Milling and descaling drain pipes

Milling and descaling drain pipes seems to be the job everyone is talking about these days. In this blog, we will discuss the different methods with their pros and cons but first a little more info on the different types of corrosion and calcification in the pipe and how they occur.

Corrosion

Corrosion is a result of a reaction between a metal (the pipe wall) and water. Oxidation of the metal creates an oxidation shell that protects the pipe wall from further corrosion.

However, when oxidation flakes are readily soluble and brittle (i.e. crumble easily), flakes can detach from the pipe wall and thus enter the water. This can affect the flow of water through the pipes and, as a result, corrosion persists on the surface of the pipes, causing it to continue to build up. If pipes continue to corrode for a long time, they will eventually become clogged with oxidation flakes and/or eaten away until they rupture. Besides having to replace the pipes, there can be collateral damage to the property and its contents.

Lime scale

Lime scale is the accumulation of minerals and other compounds on the inside of pipes. It can occur in pipes of any material: metal, plastic, cement, etc. Ideally, there is a moderate amount of scale in steel pipes to protect them from corrosive conditions that cause metal to loosen. But if the scale builds up too much, the pipes eventually clog up and expensive repairs are the result.

Timely descaling of pipes

Timely milling and descaling of pipes prevents blockages and extends the life of drain pipes. This prevents small problems from escalating into major, expensive repairs.

Prevents blockages: Descaling removes limescale deposits that can significantly constrict pipes, leading to reduced water flow and possible blockages. These limescale deposits, consisting of minerals, rust and debris impede water flow. Toilet paper and wipes easily stick to the rough surface and this quickly leads to blockages with all the possible subsequent problems.

Extends the life of pipes: Descaling not only prevents blockages but also reduces corrosion in pipes. Lime deposits not only restrict water flow but also contribute to the corrosion process, which can weaken pipes and cause them to leak or crack over time. By removing these scale deposits, descaling helps maintain the structural integrity of pipes, thus extending their functional life.

2 Techniques of descaling

Chemical descaling: An acidic solution is used to dissolve mineral and rust deposits. Especially suitable for tackling severe blockages and provides a thorough cleaning without the need for physical scraping.

Mechanical descaling: Using specialised tools such as chains and other scrapers with their matching equipment, the deposits are physically removed from the pipe walls. Its precision makes it an excellent choice for removing hard scale that cannot be removed by chemical methods.

Mechanical cleaning

There are all kinds of different devices on the market for milling and descaling pipes.

Standard spring machines from RIDGID, RIONED, RAK, REMS, SPARTAN and MILWAUKEE can already achieve good results using chain accessories but PICOTE Millers are specially designed for this type of work.

A PICOTE Miller not only cleans at high speed, but because the spring is contained in a protective sheath, the operator has the ability to feed an inspection camera into the drain pipe along with the spring without damaging the camera due to the spinning spring. This allows the operator to see exactly whether he is cleaning the pipe thoroughly, not skipping any sections and removing all deposits.

PICOTE also offers a very wide range of all kinds of different accessories so that there is a solution for every kind of job. For clogged pipes PICOTE offers special drill heads which will first puncture holes to make space for larger tools with chains. The chains will remove all sediments and clean the pipe wall completely.

Check out a PICOTE Miller in action while milling pipes here.

NoDigWorld is an official PICOTE partner

If you would like more information about PICOTE machines or to see them in action yourself, please contact us so we can discuss the possibilities.

Rather use a high-pressure unit anyway?

At NoDigWorld, we also have a special chain rotating nozzle, the Turbo Cyclone. This nozzle is unique on the market in that it is the only nozzle where the chains are mounted around the rotating part to create a cyclone chain nozzle. The big advantage is that this nozzle is centering itself well in the pipe and as there are more links touching the pipe wall, it makes this the ideal tool for descaling pipes.

As standard, this nozzle comes with 2 sets of chains for use in PVC and clay pipes of different diameters but chains with hard bits for more aggressive operation can also be fitted for the use in steel pipes. Changing the chains of the Turbo Cyclone to suit the diameter of the pipe, the material of the pipe or a specific type of blockage is extremely easy and takes less than a minute.

Vibro Rotating nozzles can also achieve good results. By means of an unbalanced rotator the nozzle starts to vibrate at an ultra high frequency which will detach hard sediments from the pipe wall.