Los Angeles plumbers Jim and David Schuelke have been providing plumbing and sewer repair services for Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley for more than 20 years. We are family run and operated, and all repairs and installations offer a written guarantee. Schuelke Plumbing is proud to offer on-time, respectful service. Ask us about free financing and using your credit card. Our goal is to serve you in a way that will make you think of us as your plumbing and sewer repair company for life.

To fully understand the problem of root intrusion into sewers you need to know why and how roots enter sewer pipes to begin with. Roots grow one cell at a time by splitting and growing. This is called hydrotropism. Hairs form on the roots as they grow and absorb moisture and nutrients. As these roots grow the stem is then coated by a root cap that works to protect the root.

The best environment for roots to grow in is cultivated soil where nutrients and moisture are abundant and easily accessible – which is pretty much the definition of a sewer pipe. Sewer pipes are laid in the ground and then back filled with stone and soil. The effluent in the pipe is warmer than soil outside the pipe. This creates condensation on the outside of the pipe near cracks and any imperfections in the pipe. The condensation travels to the surface, leading roots to the pipe defects and into the pipe. Inside of the pipe there is an abundance of nutrients and moisture available for the roots and they will thrive in this nutrient rich environment.

Keeping roots out of the sewer line will reduce the destruction of the pipes that eventually leads to more expensive and evasive solutions such as pipe replacement and relining. We want to help you with a preventative maintenance program for your sewer lines, and a proactive maintenance program for older sewer systems. This will deliver a better performing sewer with less blockages, faster flows, greater useful pipe capacity, less overflows and pollution, and lower operating and maintenance costs.

Contact us at Schuelke Plumbing if we can be of assistance to you with this type of situation of root intrusion.

• Free follow up inspections as part of the Schuelke Plumbing guarantee
• Guaranteed for up to 5 years
• Lateral camera inspections for only $75
• We own and operate our own equipment, and train our own staff (unlike the competition that send you a sub-contractor)
• We approach sewage build-up at the source (unlike the competition from the roof and indirectly)

You may be unaware of the different types of drain cleaning that Schuelke Plumbing offers. It’s important to keep in mind that whatever your blockage issue is, we can help get your drains up and running again in no time. With the latest in diagnostic technology, and experience of removing even the most stubborn blockages, you can be sure that your drains are in safe hands.  From the know-how, gentle approach and biological drain cleaning of the smallest sink blockages to the high powered hydro-jetting required to free up blocked drain and sewer lines without damaging chemicals – Schuelke Plumbing can handle it.

Another one of the further benefits of the technology we employ is that we can actually clean a drain, where rooter technology just clears a path.  Cleaning those clogged drains rather than just clearing a backup can help to prevent future backups that can cause major damage and insurance repairs.

If you have a serious problem with your drain or sewer lines – from root damage to collapses – call Schuelke Plumbing today.

At Schuelke Plumbing we use a method called trenchless sewer repair. This ensures that your yard and driveway will stay intact during the process of installing the new sewer lines and sewer system. Our experienced plumbers and technicians have been doing this type of work for many years, with hundreds of satisfied clients as a result.

This is how it all works. We dig an insertion and retrieval pit first. Then the trenchless bursting head is inserted into the old sewer pipe. A heavy cable is then used to push through the pipe from the retrieval pit. A special hydraulic ram is then attached to the cable, pulling the bursting head through the old pipe. Simultanoeusly, new polyethylene pipe is pulled along with the bursting head. Every 20 feet we fuse the pipe together with another tool, providing a continuous seamless sewer connection. Fewer connections mean there will be fewer potential failure points.

Schuelke Plumbing can do this trenchless sewer repair work in a fraction of the time it used to take using the previous type of sewer repair. Call us today so that we can take a look at your sewer and other plumbing situations.

The grout in shower pans is not waterproof, unless an epoxy grout has been used. Water leaks through the grout to the shower pan liner below, and can then flow down the liner to the shower drain. Over a period of time, the water seeping through the grout can cause deterioration, allowing it to crack and crumble. The climate in the Los Angeles area may also intensify the situation. The special waterproof membrane used in second floor bathrooms may get a hole in it, could have been installed incorrectly, or has separated from the pipe over time.

Many times our plumbers can simply repair the leaking shower pan without having to remove it. We can also use permanent caulking to prevent a leaky shower in the future.

Using a plunger may be your first attempt at unclogging the drain. Make sure to remove the stopper or strainer first, and then place the plunger over the open hole. You can create more of a vacuum by covering the rim of the plunger with some water. Pump the handle up and down no more than ten times. When you release the plunger the blockage may release. If not, it is time to call the plumbers at Schuelke Plumbing to unclog your clogged drain.

Your Checklist:
Where does the problem occur? Attic? Basement? Below a bathroom? Ceiling? Where the problem occurs can lead to what is causing the problem. If the problem is localized (a spot on the ceiling, wall or corner) it is possibly caused by a water leak. If the problem is in a large area like a whole wall, room or basement then it might be caused by high humidity.

Stop water leaks immediately to minimize the potential mold growth.
If a leak is the source of your problem, have it fixed first.
If the leak is in your roof hire a roofing contractor to repair the leak.
If the leak is from a water pipe, toilet, bathtub or shower, hire a plumber to repair the leak.
If the leak has caused substantial water damage or mold you will want to hire a contractor who specializes in mold remediation and water damage repairs.
After repairing the water leak, dry out the area completely.
Reducing indoor humidity
Do you have a crawlspace under your house? A dirt floor in a crawlspace should be covered with plastic (vapor barrier) to prevent moisture from the soil increasing humidity levels in your home. If there is standing water or the soil is wet, dry it out with fans before covering the floor.
Use ventilation fans in kitchens and baths to control moisture. Check to make sure ventilation fans venting directly outside. In some cases the vent fan may have been installed to vent into the attic or become disconnected or blocked.
Your clothes dryer should be vented directly to the outside. Inspect the vent duct. Make sure it is attached securely to the dryer. Check that it is clear of obstructions (e.g. lint). Check for holes that leak air. If vent duct is damaged replace it with a metal duct. The vent duct should be cleaned at least once a year. The Consumer Products Safety Commission additional safety tips for dryer vents.
Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
Ask a heating and cooling contractor to check your heating and cooling system to make sure it is sized and operating properly to remove humidity. If you system is too big or the airflow incorrect your air conditioner will not remove humidity like it should. Also, ask the contractor to check your duct system for air leaks, and proper size and air flow to each room.
Sealing air leaks (Home Sealing) and sealing duct air leaks can help to prevent high humidity levels in your home.

The damage caused by the backup can be costly to repair and troublesome to deal with. Root growth can also cause deterioration of the pipes and pipe joints, as well as underground pipe structures and pipe connections to the main sewer line. It is best to have an effective root control program in place.

Root growth is determined first by gravity and secondly by water. The root hairs, which are fine, hair-like projections found on the surface of the roots, will find their way into drain lines and sewer pipes. They enter through small cracks or openings in the pipe or pipe joint. Once inside they will continue to grow, finally forming a root mass.

Trees and shrubs seek out water to grow, and pipes provide the perfect environment. Roots are even drawn to unbroken pipes because of condensation and will grow alongside and around the pipe to feed on the moisture.

There is a misconception that roots are the problem, but it is actually the pipe because the roots cannot get in the pipe unless there is a crack or bad joint. The older the pipe, the more susceptible it is to cracks, breaks, clogged drains, and deformations.

A possible sign of root intrusion is a sudden back up or flooding of the lowest plumbing fixture in the house. When you fill a bathtub or shower with water and let it drain, make sure that the water is draining in a swirling, cyclonic action. If not, it may be time to call Schuelke Plumbing so we can take a look.

Rust builds up inside of the pipes, restricting the flow of water and causing the added build-up of gunk and slime throughout your plumbing system. Clogged pipes reduce the volume of water that can get through to the fixtures. Copper pipes last for decades and give you the water flow needed in your home or other building.

Your water pressure may have dropped unexpectedly. Washing machines take longer to fill up and your shower may be down to almost a trickle. This means that it is time to call Schuelke Plumbing to discuss repiping your home’s pipes. We will explain the process to you in terms that relate to your specific home or commercial property. Call the plumbers at Schuelke today and get your pipes repiped with copper.

To minimize digging in your yard and driveway, the plumbers at Schuelke may recommend a pipe bursting method known as trenchless sewer replacement and pipe lining. This can be done quickly and easily, with almost no disruption to your routine.

Two small holes are dug at each end of the section that needs to be replaced A steel cable, connected to a high pressure hydraulic pump pulls the cutting head of the high density polyethylene pipe, and your sewer lines are replaced. The existing pipe is destroyed from the inside out while the new pipe is pulled through in its place. This replacement pipe is then in the exact same place as the old, original pipe. Trenchless sewer replacement may be exactly the right thing for you.