemon juice to add acid to the mix.
You donât need to mix the ingredients in advance. You can pour baking soda down the drain followed by the white vinegar. You will know itâs working when you hear it fizz up.
Allow the cleaner to sit for at least 10 â 15 minutes.
While relatively safe for your pipes, you donât want to let it sit too much longer than that.
Flush your pipes thoroughly with hot water. You want the water to carry out the loose mineral deposits and the chemicals in your drain.
Repeat as necessary at the different fixtures in your home.
You may be able to use a drain cleaner if you donât like the idea of creating your own solution. Always pick a drain cleaner thatâs suitable for your pipes and the clog .
You May Like: Basement Drain Backing Up In Winter
How Do You Dissolve Calcium Buildup In Pipes
Slow draining fixtures, weak flushing/slow drain toilets and low water pressure in the house can be caused by calcium build up. Calcium is the main mineral in hard water and it coats the inside of drains and water pipes reducing their internal diameter, subjecting them to clogs and as well as reducing water pressure.
Calcium deposits can also settle at the bottom of the water heater effectively reducing its volume and efficiency. This is why flushing the water heater at least once a year is recommended.
The best and long-term method to prevent calcium build in pipes and drains is replacing your old pipes with PEX or/and installing a water softener. To remove calcium buildup, dissolve it using vinegar and baking soda or a chemical/acidic drain cleaner. Chemical drain cleaners should not be used in water pipes.
Apart from clogging water pipes and drains, calcium and other minerals found in hard water can discolor fixtures like toilets, sinks and bathtubs. Installing a water softener and cleaning the fixtures using vinegar and baking soda or borax will help remove the calcium build up.
Calcium will especially clog the tiny holes found in shower heads and faucet aerators. Removing and soaking shower heads and faucet aerators in distilled vinegar will dissolve the calcium thereby opening up the holes.
A vinegar taste will linger in your water for a while but it is completely harmless. The only problem with this method is that you will be without water for 24 hours.
How To Prevent Calcium Buildup
There are two ways to prevent long-term calcium buildup in pipes:
- Perform regular toilet tank cleanings
- Invest in a water softener
As for preventing hard water stains in your toilet bowl, keep up with regular cleanings. Use a safe toilet bowl cleaner and scrub your bowl at least once a week. Pay close attention to the area under the rim, where calcium deposits like to linger.
You May Like: Draining The Hot Water Heater
Reasons Why Your Toilet Keeps Getting Clogged And Tips To Prevent Future Clogs
Is your toilet not flushing? Does the bowl seem to empty or fill slowly?
When a toilet frequently clogs, it can drive you insane. It happens a lot more often than the average person would think. The good news is there is often a simple solution to the issue.
Continue reading to learn five common reasons your toilet frequently clogs. Also, learn simple solutions to each issue.
Remove And Soak Aerators And Shower Heads In Vinegar
If you look at the tip of your faucet spouts, you will see a small attachment whose opening looks like a mesh. That is called a faucet aerator.
A faucet aerator introduces air into the water which helps to increase the spray width, prevent water from splashing back at you and also makes it soft to the touch.
Faucet aerators and shower heads are easily clogged by calcium deposits. Use a wrench to remove the shower heads or check out this post for more information.
While removing aerators, you need to be very careful not to peel off the finish with a wrench. Wrap a cloth or tape on the aerator then grab on it with the wrench to safely remove it.
Fill a small bucket with vinegar then drop in the faucet aerators and shower heads. Let the vinegar dissolve the calcium deposits.
Since you will also need to clean the shower head water pipe, plug off the connection and leave the shower faucet open .
Turn off all the other faucets.
Read Also: Clogged Shower Drain Home Remedy
The Three Most Common Causes Of The Slow Flushing Toilet
How can I quickly fix my slow flushing toilet? It is a question you have probably asked yourself a few times as a homeowner.
There are three main causes to an inadequate flush and learning them can help you out the next time you have a weak flushing toilet. The three potential causes of a slow flushing toilet are low water level in your tank, a clog in the toilet or a pipe leading out of it, or even a buildup of calcium and other hard minerals.
The Bathroom Shower Sink And Tub Drains
The biggest cause of clogs in the bathroom is long hair and toothpaste. When these come together and water mixes with them, you could almost build a hut with the result. For clogged drain cleaning in this area, fill the sink or shower/tub with hot water with the drain plugged. Then unplug and if the clog isnt too severe, it should flush the drain with the hot water melting the toothpaste, taking the long hair with it to the sewer. If the s drain is still clogged, get a sink plunger and plunge the drain a few times. The next thing to try is a plumber snake, available at your local big box home improvement store.
Also Check: Drain Snake Won’t Make Turn
What Does Calcium Buildup In Pipes Look Like
One of the major telltale signs of hard water is needing more cleaning products, be it during a shower or laundry. Your clean dishes right out of dishwater also might bear some annoying white spots.
Besides these, the evidence that confirms hard water running through your plumbing system is white scaly deposits on the inside of your pipes. Your faucets and showerheads will also show bear a thin layer of white deposit.
How To Remove Calcium Build Up In Pipes
If youre experiencing problems with your drains, wed like to show you a quick method of how to remove calcium buildup in pipes.
First, were going to need a few things. Youll need to get the following items.
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1/2 cup of vinegar
The first step is to boil the pot of water. Next, pour your half cup of vinegar and baking soda down the drain. Third, put your rag over the top of the drain.
Now, youre going to want to wait about five minutes. This is so the mixture of baking soda and vinegar can eat away the buildup clogging the drain. Then, you can go ahead and pour the boiling water down the drain.
Once the boiling water reacts with the vinegar and baking soda the gunk should break apart. Normally, once is enough to break up most mineral deposits. If you have a particularly stubborn clog, you may want to do it a few times.
Recommended Reading: Types Of Kitchen Sink Drains
How To Remove Calcium Buildup In Drains And Pipes
Mineral deposits can occur when there is a high concentration of minerals such as magnesium, potassium and calcium in your water. This is known as hard water and can become a problem for your drains and pipes if not prevented or removed. These minerals are picked up by groundwater as it flows through the soil and rocks.
You will notice if you have hard water build up when there are whites stains on the surfaces of your appliances and household items such as your toilets, sinks, dishwasher and even your dishes. If left untreated or not removed, hard water build up can cause some serious issues to your plumbing, but also your health.
What Causes Calcium Build
Calcium deposits in pipes are common in homes that have hard water, or water with a high mineral content from magnesium, calcium, or potassium. This hard water can build up in drains and pipes and, when left unresolved, can cause corrosion or blockages.
If you have hard water in your homes water supply, you likely know it already. But if youre uncertain, be on the lookout for white stains on your toilet, sink, dishwasher, and even your dishes.
Read Also: How To Clean Sink Drain Bathroom
Dissolve Visible Scale Buildup
Check the rim feed and jet holes . Calcium commonly accumulates in these areas.
If the jet holes are clogged with calcium, water may be restricted from flowing into the bowl. Use a wire coat hanger to poke the jet holes and dissolve any buildup. You can also use a pin, but be sure not to flush it down the toilet.
Cut And Assemble Drain Pipes
Step 1: Assemble Pipes Without Gluing
Trimmed the pipes and connect them without gluing to ensure that they are the correct lengths and fit in the designated area. Make sure you have the necessary fittings to connect your pipes to the current drain and vent lines.
Step 2: Check Stack for Adequate Support
Check that your stack or current drain is securely maintained above and below the proposed placement of your interconnection. If required, add supporting braces. Remove a length of pipe based on the length of the hygienic tee or combination connection.
Don’t Miss: Best Way To Clear Bathtub Drain
Excess Toilet Paper Use
One of the most common reasons behind when a toilet keeps clogging is problems with too much toilet paper use! While just a few squares of toilet tissue suffice, Americans often utilize several times this amount of toilet paper when using the bathroom! Though toilet paper is designed to be flushed down the drain without issue, using too much toilet tissue does lead to recurring toilet clogs. The toilet tissue simply does not dissolve quick enough, so human waste and bathroom waste becomes stuck in the toilet or the sewer line.
Cushy, 2-ply toilet paper usage in many Indy area households also creates a clog risk. This toilet tissue doesnt break down as easily as standard toilet paper, which leads to a clogged toilet. While chosen for its comfort, this toilet paper option isnt the best choice for your toilet.
Prevent excessive toilet paper usage from causing a clogged toilet when you educate your family. Remind everyone how much toilet tissue is adequate for use. For younger family members, it is often helpful to mark a line below the toilet paper roll to indicate where to tear off a piece, helping prevent them from taking too much toilet paper.
Instead of using 2-ply toilet paper, switch to 1-ply. If you like the added comfort of 2-ply, simply fold over your 1-ply toilet tissue to add volume. Do not wad toilet tissue for use, as doing so contributes to toilet clogs.
Calcium Buildup In Toilet Trap: Causes And Effective Solutions
Often, you will face an issue with your toilet trap where it gets a lot of calcium buildup. This can be very concerning because it will slow down the toilets flushing.
This results in getting water stuck on the toilet bowl, which is something you would not want.
So, if you also have a calcium buildup in the toilet trap, I have just the solution for you. Here, I will go through why this happens and how to fix it properly.
Without wasting any more time, lets get right into it.
Recommended Reading: Is It Too Late To Drain My Water Heater
Pour The Calcium Buildup Dissolvent:
Now its time to bring your choice of limescale descaler into action. Pour the dissolvent down the drain.
If youre using a vinegar-baking soda combo, add a cup of baking soda first, followed by vinegar. Youll notice fizzing action going on. Feel free to use the vinegar depending upon the intensity of buildup.
When using synthetic commercial cleaners, always wear protective clothing and gloves for your safety. An easier method of pouring these liquids is using a funnel.
While the commercial cleaners do their job in about 15 to 30 mins, the vinegar cleaner must be left in the pipe for a few hours for an ideal result.
Check The Water Level:
This cause by far the most common reason for slow flushing toilets. If the water in the tank is not up to the recommended level, you may have poor flushing power. This is because the increased water level gives a more intense flushing force that force is required for the bowl to be completely emptied. If you have a decreased water level in the tank, your bowl may not be getting cleared. You can make sure that your water level is accurate by filling the tank to about a half inch below the overflow pipe.
Also Check: Standing Water In Shower Drain
Faq On How To Install Toilet Drain Pipes
Q: Does a toilet drain pipe need a trap?
A: A trap is required on all plumbing fittings. A p-trap has 2-4 inches of stagnant water. This pool of water is known as the trap seal. The trap seal prevents sewage gas from entering your property.
Q: Can a toilet drain pipe go straight down?
A: When the toilet drainage hits a vertical surface, it falls directly between the wall studs. Despite the fact that there is a vertical drop, do not join the pipes using normal 90 ° piping elbows known as hard 90s. Clogs might be exacerbated by the sharp edges of these elbow connections.
Q: What happens if a toilet is not vented?
A: Badly vented drain pipes will not adequately transport wastewater and waste products from your building. This might result in overflowing drainage, backed-up toilets, and other plumbing concerns.
Q: Which is better S-trap or P-trap?
A: Most people believe that P-traps are more successful and constant in keeping water trapped than S-traps. Because of their design, they are less prone to drying up and losing their tight seal: a correctly placed P-trap will never break its water seal.
Q: Where should the toilet supply line be placed?
A: Connect a 12-inch copper water pipe to your replacement toilets placement. Put the line through the structures bottom panel, about 8 inches to the left of the bathrooms midline. Link this power cord to the sinks water supply system.
What Dissolves Calcium Build Up In Drains
For minor build ups, you can use a variety of limescale removers and similar products, or you can create your own environmentally friendly mixture of vinegar and baking soda to dissolve calcium buildup. For major ones, you will likely need to call a plumber who uses professional water jetting equipment.
You May Like: Best Way To Remove Hair From Shower Drain
Will Bleach Unclog A Drain
While bleach is a great household product and can do so many things, it is not a clogged drain cleaning product. Bleach will reduce any dirt on surfaces and brightens your white clothes. Bleach is excellent at killing bacteria and terms. You wont find a better household product that sanitizes around your home, but clogged drain cleaning is one thing it cant do.
Plumbers do recommend using bleach to clean and deodorize the drain once a month in place of baking soda and vinegar. Pour as much as ¾ a cup of bleach in every drain once a month and it will kill the bacteria and germs that have built up in them. Getting that clog of toothpaste and hair busted though, it wont help with that problem.