We imagine if you’re like most homeowners, then when you have a clogged drain, your instinct is probably to reach for that bottle of store-bought liquid drain cleaner you keep on hand for emergencies like this. Unfortunately, this is actually the worst thing you can do to remedy the situation, as it is extremely unhealthy for your plumbing system. Sure it will temporarily solve your problem in the short term, but it will only magnify the plumbing problems you’ll have later on.
Take a look below as we dive into why you shouldn’t use these drain cleaning “solutions” and why you should call the pros for the real drain cleaning solutions.
The Problem with Chemical Cleaners
Have you ever taken a close look at the volume of warning labels they have plastered on the bottle of your store-bought drain cleaner? The reason for this is because these products do contain some pretty nasty ingredients. They’re highly caustic solutions, and while they might effectively eat through an existing clog, they also eat away at the lining of your pipes.
The reason this happens is because the liquid solution is thick, and it coats the inside of the drain pipe, where it starts degrading it. After years of using these types of drain cleaners on your pipes, you’ll have leaks forming more often. Eventually, this is going to force you to replace the pipe–and probably far sooner than you would have had to otherwise.
Trust our team when we tell you that the cost of replacing pipes throughout your plumbing system really isn’t worth the benefit of having drain cleaner in easy reach.
The Power of Professional Drain Cleaning
So what’s the real solution? Professional drain cleaning of course! Our professional plumbers understand that the average store-bought drain cleaner doesn’t do as much good as it does harm. That’s why we never employ the same methods when we clean drains. Professional drain cleaning involves the use of specialized equipment that’s safe for your plumbing system and your family (versus caustic solutions that can make your family ill).
For instance, drain snaking is a very popular drain cleaning method. In fact, it’s one of the oldest methods still used, and for good reasons. With a drain snake, a long cord that has an auger on the end of it is lowered into the pipe until it comes into contact with the clog. Then the auger is drilled through the clog, or is latched onto it to pull it up and out of the drain. This is a fast, simple solution that won’t have any lasting negative impact.
Another professional drain cleaning method growing in popularity is hydro-jetting. This is when we fire a high-pressured stream of water down the pipe to blast away any clogs in the system. This is very thorough and will prevent clogs from forming in the future too, by scouring the pipe walls completely clean. Reach out to our team to learn more!
Established in 1912, Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. is your trusted resource for reliable Scotch Plains drain cleaning and much more. Reach out to us today.