Drain cleaning isn’t at the top of anyone’s fun list, but it’s an inevitable reality for anyone who owns their home.
Food clogs, grease accumulation and chemical concentrations can clog drains and effectively hold your kitchen hostage. Sometimes drain issues can be solved with a DIY approach, but not always. In many cases, hiring a professional plumber is the quickest, most effective solution to getting your kitchen back.
Here are a few drain cleaning secrets every homeowner should know, including when you are over your head and it’s time to call a professional.
If you need help with your drains, call Plumbers 911 to be connected to a licensed, local plumber who can fix the problem fast.
1. Non-toxic drain cleaners may solve the problem
While we don’t recommend pouring chemical drain cleaners down pipes because they can damage your plumbing, there are a number of non-toxic drain cleaners you can try that just might do the trick.
Even running hot water down the drain for 15 minutes can loosen some food and hair clogs. You can also run a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down your sink. This creates a caustic chemical reaction that can clear out certain clogs. We also recommend pouring sugary sodas like Coke down your pipes to loosen any clogged debris.
2. A plumber’s drain snake can remove deep clogs
The next step to clear a clogged drain is to use a plumber’s drain snake, available at most hardware stores for about $25 to $50. Feed the snake down your pipe, turning the handle clockwise until you encounter resistance. Rotate the snake towards the blockage so it latches onto the clog. Pull the snake towards you to remove the blockage.
3. For some clogs, hiring a plumber is absolutely necessary
You’ll find a lot of DIY drain cleaning tricks on the Internet. And some can work for minor clogs. But for really serious clogs, you’ll need to hire a professional plumber. Serious grease buildup will call for stronger approaches like hydro jetting that only a licensed professional can deliver.
If you have a drain that continually gets clogged, you may have a deeper issue such as a tree root that may have punctured your pipes. You will need to hire a professional plumber to conduct a camera inspection to provide a detailed, interior picture of what’s happening in your plumbing.
For some seriously clogged drains, hiring a professional plumber is inevitable. It’s a faster solution to fix the problem than trying to fix it yourself. Hire a local plumber through Plumbers 911 to clear your drain today.
4. To reduce clogs, install a whole home water filter
For homes that have hard water, you may encounter more frequent clogs. Hard water can also ruin your plumbing and fixtures if left untreated. If you have hard water that leads to frequent clogs, hire a local plumber through Plumbers 911 to install a whole home water filter. This will ensure the water coming from your tap is clean and free of debris, leading to fewer clogs and better tasting drinking water.
5. Reduce clogs through an annual inspection
You should have a professional plumber inspect your plumbing at least once per year. This proactive approach can eliminate clogs or catch them in early stages before they completely shut your kitchen down. It’s a great way to save time and money in the long run.
Need a local plumber? Call Plumbers 911
If you need a local plumber, contact Plumbers 911. They can connect you to a plumber in your area to quickly remove clogs, conduct annual inspections or install new equipment.