FAQ

We often recommend that you avoid using drain cleaning products because they can end up doing more harm than good. Liquid drain cleaners will release a pungent odor into the air that is dangerous to inhale. The fumes can exacerbate any pre-existing health conditions you may have and make it more difficult for you to breathe. These cleaners are also very detrimental to the environment, and they can also potentially put your pets in danger. Acidic cleaners can also have a corrosive effect on plumbing and eat away at it. You should always be wary of a few ingredients commonly found in commercial cleaners: Sodium Hydroxide, Sulfuric Acid, and Lye. These ingredients are always harsh on piping.

There are several proactive steps that you can take to ensure that clog will never occur. First, you want to make sure that you are always throwing away your food scraps in the garbage that’s separate from your drain. Some items you should never allow to enter your drain include grease, oil, coffee grounds, eggshells, starches, seeds, and fruit. You should also install a drain screen in your shower because hair is the number one cause of clogs in bathroom drains. You should also have a drain screen in your kitchen sink so that it catches food scraps and other items.

It’s extremely important that you clean it as often as you can. Many of us assume that there is a clog only when the draining process is slowed down. Cleaning your drain routinely, however, will prevent any major disasters from occuring. This includes the elimination of smelly odors and major structural damage. Removing a smaller clog will preclude it from becoming a lot worse. Regular cleanings will also ensure that you can also easily remove any buildup or debris stuck in your plumbing. Drain cleaning ultimately allows you to prolong the lifespan of your pipes.

There are several indicators of a clogged drain. If the water is draining slowly, then this is usually a tell-tale sign that there is a clog somewhere in your pipes. Also, if you flush your toilet and the water backs up, then you most certainly have a clog. The blockage will unfortunately prevent any wastewater or sewage from leaving your home. You might also hear a lot of gurgling noises emanating from your plumbing, and in some cases, you may also smell a nasty odor. This is due to organic waste materials that are stuck in your sewer line while they are rotting.

If you are experiencing any major – or even minor – drainage issues, then you should contact a professional plumber immediately. They can locate and diagnose what’s wrong in no time. They will also clean out your drain and remove any major obstructions. If you wait too long to fix the issue, then sewage can make its way into your home, and this can create a major health risk for you and your family. Clogged sewer lines can also lead to major structural damage, which can end up costing you a lot of money to repair.

The way you should go about cleaning your drain will depend on several different factors. For example, if there is a major blockage in your drain due to debris and other waster materials, then you can use an auger to remove it. In other instances, you may want to consider hydro-jetting, which is also used as a preventative solution to clogged drains. If you are using an auger to remove any clogs from your drain, then you can definitely do it on your own, but we always warn people to exercise caution. If you apply too much pressure to the auger, then you could end up causing damage to your plumbing. For hydro-jetting, you will want to hire a professional.

There are indeed a few alternatives to commercial drain cleaners that we recommend to our clients. They involve homemade products that can remove smaller clogs. Baking soda and vinegar are perhaps one of the more effective homemade solutions. Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into your drain followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. You can do this up to once a month to keep your drain free of any gunk and buildup. Another way to clear out a minor clog is by pouring boiling water down your drain. For this, you want to pour the water in stages, and you also want to be very careful handling the water.

Minor clogs are certainly more common, but you should never assume that it’s something as simple as a little buildup of grease or soap scum. Drain clogs can be an indicator of a more serious problem, such as tree root intrusion or a broken pipeline. If you don’t immediately fix any of these problems, then they can quickly get a lot worse. Sewage could end up surfacing in your home, which is something you want to avoid at all costs.

You are doing the right thing by being mindful of what you send down the drain. What we recommend is that you install a drain cover to prevent anything unwanted from making its way into your plumbing. That being said, it can be difficult to prevent waste from entering your drain. A drain is inevitably going to become clogged – especially if you live in a home with an outdated plumbing system. Clogs can also happen when hard water forms calcium deposits on the inside lining of your pipes.

We strongly discourage inexperienced individuals from attempting to remove a major clog. That’s because there is a lot more to it than simply removing an obstruction. You should always have a professional plumber inspect your drain to diagnose the issue. This way you can take the proper steps towards fixing the problem, rather than going at it blindly. Hydro-jetting is something that many people assume that they can do on their own, but if you’re not using the equipment correctly, then you can end up creating more problems.