Drain cleaning is part of the regular maintenance required when you own a home. It is something that should be done at least once a year, depending on what you are putting down your drains. If you do not clean your drains regularly, over time, soap scum, hair, grease, food particles, and other such things start to stick to the insides of drain lines.
Eventually, you will notice the water is draining much slower than normal. This is caused by a restriction in the drain lines from the buildup inside the pipes. Water is not able to drain as quickly down the drain, so it backs up in the sink, shower, or tub.
If you still don’t have your drains cleaned, the building up will continue until you have a clogged drain. The easiest way to avoid a clog is to clean your drains.
Methods for Drain Cleaning: Home Remedies
There are several home remedies you can use to help clean your drains. These methods are safe for drain lines and help remove most types of buildup from the inside of the pipes.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: This chemical reaction isn’t just for science projects and making volcanoes with your kids! Pour some baking soda down the slow-draining drain, and then add an equal amount of vinegar. Allow the foaming action to work for about 15 minutes. Rinse the drain with warm water.
- Boiling Water: Boiling water is a great way to break up soap scum, shampoo, conditioner, and grease stuck to the inside of pipes. Boil a large pot of water or use a tea kettle. Once the water is boiling, carefully pour it down the drain.
- Elbow Grease and a Plunger: Another thing to help clean drains is to use the “old fashioned” method of using a plunger. Use the plunger to block the drain and fill the sink with warm water. Block the return air vent found on some sinks and plunge away. You will be able to tell when the pipes are cleaner, as the water will drain away normally.
Methods for Drain Cleaning: Professional Drain Cleaning
If drain cleaning home remedies are not effective at keeping drains clean or you are tired of the frequency of clogged drains, then it is time to call your plumber and schedule drain cleaning service. Your plumber may use one or more methods to clean your drainpipes, including:
- Auger/Plumber’s Snake: This device looks like a thick cable wire. It is fed down the drainpipe to remove buildup from the insides. Some augers are manually operated, and others are electronically operated to reach further down the drainpipe.
- Water Jetting/Hydro Jetting: This type of drain cleaning service is where air is used to pressurize water to remove buildup from inside the pipes. Only a professional should perform this service because you must know the right amount of water pressure to use. If you use too much, then you can blow out drainpipe connections and cause damage to your home’s plumbing.
- Drain Camera: To help inspect the amount of buildup on drain lines and find the source of clogs, your plumber may use a drain camera. The drain camera is connected to an auger-like device and fed down the pipe.
Why Not Use Chemical Drain Cleaners/Clog Removers?
Chemical drain cleaners and clog removers are never recommended. These products contain harsh chemicals that could damage your home’s plumbing. Furthermore, the products are not formulated for all types of buildup and clogs. Last, the chemicals used in the products are not eco-friendly and could contaminate greywater sources that are recycled and reused.
To schedule an appointment with one of our local plumbing technicians, or for air conditioning problems in San Antonio, Temple, New Braunfels, or the Austin Metro area, please feel free to contact Christianson Air Conditioning & Plumbing at 512-246-5400 today!
