Jason Sessoms Plumbing

07/30/2022

First thing we look for when called to a stopped up main sewer line is a cleanout at the house. That's a fitting installed in the line designed for cleaning out the pipe. Often there is not one. If there is not one, we know we are going to have to locate the line and dig it up to make a hole where we can work through. Sometimes that is as simple as crawling under the house and laying our eyes on where the pipe exits the house. There’s a few other signs to look for on the outside of the house too…like usually the sewer and water line are installed in the same ditch, and usually wherever the main water line comes into the crawlspace you will find a sillcock (outside faucet) attached to the front of the house. Therefore, chances are good your main sewer line comes out wherever you see your outside faucet attached to the front of your house. So then we use our probe (metal rod we push into the ground) to see if we can feel the pipe. A lot of times we can tell by the sound and how the probe feels what kind of pipe is there, which helps us determine how we are gonna try to clean it out once we find it. If that doesn't work in locating the line, then we try to figure the path of least resistance from where the water meter is at the street and where the bathrooms are in the house. (Older homes usually put the bathrooms back to back and not spread out around the house). Then we try to think how we would run the line if we were the original installers. Sometimes it's a quick process, sometimes it's not. This particular one tried real hard to hide from us. In fact after all of the above tricks turned up not helping us at all...we resorted to borrowing my dad's metal detector...probably due to user error...that didn't help much either. So we literally started at one edge of the house...and probed as deep as we could...then we'd move over one inch and probe again...one inch at a time...along the front of the house until finally..."ding"...we found it...cast iron. Dug down...busted a hole in the pipe...cleaned it out. And then also installed a clean out in case it needs to be serviced again...it'll be much easier.

06/07/2019

The stages of tying a PVC sewer line into an existing piece of cast iron sewer line.

02/13/2019

PSA: commode cleaning products should not be disposed of in the commode. Unless you’d like us to visit you to retrieve it.

01/05/2017

Don't forget your plumbing this week.

07/24/2014

Here's a couple of pro tips... 1st, If a toothbrush or other object falls in your commode, then don't just flush and hope for the best. 2nd, if something does get flushed and stops up your commode, then instead of trying to push it out with a plunger, try pushing the plunger down slowly and pulling up with force. You have a better chance pulling the object back then you do pushing it through. I have always had better results pulling a plunger rather than pushing. That goes for sink drains and tubs.

03/16/2014

Your kitchen sink is dirtier than your toilet.

http://lifehacker.com/your-kitchen-sink-is-dirtier-than-your-toilet-1541758986

http://lifehacker.com/your-kitchen-sink-is-dirtier-than-your-toilet-1541758986

11/16/2013

Curious what your temperature should be in your water heater?http://lifehacker.com/whats-the-best-temperature-for-my-water-heater-1465372005

What's worse than scalding yourself in the shower? Getting Legionnaires' disease--a type of pneumonia carried by stagnant water. Avoid both by setting your water heater to just the right temperature. The DIY experts at Stack Exchange are here to help.

09/20/2013

My office for the day. We had to replace this section of cast iron with PVC. Notice the 3" copper drain line.

09/09/2013

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