• What is cast iron pipe descaling?

    Cast iron pipe descaling uses a specialized machine with a high speed rotating cable. This process makes it possible to scrape away build-up from the inner walls of a cast iron pipe. AAJDS's customers gets a free video inspection after the job is done. Cast iron pipe descaling most often prologs the life of the cast iron pipe.

  • When should you descale your cast iron plumbing pipes?

    You should descale your cast iron plumbing pipes when your pipes show signs of corrosion. In residential use cast iron pipes should last 50 to 75 years.

  • What is the number one cause of cast iron degradation?

    Washing grease down the drain is the number one cause of cast iron degradation.

  • Good to know

  • Are roots the source of my drain problems?

    A little known fact about roots is that they will travel long distances when water is scarce, such as during droughts and in winter months. When shrubs and trees get thirsty, they follow moisture vapors that escape through small cracks or poorly-sealed joints in sewer and water lines, penetrating the pipe.

    Plant root systems are comprised of large, permanent roots used to support and stabilize, and smaller, temporary feeder roots. These smaller roots are what absorbs water and nutrients. Most roots sits in the top 6-18 inches of soil, where they can access the nutrients, oxygen, and water needed for the plant to grow. How quickly the plant grows depends on factors such as soil depth, aeration, water supply, temperature, and mineral supply.

    To reliably calculate how far out a root system stretches, you can estimate that roots typically extend two to three times the height of the tree, though they can reach as far as seven times the tree’s height. Larger, more mature trees may have up to thousands of feet of root system. Roots are usually more far reaching in well-drained or sandy soils than in clay soils.

    If left unchecked, the roots can fill the pipe entirely in hair-like masses at each entry point. These root masses then trap grease, toilet tissue, and other debris flowing from homes and businesses down to the main sewer. The end result: slowed drains and reduced sewer flow. If the roots are not removed and their growth is left unchecked, a complete blockage can occur.

    Once roots have made their way into the pipe, they grow and expand, which puts pressure on and widens their entry point. This often results in the breaking of the pipe and can result in the total collapse, which then must be fixed or replaced entirely.

    Some pipe materials are more accessible than others for root intrusion. Clay tile pipe is easily invaded and damaged by tree roots. Concrete piping and PVC pipe may also be penetrable, but are sturdier than clay pipe. PVC often has fewer joints, and the tight-fitting nature of its joints makes it less likely to leak.

  • What causes clogged drains?

    Clogged drains occur because:

    • Grease
    • Paper towels
    • Hand/baby wipes
    • Large quantities of food
    • Feminine hygiene products

    While this is merely a small list, the similarity between all of the above items is that they don’t break down easily or at all.

    We recommend following the below guidelines for properly using your sanitary sewer system:

    • Only flush human waste and single-ply toilet paper.
    • Scrape all leftover food into a trash can and dispose of oils in a bottle or other container. Use hot water to flush only crumbs into the garbage disposal.
    • Use Bio-Clean on a monthly basis to perform regular maintenance on all tubs, sinks, and showers. Use Root-X to treat your main sanitary sewer line at least 1 time per year (minimum).
    • Never use any kind of acid drain openers. These products will destroy sewer integrity in the long run. And if those destroyed sewers are underground, it will be quite expensive to repair the damage. When your drain stops up, try to resolve the problem either manually or mechanically.

    Following these simple tips decreases the likelihood of having to deal with future sewer clogs for a long time. This, in turn, saves you a ton of money, stress, and headache.

  • What is a sewer belly?

    A sewer belly is a dip, or belly, in a sewer line is a common problem in underground sewers. In addition to “sewer belly,” you might also hear it called a “dip” or “low spot” in the line.

    To understand how a sewer belly can be a problem for you, you have to first understand the basic design of your sewer system.

    All sewer lines have to be set at a grade, which means that the pipes are always sloping downhill. Similar to an amusement park slide, the pipe has a top high point (your house) and a bottom (the street or the public sewer underneath the street). This setup allows gravity to ensure that the sewers constantly flow in the right direction.

    Like the amusement park slide, proper assembly is important. A sewer pipe with a belly is the same as a slide assembled with a pool halfway down: the ride down will be smooth until you hit the pool. To continue to the bottom, you must swim across the pool, and then continue the slide to the bottom. This seems like no problem if you can swim, right? Wrong.

    With waste water, a pool located in the middle of the pipe simply creates an area for solid waste to settle and build up, eventually creating a clog. As a result, bellies must be repaired as soon as the issue is discovered.

  • Hydro Jetting

  • What is hydrojetting?

    Hydrojetting is the procedure of using high pressured water to clean the interior surfaces of the plumbing pipes, removing scale, grease and other dirt that built up inside the walls of the pipe.

  • How does Hydro Jetting Work?

    AAJDS will check your system to find the perfect spot to insert a hose and to insert high pressurized water. This will force the debris to flow down the sewer system and out of your home's pipes . Hydrojetting should be done by a professional because your pipes can get damaged, which results in a high repair bill. AAJDS has the right experience and tools to hydrojet your system and provide a free video inspection after the job is completed. This guarantees quality work and piece of mind.

  • Does Hydro Jetting Work on Tree Roots?

    Sometimes hydro jetting can clear tree root penetration. If AAJDS determines with the help of a video inspection that the damage is minimal, hydro jetting can be a successful option. If the tree roots penetration is too extensive and water is leaking the pipes an augering service might be needed to cut up the roots.

  • What is the difference between hydro jetting and snaking a drain pipe?

    Hydro jetting removes all debris from the inside of the pipes and removes all clogs. It only uses the power of pressurized water to scrub the inside of the pipe walls with its nozzle. High quality is guaranteed with AAJDS's free video inspection, after the hydro jetting job is completed. Snaking on the other hand breaks clogs apart and does not flush out sticky debris.

  • What does hydro jetting remove?

    Hydro Jetting removes all kind of dirt from the pipes including hair clogs, mineral deposits, grease, food deposits, sand, silt and sometimes tree roots depending on how advanced the roots are.

  • How do you know when you need hydro jetting?

    You need hydro jetting when:

    • Your plumbing system back up regularly
    • your bathroom or kitchen sink drain smells.
    • You get a lot of clogs even though you watch what you put down your drain
    • Your drain is running slow
    • You hear a lot of gurgling in your pipes
  • How much does hydro jetting cost?

    Depending on how severe the clog is and how dirty the walls of your pipe are, hydro jetting can cost between $240 to $1000.

  • What is hydro jetting?

    Hydro jetting is a method to remove dirt, build up and blockages on pipes using pressurized water through a jet nozzle.
    Hydro jetting systems use pressures starting as low as 4,000 pounds per square inch to as high as 60,000 psi, depending on the severity of the blockage.
    The most common nozzles used are flat jet nozzles, point jet nozzles and rotating nozzles.

  • How to hydro jet a sewer line?

    The hydro jet applies pressurized water to blast through blockages in a sewer line. It is one of the best ways to remove blockages caused by debris, dirt, grease and other foreign objects. Make sure that the line you are working on leads to the sewer and does not dead-end.
    Locate the sewer opening in your yard. If you do not know where it is exactly located start with the bathroom floor drain. Insert a plumbers snake into the sewer line and turn the handle. This will start the process of removing the clog. Now you can start getting the hydro jet ready. Always wear protective gear, gloves and googles. Follow the instructions from the hydro jet manufacturer. Please be also advised that harmful bacteria can spray back at you so wear the protective gear. Insert the hydro jet's nozzle into the opening of the sewer line. Start spraying the hydro jet into the sewer line. Once the hydro jet hits the clog, water will spray back at you. When the water is running easily through the sewer line, then the clog is removed.
    If you have a problem with a clogged drain call the professionals at All American Jetting & Drain Services. We provide a free video inspection after every hydro jetting job.

  • Sewer Video Inspection

  • Should I be worried about Orangeburg piping?

    Orangeburg is a type of piping commonly installed in homes between 1945 and 1965. If your home was built between those dates and located in Northern VA, your home likely uses Orangeburg.

    Orangeburg was installed as a low-cost alternative to metal sewer lines, but was not designed for durability. Because it frequently fails, Orangeburg should be removed entirely instead of simply repaired. Most installations take place from the curb near the street up to at least 5′ from the front foundation of the house.

    Common signs of failed Orangeburg piping include:

    • Recurrent, frequent clogging of the main sanitary sewer line
    • Turf indentations in the lawn that match the location of the sanitary sewer
    • Your neighbors undergoing excavation work in their lawns. If your neighbor has Orangeburg, you probably do, as well.

    The most reliable way to discern whether or not your home uses Orangeburg pipe is to conduct a sewer video inspection of your sanitary sewer. This inspection confirms the presence of Orangeburg pipe, its location, and the condition of the piping.

  • Smoke Testing

  • What is causing the foul odor in my home?

    Smoke Testing can help with obnoxious odors. The most complicated part is usually locating the source of the odors. People often assume that the odor problems are coming from the sewer, but that’s not always the case.

    Foul odors can arise when trash is not properly disposed of, a dirty kitchen-sink-garbage disposal, poor quality plumbing installation, poor property maintenance, animals being trapped in the ventilation system, sewer traps without water, cracks in the pipes and/ or foundation, etc.

    AAJDS can help you determine whether or not the obnoxious odors you smell are sewer-related. If they are, in most cases we are able to identify the general location of the problem through smoke testing.

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