FEATURE 27
Tools : The big stuff !
By
Rory Macnamara
In this , the third part of the series , we look at the real big equipment . Expensive , yes , but as with any tool , it is an investment .
One aspect of tools has been the battery-operated type which have become interchangeable within either a single manufacturer or a group under the Cordless Alliance System ( CAS ) group . Batteries are not cheap items but if looked after can give one excellent service .
The tools in this issue are the plumbing contractor level , either for pre work in a workshop , or transporting a huge machine for onsite when it ’ s going to be used over a period on site .
The latter is a challenge as the moving around all the time requires the equipment to be protected correctly to keep it in good shape .
These types of tools also are available in electric requiring the operator to be well-trained not only on the actual the tool but in matters electrical . These tools are highly dangerous and damaging if not handled carefully , even by experienced people .
Drain cleaning Motor-driven augers come in a range of sizes , from handheld units to truck-mounted units . They operate the same as handheld augers with an effective range of up to several hundred feet . Smaller units are effective in applications with small-diameter piping , while technicians can use larger units effectively in piping sizes ranging up to those found in main sewers .
All images : Rothenberger
Manual or electrical workshop threading machine .
Air-burst cleaners Airburst drain cleaners use air , carbon dioxide or other gas to disintegrate or dislodge a clog . The unit directs the pressurised gas into the piping , where it directs a force through the standing water at the clog . Units are available that use small , built-in compressors or carbon dioxide cartridges to produce the initial burst of gas pressure .
One primary advantage of air-burst cleaners is their ability to quickly clear clogs . Chemical cleaners typically take time to attack the blockage , sometimes requiring several hours . They are most effective in drain lines filled with water and can reach blockages located some distance down the piping . Their main drawbacks are that they are not as effective in applications where the piping is dry or in largediameter piping , such as main sewer lines .
Hydro-jetting cleaners Hydro-jetting drain cleaners use high-pressure water streams to break up clogs . The technician feeds a hosepipe fitted with a nozzle into the drain . High-pressure water pumped into the hose is forced out through the nozzle . With pressures as high as 35,000 psi , the energy from the water is effective in clearing blockages . Unlike most other drain cleaners , hydro-jetting cleaners can be used on long drainpipes , limited
Drain cleaning machine .
only by the length of the hosepipe . They also are effective on most common blockages , whether organic or inorganic
In addition to being able to clear blockages , these cleaners can effectively remove most contaminants , including grease and oils , from the interior of a pipe . This feature makes them effective preventive maintenance tools . Drain lines routinely exposed to potentially clogging contaminants can be hydro-jetted regularly , eliminating the conditions within the pipe that tend to lead to clogs .
January 2022 Volume 27 I Number 11 www . plumbingafrica . co . za