Drain Cleaning Delaware County is a maintenance task that should be performed regularly to ensure that your home’s plumbing system functions properly. It can also help extend the lifespan of your pipes and prevent costly repairs or replacements.
Liquid drain cleaners are not magic potions; they work based on scientific principles. However, they may cause damage to your pipes or the environment.
Baking soda and vinegar are common household items that can help keep your drains clean. They are inexpensive, readily available at most stores, and offer a safe alternative to harsh chemical drain cleaners. They can be used to clear many types of debris that block drains, including soap scum and food scraps.
The combination of baking soda and vinegar creates a fizzing action that helps break down and dislodge clogs. This natural drain cleaning solution is especially effective for greasy or food-based clogs. The reaction also works well on stubborn mineral deposits that can build up in your pipes over time. To use this simple and effective DIY drain cleaner, first run a few inches of hot water down the drain to warm up your pipes. Then, pour in a cup of baking soda and follow with one cup of vinegar. Wait 10 minutes and you will hear a loud fizzing reaction. This is the result of the alkaline baking soda neutralizing the acetic acid in the vinegar. During this time, the baking soda will dissolve any gunk and push it through your pipe system. After the fizzing stops, flush the drain with another pot of boiling hot water.
Depending on the severity of your clog, you can repeat this process as needed to unclog your drain. For the best results, use this method as part of a regular drain maintenance routine. This will keep your drains running smoothly and reduce the need for costly professional services.
There are other homemade drain cleaner recipes that use common household ingredients. Lemon juice and cream of tartar make an excellent abrasive mixture that can scrub away even the most stubborn stains, while borax and distilled vinegar can be used to effectively clear some kinds of minor clogs. If you have a severe, smelly clog that does not respond to these natural remedies, it may be time to call in a professional. A plumber has the specialized tools and knowledge to handle tough clogs that can cause serious plumbing problems. If your clog is serious, contact a local ARS/Rescue Rooter location right away to schedule professional drain cleaning.
Dish Soap
Dish soap is one of the most versatile household cleaning products. It can be used for a variety of purposes, including stain removal on laundry, ridding your home of pesky fruit flies, and clog cleaning.
While sink drains often fly under the radar when it comes to routine cleaning, a few quick steps can prevent clogs and help your pipes last longer. The key is to clean regularly using natural methods rather than purchasing store-bought chemical drain cleaners, which can corrode your pipes and cause expensive damage.
The most common culprit of a clogged drain is grease and oil. Typically, when these are washed down the drain, they stick to the inside of the pipes and cause blockages. However, dish soap contains ingredients that can cut through grease and oil, allowing it to wash away down the drain.
Just pour a small amount of dish soap down the drain and rinse with hot water. You can repeat this as often as needed to keep your drains smelling fresh and flowing smoothly.
This is a great option for grease clogs and other tough-to-remove solids in your drain pipe. However, if you are dealing with a particularly serious problem, you may need to try more substantial DIY drain cleaning methods.
Chemical drain cleaners usually contain harsh chemicals that eat through clogs and produce heat when they come into contact with the pipe walls. This can damage your pipes over time, especially if you use them frequently or have older, galvanized pipes. Additionally, chemical cleaners can also irritate your skin and lungs when they come into contact with your skin or if you inhale them.
To avoid the negative side effects of chemical drain cleaners, you can make your own natural, homemade cleaner from baking soda and vinegar. To make this solution, simply combine 12 cup of baking soda with 12 cup of white vinegar. Then, pour the mixture down your clogged drain and let it sit for several minutes. After letting the mixture sit for several minutes, pour a pot of hot (not boiling) water down the drain. This should loosen any remaining debris and completely clear your drain.
Chemical Cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners are pure or mixtures of chemicals that are used to clear clogs made of hair, grease, soap scum and other organic matter. These caustic cleaners use acids or alkalis to break down clog material at a chemical level. These cleaners are best for clogs that occur close to the drain opening. They can damage pipes, however, if the clog is located further down a pipe where the drain cleaner must travel through or mix with water before it can reach the clog.
Most commercially available chemical drain cleaners are highly caustic. This type of drain cleaner is typically composed of sodium hydroxide or sodium sulfate, which creates a strong reaction with a clog to break down material and remove it from the pipe. This is an effective method for removing soft clogs such as hair or soap scum that accumulate near the drain opening. However, a clog that is further down a pipe will likely require the services of a professional plumber to resolve.
These products can be harmful to your health and to the environment if not used correctly. They also can damage your pipes if they come into contact with galvanized or plastic plumbing materials that do not have a protective zinc layer, such as copper or PVC pipes. These chemicals can corrode these types of pipes and cause holes or cracks in them. The high acid content in some chemical drain cleaners can also eat away at the insides of your pipes, leaving them susceptible to leaks and breaks.
Another problem with these cleaners is that they often produce heat to melt or dissolve clog material. This can actually be a problem for older, corroded pipes as the intense heat can cause them to warp or soften. This type of damage is especially common in metal piping that was installed before the 1960s, and it can lead to severe problems down the road.
Safer chemical drain cleaners include biodegradable formulas that are derived from natural ingredients, such as bacterial cultures and enzymes. These cleansers work with the help of the pipes’ own natural bacterial colonies to decompose and digest waste in a safe, environmentally friendly way. This type of cleaner may be best suited for kitchen and bathroom drains, and it can be particularly useful in removing stubborn hair clogs. One such product is Drano Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover, which comes in a gel form that clings to the sides of drains and pipes and is safe for septic systems.
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When a drain is clogged, the first instinct is to reach for a store-bought drain cleaner. However, there are many natural ways to clean your clogged pipes that are safe for the environment and your plumbing system. These DIY methods are also much cheaper than hiring a plumber for major plumbing repairs.
Pouring chemical drain cleaners down the drain may temporarily unclog it, but they often damage pipes and cause a dangerous reaction with other chemicals in your house. These chemical solutions are also bad for the environment, causing water pollution and harming wildlife.
The best way to prevent clogs is with regular maintenance and cleaning. Keeping your drains clear of hair, soap scum, and food scraps will help keep them flowing freely. When these materials build up, they create a perfect environment for bacteria to grow and release foul odors. Regular drain cleaning by a professional will eliminate these bacteria and keep your home healthy and smelling fresh.
If your clogged drain is causing water back-up in your shower, toilet, or sink, it is time to call a plumber. This is a serious problem that can cause severe property damage and disrupt your life. A plumber can use specialized equipment to locate the clog and remove it safely.
Another sign of a serious clog is when the drain is constantly smelling bad. Foul odors coming from multiple drains indicate that the problem is likely in your sewer line and not a simple blocked pipe. A plumber can use specialized equipment to clean your sewer lines and reduce the risk of future blockages.
If you have tried the above methods to unclog your drain, but it is still clogged or you notice that your water pressure has dropped, contact us for drain cleaning services. Our plumbers are trained to use the proper equipment and techniques to remove even the most stubborn drain clogs without damaging your pipes or plumbing fixtures. We can also perform inspections to prevent clogs and other plumbing problems in the future. Give us a call to schedule your appointment today!