Many homeowners use drain cleaners such as chemical solutions and plungers. While these may be effective in some instances, they can cause damage to pipes and make clogs worse.
Having your drains professionally cleaned can prevent serious issues down the line and keep your home comfortable and convenient.
Clogged drains and toilets are more than just a nuisance. Standing water in your home’s plumbing creates a breeding ground for bacteria and mold and can damage your pipes, especially older galvanized steel ones. Even worse, a clogged drain could cause sewage to back up into your living space and require costly clean-up and repairs. Fortunately, you can prevent drain clogs with some simple cleaning strategies.
Regularly running hot water through your sinks, bathtubs, and toilets will keep soap scum, grease, food particles, hair, and other debris from building up in your pipes. Using a strainer on your drains and regularly cleaning them will catch any large pieces that might otherwise clog the drain. Finally, a p-trap under your sink will keep most debris from entering the main drain pipe.
If you encounter signs of a clogged drain or toilet (slow drainage, gurgling sounds, foul odors), act quickly. Some clogs can be easily cleared with a plunger or snake, while others require professional help. If you use chemical drain cleaners, always follow the directions and wear gloves. These products can be dangerous if mixed with other household chemicals or splashed on your skin or eyes. If your clog is caused by a broken pipe or tree roots, you’ll need to call a plumber for more involved drain repair.
If the clog is deep, you may need to remove and replace part of your drain pipe. In this case, a plumber can use a drain snake with a hooked end to grab the clog and pull it out or send it on its way down the line. More sophisticated tools include a hydrojet, which uses high-pressure water to break up and wash away clogs without damaging your pipes. A camera can also find clogs that are too far down in your pipes to reach with a snake or plunger.
Saves you money
If you are noticing that your drains are taking longer than usual to empty or you hear gurgling noises when you flush your toilet, it’s important to have them cleaned by a professional. This will save you money in the long run. A clogged drain could lead to a pipe burst and water damage that will be costly to repair.
Regular drain cleaning will prevent clogs from getting far enough along to cause a major problem. This will save you from having to call for emergency plumbing repairs and will also allow the professionals to catch other problems that could develop into larger issues later on.
Using chemical drain cleaners to fix a clogged pipe may seem like a good idea at the time, but these chemicals can be very damaging to your pipes. They corrode them over time, which can result in broken or leaky pipes. The more often you use these products, the more likely it is that you will need to replace your pipes.
A professional drain cleaning service uses a powerful machine called a hydrojetter, which runs high-pressure water through your pipes. This loosens sand, grease, scale, and residue that builds up inside your pipes, clearing out the entire line. This will eliminate clogs and also help your pipes last longer.
Another way that regular drain cleaning can save you money is by eliminating foul odors in your home. Drains that are blocked by hair, food scraps, oil, and other waste can trap these smells inside your house. This can make your home unpleasant and even unlivable. Regular drain cleaning removes these odors and keeps them from coming back.
Keeping your drains clean will also save you money on your utility bills. If your drains are blocked, you will have to use more hot water than normal to wash dishes, take a shower, or use the toilet. This will add up to a huge bill over time. If you keep up with your routine drain cleaning, it is unlikely that you will ever need to use so much hot water.
Prevents water damage
One of the most significant problems that can result from a drain or sewer line clog is water damage. Clogged pipes that are not cleaned quickly will overflow sinks and toilets, flooding floors, running down walls, pooling around cabinets, and damaging tile and wallpaper. The water that flows out of a flooded pipe is usually preloaded with bacteria and other harmful elements, which can cause rapid degradation and rotting in any material it comes into contact with.
If left unattended, a small leak from a clogged drain can quickly become a big problem that requires expensive pipe repairs or replacement. Regularly cleaning your drains will prevent these types of costly repairs.
Unlike chemical cleaners, which can be dangerous to children and pets, professional drain cleaning uses non-toxic tools that are safe for home use. These tools are designed to break up and remove buildup without causing harm to the pipes or the environment. The most common drain-cleaning tool is a plumber’s snake, which is a long piece of metal with a coiled wire at the end that is used to dislodge any debris that has accumulated in your pipes. A drain snake is especially useful for removing hair or grease clogs.
Another drain-cleaning tool is a hydro-jetting machine, which uses high-pressure water to clean the entire inside of your pipes. The water is shot out of specialized nozzles that can reach the deepest corners of your pipes, which is particularly effective for root-based clogs.
In addition to preventing clogs, regularly cleaning your drains will prevent bad smells in the home. Clogged drains can trap rotting food scraps, sewage, or garbage that produce foul odors that are difficult to get rid of. A drain cleaning service will remove all traces of these odor-producing materials to ensure that your pipes and the surrounding area smell fresh and clean.
Getting your drains regularly cleaned will save you money on repair costs and keep your family healthy and happy. Call a professional Ocala drain cleaning service today!
Prevents bacteria and mold
Whether from soap scum, oil, hair, mineral deposits, or other causes, clogged drains can become breeding grounds for bacteria and mold. These organisms thrive in damp and dark areas and can produce unpleasant odors that waft throughout the home. Keeping your drains clean is the best way to prevent them from smelling bad.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to eliminate these smelly culprits. For example, you can pour a mixture of half baking soda and half white vinegar down your drains to clean them. You can also use a commercial biological or enzymatic cleaner that’s safe for your pipes and the environment. These products work well in garbage disposals and are especially effective in removing organic buildup.
You can also keep your drains smelling fresh by regularly pouring boiling water down them. This will remove any built-up grease and soap scum, and it’s easy to do. However, it’s important to clean your drains properly with the right cleaner so that you don’t damage your pipes.
Even if you’ve used a drain cleaner in the past, it’s important to keep up with regular cleanings. Bacteria and mold can return if the underlying cause of the clog isn’t addressed.
It’s clear that there are a lot of benefits to regularly cleaning your drains. It can prevent clogs, save you money, and protect your home from mold and other issues. It’s definitely worth it! Just remember to use a strong natural drain cleaner (like Zep or CitraDrain) instead of harsh chemical cleaners, which can eat away at your pipes and are not good for the environment. These chemicals can also be dangerous to children and pets. If you’re not comfortable handling a chemical drain cleaner, call a professional plumber for a safe and thorough drain cleaning.
