Veterinary hospitals can’t put surgeries, sanitation, or boarding on hold while a mainline backs up. Here’s how we helped one recover.

BY SCOTT HARDESTY

Veterinary hospital

San Bruno, California

Commercial drain and sewer clearing

RIDGID SeeSnake and Spartan 1065

Flow Restored

When one of San Bruno’s local pet hospitals called Caccia Home Services about a backed-up mainline, we jumped into action right away. Getting technicians out to them as quickly as possible was the best way to help them keep saving local pets.

Mainline clogs can lead to sewage backups, and wastewater itself introduces harmful germs to what is normally a sterile environment. Our job was to get the line clear for them quickly without further jeopardizing their work in the process.

The longer a blocked mainline goes unaddressed, the higher the risk for a total backup. Research shows that contamination from sewage can last for months and carry some of the most dangerous germs.

Some strains are resistant to standard antibiotics and difficult to treat. Proper worksite setup limits the exposure and helps protect everyone in the clinic.

Sources: University of Maryland School of Public Health Water Emergency Team pilot study of 40 Baltimore properties (2022), published in the Journal of Water & Health; Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) S500 water classification standard; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Figures describe residential and general building exposure; veterinary and medical settings have more serious sterilization requirements.

Surface-level service calls aren’t an option when there’s so much at stake. Call Caccia at 1-650-342-5363 now to get thorough, top-to-bottom commercial drain cleaning services from one of the Bay Area’s most trusted providers.

Assessing the plumbing and protecting the room always comes first.

Technicians Connor and Jacob arrived on site shortly after their call and immediately began to assess the situation more closely. Taking a quick look at the visible portion of the drain, and asking questions, suggested either a localized clog or mainline stoppage.

The visible portion of the drain only tells part of the story. Rather than guess at the cause, Jacob’s plan was to send the camera down the line to locate the blockage directly and possibly break it up.

The first step was to properly set up the work area so any wastewater couldn’t spread further into the clinic. Containment is critical for infection control in veterinary hospitals and other medical settings, so it should never be skipped.

Jacob sets up the worksite before starting to work on the clog.

Connor works the Spartan 1065 drum auger cable through the mainline to break apart and clear the blockage.

The next step was to run the RIDGID SeeSnake, a professional plumbing camera on a long tube with a coiled head, down the line. Stopping when he felt resistance gave him a moment to inspect the blockage and partially break it up.

This alone doesn’t fully clear the line, so Connor stepped in with our Spartan 1065 Drum Sewer Auger system. This is a much more powerful machine-driven device that’s built to tackle even the most stubborn blockages.

The Spartan 1065 is safe and effective only when operated by a professional who has the right experience. Even if you have access to one, you should never try to handle the job yourself.

The call was only half-over at this point.

RIDGID SeeSnake and Spartan 1065 Drum Sewer Auger

Complete blockage removal

Accurate identification and resolution

With the line cleared, it was time to run the RIDGID SeeSnake down the line again. It’s the only real way to confirm that the line is clear so the blockage doesn’t just re-form further down the line.

But camera inspections are vital for another important reason: sometimes a clog is really a symptom of tree root intrusion, partial debris pileups, scale buildup, cracks, or structural failures like bellied or offset pipes. Fail to address them, and the next service call could be much more serious than a simple blockage.

That’s unacceptable in any environment, but it’s more worrisome in a medical setting. Repeated service calls increase overhead for the clinic, and every incident is another risk for contaminated wastewater to disrupt operations and drive up repair costs.

The RIDGID monitor sits on the floor, streaming live footage from inside the pipe as the camera advances.

Jacob set the RIDGID’s monitor on the floor in a safe location beside the access point. The system’s main feature is a flexible push rod fitted with a self-leveling camera at the tip. This feeds live footage back to the monitor as it’s advanced.

A keen sense of observation is critical here. Technicians must pay close attention to even the most subtle signs of a pipe breakdown or failure throughout the entire length of the pipe.

The reason? A tiny hairline crack or offsets can turn into a severe sewage backup or total sewer line failure without warning. Early detection makes it easier for businesses to fix them for less, or if necessary, schedule a trenchless repair to resolve it.

Jacob feeds the self-leveling camera head down the line, watching for cracks, offsets, and other hidden damage.

Once Jacob was satisfied that there were no other issues to find, he withdrew the camera and began the final inspection. The exact process used can vary slightly depending on the scenario, but in this case, involved flushing water down all drains and confirming proper flow.

The last step was to remove all equipment and properly clean the worksite. Once he was finished, the hospital was able to continue operating right away.

With the line clear, Jacob removes his equipment and cleans the worksite before leaving.

interruptions to hospital operations

expert-level tools from RIDGID used

and verified in good condition.

With the blockage cleared and the work area fully restored, the clinic could return its attention to patient care without spending additional time cleaning up after the service.

Caccia’s thorough approach to service and dedication to addressing the root cause helps commercial clients get back to work faster.