Reasons Why Do-It-Yourself Drain Unclogging May Not Take Care of the Problem

Stopped-up drains are a frequent household headache, leading many to make an attempt at do-it-yourself work for a quick patch. While cleaning out the drains on your own seems like a cost-effective and easy option, it often fails to fix the main source of the clog and can even result in more damage in the future. Learn about the techniques, downsides and perks of various tips for unclogging to see why Expert plumbing service is the superior choice.

Drawbacks of DIY Drain Cleaning

Regardless of the convenience and affordability of attempts to clear the clog on your own, they might not be the ideal choice for a few reasons:

• Inconsistent Solutions: DIY methods often only offer a temporary solution. They may remove just enough of the clog to allow water to drain for a while, but the underlying issue remains, leading to recurring issues and an ongoing battle.
• Accidentally causing further damage: Incorrectly using plungers and plumbing snakes can have the opposite effect and lead to issues by gouging the plumbing’s interior walls. An untrained user can easily create bigger problems, leading to additional repair costs and trouble.
• Little benefit: DIY solutions may clear minor blockages, but they won’t resolve more significant problems like root intrusion or a collapsed sewer line. Lacking proper gear, it’s harder to pinpoint the root cause, let alone fix it.
• Damaged pipes: Commercially available chemical drain cleaners can harm your plumbing system. These products often include strong acids that can weaken your plumbing lines over time, particularly if they’re old or made of materials like old, cast iron piping or galvanized iron. Besides, drain cleaning chemicals can be hazardous to your health, leading to skin irritation or toxic fumes, not to mention environmental pollution from pouring them down the drain.

Conventional Do-It-Yourself Drain Cleaning Techniques

It’s perfectly reasonable to try do-it-yourself once or twice to unclog blocked pipes before calling in the pros. Here are some typical approaches, offering different levels of success:

• Plunger: A conventional plunger is helpful for a few simple clogs in sink drains and bathtubs. Adding to the fixture a bit of water gives a secure fit over the drain. Then, applying force should dislodge the blockage, as long as it’s near enough to the incoming pressure.
• Hot Water: Dumping hot (but not TOO hot) water through the line can melt a little of the fatty buildups or wash away soap scum. But, this approach is better at avoiding stoppages than fixing current clogs.
• Chemical Drain Cleaners: Many people actually try this method first, but it’s the least effective and most known to cause damage.
• Vinegar and Baking Soda: This popular DIY drain cleaner involves adding a ½ cup of sodium bicarbonate followed by half a cup of common vinegar solution into the clogged pipe. When the mix stops bubbling and hissing, the last step is to wash out the drain with warm but not boiling hot water.
• Hand-Crank Plumbing Snake or Auger: This tool manually clears or pushes them out through the pipe. It’s the do-it-yourself approach most able to resolve the clog entirely. Still, if the clog is too far for the snake to be able to to get to, it won’t do any good.

The Perks of Professional Drain Cleaning

If your do-it-yourself adventure to unclog a clogged drain fails, opt for professional drain cleaning services. Here’s how you’ll benefit when you do:

• Preventive maintenance: Regular maintenance is the ideal approach for ensuring free-flowing drains. Look into this preventive measure to reduce the risk of plumbing emergencies and big repair bills in the future.
• Solutions that last: Expert drain cleaning service provides a more complete resolution, addressing the underlying problem of the blockage so you can move past drain issues permanently.
• Expertise and safety: Qualified plumbers have the knowledge and experience to tackle stubborn clogs in your home plumbing safely and effectively. They use the best techniques and tools to stop further damage to your plumbing system.

Local Expert Drain Cleaning Best Practices

Professional plumbers employ various high-tech techniques to ensure complete and long-term resolutions to your drain problems:

• Professional-grade plumbing auger: When standard tools don’t work, plumbers turn to the heavy-duty tools. Power augers have extended reach and longer cables that go deep into your sewer line, breaking up the clog.
• Video camera inspections: Professionals typically begin inspections with a sewer camera inspection. This includes feeding a miniature camera into the drainage lines to correctly find the precise source of the blockage, guaranteeing focused and efficient repairs.
• Hydro jetter: The most advanced option utilizes pressurized jets of water to wash out clogs and clean the inside of your pipes, removing all debris and residue. Even roots invading pipes are no match for this professional specialty.

Arrange for Professional Drain Cleaning

Even though do-it-yourself drain cleaning techniques are a temporary solution for minor blockages, more serious or major blockages call for Expert help. For secure, thorough and permanent solutions, turn to Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We provide reliable drain cleaning services supported by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely happy with our work, we’ll get back to work. Contact us today to ensure your drains are in good hands.