What is Rooter Service and How Does it Fix Your Pipes?
After nearly a century, “rooter” has become a commonplace term both in the plumbing and household vocabulary—but where does the word actually come from? Back in the 1930s, tree roots were some of the most common enemies to the health of your pipes, especially sewer lines.
These roots would break into the sewer and drain pipes, either causing blockages or breaking the pipes down altogether. Plumbers of the day would use a handmade tool known as a rooter to literally break up and remove the roots blocking the lines.
It may be hard to believe, but the first rooter was made of a washing machine motor, a pair of roller skate wheels, a cable, and small blades that wove its way through pipes and broke down the branches and debris inside the plumbing.
Nowadays, the term is used interchangeably with all methods of snaking through pipes to clean out blockages. Tree roots may still be a common problem with sewer lines, but we now know that dirt, grease, and hair are just as good at clogging drains.
How Rooter Service is Used Today
The health of your home plumbing system depends on clean, strong, and clear pipes that allow water and debris to flow without disruption. Pipes naturally collect buildup overtime from the products and materials that pass through your plumbing on a daily basis—soap scum, hair, grease, and food scraps, for example. You may even have a clog or damaged pipe from a rogue tree root.
When this buildup stops or slows the flow of your water, you could experience:
- Lower water pressure
- Water temperature issues
- Problems with your water-based appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, and trash compactors)
- Backflow
- Clogged drains
- Widespread drainage issues
Modern rooter service uses both the traditional snaking method as well as innovative tools and materials to safely pinpoint and break down these clogs. For example, hydro-jetting—which uses high-pressure water to break up a clog—or chemicals that break down roots and debris may be used in tandem with the rooter.
When Your Should Call a Plumber for Rooter Service
Plumbing issues are never convenient, but it’s crucial to catch them before they lead to large problems. If left unchecked, the buildup of water and sewage could leak to backflow through your drains, which is both unsafe for your family and your fixtures.
If you detect any of the symptoms listed above, we recommend calling your local ARS / Rescue Rooter team to take a look. We offer both emergency, same-day service, traditional repairs, and preventative services to keep an eye on your pipe’s potential underlying issues.
It’s important to note the exact location of your recent plumbing issues since the clog will frequently affect the closes appliance. Our attentive team can help you understand you home’s plumbing system and pinpoint that specific location of your issue. Since we specialize in such a wide range of plumbing repair problems, we can handle the entire repair from start to finish, whether your water heater, sewer lines, or even your dishwasher needs attention.
Call us today if you’re experiencing issues with your home plumbing system. We provide prompt service, flexible scheduling, and transparent pricing no matter the size of your problem.