Have you ever had a drain clog happen at a really inconvenient time? Maybe it was the start of a holiday weekend, and you worried that it would be impossible—or at least extremely expensive—to get professional help until the next week. Maybe it was when you had a houseful of guests, and you were terribly embarrassed. Well, guess what? Instead of just dealing with clogs when they happen, you can prevent them from occurring in the first place with preventive drain cleaning.
How is that done? How can you tell if you should have it done? How often should you do it? We’ll tell you all about it.
Home Drain Cleaning Methods
If you do have a clogged drain, it is safe for you and your plumbing to use a sink plunger or a plastic or metal drain snake to try to dislodge it. You should never use liquid drain cleaner, a powerful chemical concoction so caustic it can burn your skin, irritate your eyes and lungs, and even corrode your plumbing and make future clogs happen more easily. But those methods only access a single point in your plumbing system. And clearing that one spot might only solve your problem briefly … until your drain starts to slow again, perhaps just weeks later, and before you know it, you’ve got another clog on your hands.
Professional Drain Cleaning Methods
For a current clog in one specific drain, a plumber might use a motorized auger. This is much like your metal drain snake, but the power-tool version. But again, this accesses a limited section of your plumbing.
To address the whole drainage system, right down to the sewer pipe that carries everything from your drains away from your home, you need something else. A hydro jetting machine pressurizes water—just water, no chemicals—to be sent down a narrow line. This line is inserted all the way into your drainage system, straight to the sewer pipe, and water is blasted out an adjustable nozzle to clear away everything from the bottom up, as the line is gradually withdrawn through the drain pipes. Sludge, clogs, clumps of hair, soap scum, cooking grease, mineral build-up from hard water, and anything else that has accumulated in your pipes is scoured away.
When to Have Your Drains Cleaned
How can you tell if you should get drain cleaning and clearing in Alpharetta, GA? If you have slow drains, frequent clogs, multiple clogs at once, unpleasant odors, gurgling noises, or toilets that won’t flush properly, you should definitely have your drains cleaned. And if you’ve purchased an older home and haven’t had preventive drain cleaning, you should seriously consider it. If you have professional plumbers clear out your drains once a year, chances are, you’ll never have to deal with a sink full of dirty dishwater that won’t drain on Thanksgiving ever again.
To speak with a member of our team, contact DC Cheek Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today. Fixed, At the Speed of Life!
