You’re probably not going to like what you’re about to hear–but bear with us!
One of the most commonly searched-for phrases online in regards to plumbing is how to “DIY” plumbing repairs, including drain cleaning. You’re going to find results. In fact, there are probably going to be thousands of results that come up!
But… any of those results that recommend you buy a bottle of chemical drain solution or try baking soda and vinegar for a clogged drain should be ignored.
The latter can be effective for a smelly drain, and we’ll talk about that in a bit… but for truly effective drain cleaning that won’t end up doing more harm than good, we actually recommend nixing that bottle of liquid drain cleaning “solution” you got at the store, and instead giving our number a call. Read on to learn why!
How To Effectively Clean Your Drains
So while we don’t recommend trying to clean your own drains, we do want to share with you why this isn’t suggested, and what your alternatives are.
The problem with chemical drain cleaners is twofold:
- They’re caustic. The chemicals in them can corrode your pipes over time, leading to cracks and pinhole leaks that cause water waste and will require you to replace your plumbing a lot sooner than you may have otherwise needed to.
- They don’t dissolve all clogs. The liquid drain cleaning solutions you find in the store are typically designed for a very specific type of clog–hair. So while using it for your bathroom sink and shower drains might prove somewhat effective, it’s not going to do much good if you have a clogged-up toilet or a kitchen sink full of FOG (fats, oils, and grease).
By using chemical drain cleaners, you’re implementing a temporary solution to a problem without getting to the root cause of it, and potentially even causing further problems for the plumbing system.
Contact Our Team!
The answer here is to leave this kind of work up to the trained and experienced professionals here on our team. Now, sometimes, if a clog is superficial enough, you can resolve it with nothing more than a plunger and a bit of “elbow grease.” But we’re going to guess that you’ve already tried that and finding this blog post is your second option.
In many cases, effectively resolving a drain clog requires that our professionals first do a video pipe inspection to find the source of the clog, and then use either a traditional professional drain snake or a more powerful hydro-jet to remove the clog and prevent future drain issues.
After this, the best way to prevent further problems is to use drain covers or screens whenever you can, avoid putting FOG down your kitchen sink, and avoid flushing anything except toilet paper down the toilet. Then, contact us about annual plumbing maintenance to ensure your whole plumbing system stays in great shape for the years to come!
Established in 1912, Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. is your trusted resource for reliable drain cleaning in Maplewood, NJ. Reach out to us today.