Some clogs are relatively easy to fix yourself, but you have to be very careful about how you handle your pipes. Depending on the age of your pipes and the material they’re made of, you shouldn’t try to unclog your drain using caustic chemicals. Most chemicals designed to dissolve drains usually sit in your pipes until it removes the clog. However, these chemicals can also eat through PVC pipes, damage pipe glue, and crack toilet bowls in the meantime. They can also be highly corrosive to your skin and generate fumes that irritate your eyes and lungs.
We recommend the following to try and remove the clog yourself:
- Plunging your drain: Using a traditional drain cleaning tool like a plunger is one of the first strategies we recommend. Plungers create a vacuum in your drain that will, hopefully, dislodge whatever material has sealed it and prevent water from draining.
- Removing the clog with a hanger or drain snake: Use a long, flexible hanger or a drain snake to try and break up whatever is clogging your kitchen or bathroom sink. This technique may involve disconnecting your p-valve.
- Pouring boiling water down the drain: Many clogs are a build-up of organic materials and some type of soap residues, such as hand soap or dish soap. The hot water loosens the clog by liquifying any soap residue that may be contributing to the clog.
How We’ll Clean Your Drains: Snaking & HydroScrub® Jetting
If the DIY drain cleaning methods don’t work, it’s time to call our plumbers to get out the “big guns”. When it comes to drain cleaning, there are two primary methods we’ll use. These methods are drain snaking and hydrojetting.
Drain Snaking
Drain snaking is a common and effective method we use to clear clogged drains. It involves using a flexible metal cable, called a drain snake or auger, with a corkscrew-like tip to break up and remove blockages from the drain pipe.
Snaking is suitable for a variety of clogs, including hair, soap residue, food particles, and small debris. It is a quick and cost-effective solution, usually resolving most minor to moderate drain clogs. Drain snaking is less invasive compared to other methods.
However, it may not be effective for severe clogs or deeper blockages in your main sewer line. For these scenarios, we’ll usually recommend our HydroScrub®-Jetting service.
