One of the most common ways that homeowners treat their clogged or dirty drains is with store-bought chemical drain cleaners. But, this can be a mistake. Actually, it probably will be a mistake.
Hear us out! We get it—this is a quick, affordable method to get the job done quickly. But affordable quick fixes aren’t always the best choice—especially when that choice can lead to costly, urgent problems later one.
Read on as we uncover the best way to do drain cleaning—by calling a professional and forgoing store-bought “solutions.”
The Harm in Store-Bought Chemical Cleaners
We understand why it might seem like a drain cleaning chemical solution would be the most efficient way to unclog stubborn drains. They do work… temporarily at least. The chemicals in these store-bought solutions are designed to dissolve things like hair—a popular clog within bathroom pipes.
But once they eat through the clog, they keep going until they start eating through the pipes themselves. Not only that, but every time you use these chemical drain cleaners, they can actually push the clog further down your plumbing system.
Chemical drain openers are made of toxic and caustic materials. This means they could potentially be harmful to your health, as well as harmful to the health of your plumbing system. They will slowly, but surely, eat away at the lining of your pipes until you find yourself dealing with corrosion or pipe rupture.
“Is There Any Way I Can Unclog My Own Drains?”
So we told you that chemical drain cleaners you can get at the store to self-treat your plumbing is a bad idea. This doesn’t mean there are no DIY options for you. In fact, if it’s a relatively superficial clog you’ve got going on, you may be able to relieve it with nothing more than a plunger and a little bit of “elbow grease.”
There are also drain snakes you can rent or buy to pluck out superficial clogs as well. You should be careful with this, though, as you might wind up pushing the clog further down the pipe, and you’ll be in worse shape than you started.
“Can I Clean My Own Drains?”
Yes! If you don’t have a clogged drain but you have one or two smelly drains in your home (if they’re all smelly you may want to call for a sewer line inspection), there is a simple remedy. Add about a half cup of baking soda to your drain, and follow it up with a cup of vinegar. Then, wait 5-10 minutes and flush it all down with hot water. This should help the smell dissipate.
Cleaning Out Stubborn Clogs
If you have a truly stubborn clog you simply cannot remove with a plunger or what not, it’s time to give our pros a call. We’ll start by using video pipe inspection to get a close look at what’s going on and determine exactly where the clog(s) is located from there we’ll use either a motorized drain snake or a hydro-jet to remove the clog.
For professional plumbing in Bridgeton, MO, look no further than Performance Plumbing. Contact us today!