Drain Cleaning Terms in Gloucester, VA Explained

With more than 50 years in the plumbing business, Miller's Services is a valuable resource for homeowners in Gloucester, VA, and we are committed to giving customers the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their homes.

While our plumbers always take the time to explain our services and answer your questions, it still helps to have a glossary of terms you can refer to when you have a clogged drain or need drain cleaning services.

Understanding Drain Cleaning and Other Plumbing Terms

Trying to find plumbing solutions, but feel like everything sounds like a foreign language? We get it. Nobody wants to play a guessing game when drains are backing up or a septic system is acting up. That’s why we’ve broken down the most common terms related to drain cleaning, clog removal, and plumbing repairs. Whether you’re dealing with a minor clog or a major backup, here are some terms worth knowing.

Common Pipe Features and Access Points

These help with function and maintenance:

• P-Traps, S-Traps, U-Traps: A curved pipe that creates a water seal, designed to capture debris and help prevent sewer gases and odors from entering a home. The name comes from its shape, which resembles the letters “P,” “S,” or “U.”
• Cleanout: An access point installed in a drain line that allows a drain cable to reach clogs and blockages.
• Septic Riser: A vertical pipe with a cover that extends from the ground to the top of a septic tank lid.
• Sewer or Pipe Belly: A low area or sag where a sewer line or pipe has lost positive slope, which impairs flow.

Tools and Techniques for Clog Diagnosis and Removal

• Auger: A plumbing tool, sometimes called a snake, made of a long, thin, flexible cable that can be inserted into a drain to locate and remove a blockage.
• Snaking: The process of inserting an auger into a drain and moving it through the pipe to locate and remove clogs and blockages.
• Jetting or Hydro Jetting: The process of using high-pressure water to clear and clean sewer and drain lines. The fast-moving water cuts through debris, grease, and buildup.
• Scoping: The process of using a specialized camera to travel through drains and pipes and find the exact location and cause of a clog.

General Drainage and Wastewater Flow

These terms relate to how water and waste leave your home:

• Drain: A pipe or channel that carries away water or wastewater. In addition to sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets, dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators also have drains.
• Sewer Line: A pipe that carries wastewater and sewage away from your home.
• Septic: A system used to collect and treat wastewater and sewage for homes that are not connected to a city sewer.