Tag Archives: drain cleaning services

May '23

Clean Your Drains Regularly Before They Clean Your Wallet Out

Clogged drains are a common source of frustration for many families. They could lead to costly plumbing repairs from a backed-up toilet or other fixture in your home. Why it’s so important to clean your drains regularly, how to do it, and how to prevent clogs altogether are all topics we’ll cover in this piece.

How to Clean Your Drains

The process of cleaning drains can be as simple as using a plunger or as involved as hiring a professional. But regularly cleaning your drains should still be done since floods are dangerous and you should try to prevent them. And regular cleaning is the best way to do so. Some of the more common methods include:

Hot Water

One simple way to clean drains is to flush hot water down them. If oil and other debris clog your pipes, running hot water through them may help loosen them. Just flush it with boiling water, and you’re done. You may need to use this method multiple times if your drain is clogged.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

One traditional home treatment for clogged drains is a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. To start, pour one cup of baking soda into the garbage disposal. A cup of vinegar should be added after that. The mixture will typically foam and bubble. Wait a few minutes for the sediment to settle, then flush the drain with hot water to remove any lingering debris. And this is a fast and easy way to clean your drains regularly.

a picture of a drain on a white background.

Baking soda and vinegar can be of great help

Plunger

When drains become clogged, a plunger comes in handy. Before using a plunger, make sure the sink or bathtub is empty. Over the drain, maintain a constant down-and-up pressure using the plunger. This will create suction, which will help clear your pipes of any debris.

Snake

Pipeline obstacles can be removed using a snake, sometimes called an auger. Use a drain snake by inserting it into the drain and twisting it as you work it deeper and deeper into the pipes. If a clog is encountered, the snake can be twisted to loosen it before being pulled from the drain.

Preventing Drain Clogs

Preventing clogs in the first place is preferable to fixing them after they have already formed. There are a lot of tips on how to avoid plumbing issues, but here are some just some of the ways to do so:

Use a Strainer

A strainer is one of the simplest ways to keep water from backing into your sink or tub. Strainers prevent clogs by collecting debris like hair and food scraps before they enter pipes.

make sure to clean your drains regularly for a clean drain like in the picture.

You can use a strainer when you clean your drains regularly

Avoid Pouring Grease Down Your Drain

Grease builds up and causes clogs in drains frequently. As the grease cools, it solidifies and can cause clogs in pipes. Put the used oil in the trash or a grease can instead of the sink.

Flush Your Drains Regularly

Grease and other buildups in your pipes can be easily removed by running hot water through your drains regularly. It’s a quick and easy way to avoid obstructions.

Don’t Flush Non-Biodegradable Items

Toilet paper and human waste are the only things in the toilet. Non-biodegradable items such as paper towels, sanitary napkins, and baby wipes can cause severe clogging problems in plumbing systems. Put these items in the trash can.

Maintain Your Plumbing System

Maintaining your plumbing system will help prevent clogs. Contact an experienced plumber regularly to check your pipes, identify any issues, and clean your drains regularly.

Why Clean Your Drains Regularly?

Maintaining a clean drain is essential to the health of your home’s plumbing system. Pipes can become clogged with debris like hair, soap scum, and food scraps. If you don’t remove the obstructions, water will back up and damage your pipes. Our friends at Pack & Go Movers also recommend cleaning your drains before moving or going away for the holidays. Nothing must clog when you are not home.

If you have a problem with noxious odors from your drains, regularly cleaning them may help. When food and other organic materials rot in your pipes, odors can permeate your home. Maintaining a regular cleaning routine will help prevent this and leave your home smelling and looking great.

Dealing with Stubborn Clogs

Drains can become clogged even if you take preventative measures and clean them regularly. If you’ve tried DIY drain cleaning methods without success, it’s probably time to call a pro. There are many options when you decide to call upon drain unclogging services. But here are some signs you should do so:

If you have persistent clogs, then you can call a pro for help

Persistent Clogs

If you have tried do-it-yourself methods to unclog the drain and it is still not working, it is time to call a plumber for professional drain cleaning services. No matter how pervasive, a licensed plumber can locate and clear any obstruction.

Foul Odors

A clog in your drain could be the source of a foul odor. This is especially true if gurgling or slow drainage accompanies the smell. A professional plumber can diagnose the issue and offer a solution.

Multiple Clogs

Multiple clogs in multiple drains could indicate a more severe issue in your home’s plumbing system. If there is an issue with your pipes, a professional plumber can camera inspect the sewer lines and find the source.

Backups

Clogged pipes can cause several unpleasant plumbing problems, including backups in the sink or tub. A licensed plumber can trace the problem to its origin and offer a solution to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Conclusion

Maintaining the efficiency of your home’s plumbing system requires you to clean your drains regularly. You can avoid costly drain clogs by adhering to the guidelines. Put a strainer over the drain of your sink or tub, never put oil down the drain, flush your drains often, throw away any garbage that isn’t biodegradable, and ensure your plumbing is in good operating order. Following these simple guidelines, you can keep your drains in good working order and avoid costly repairs.

Mar '23

Drain Unclogging Service in Chicago

Drain cleaning in Chicago is an important part of keeping your home or business’s plumbing system running smoothly. When drains become clogged, it can lead to a myriad of problems that can be difficult to resolve. From slow draining sinks to backed up toilets, clogged drains can cause inconvenience and, in some cases, health risks. When it comes to drain cleaning services in Chicago, hiring a local plumber can help ensure the job is done right and the problem is resolved quickly and efficiently.

Professional drain cleaning services in Chicago offer a variety of services that can help keep your drainage system functioning properly. From clearing out clogs to installing new fixtures and cleaning out pipes, drain cleaning companies have the experience and tools to get the job done right. A professional drain cleaning service in Chicago can also provide maintenance services such as sewer line rodding, hydro jet drain cleaning, and sewer video camera inspections to ensure your drains remain clear and in good condition.

When it comes to drain cleaning plumbers in Chicago, it’s important to choose a company that is experienced and knowledgeable about the specific needs of the area. A company that is familiar with the local plumbing codes, ordinances, and conditions can ensure the job is done correctly and safely. In addition, they should have the necessary tools and equipment to handle any job, no matter how big or small.

Unclog Drains in Chicago

If your pipes are blocked, unclogging the drain is essential. Professional drain cleaning services in Chicago can provide a variety of methods to unclog your drains. From using chemical cleaners to using a snake and auger, a professional can get the job done quickly and effectively.

Chemical cleaners are often the first line of defense when it comes to unclogging drains. These cleaners are specifically designed to break down and dissolve tough clogs. For tougher clogs, a drain snake or auger may be necessary. This tool is inserted into the pipe and then used to physically break up the clog. Pressure washers and hydro-jetting are also effective methods for unclogging drains.

When it comes to unclogging drains, it is important to exercise caution. Improper use of tools and chemicals can cause further damage to your pipes and plumbing system. It is best to leave the job to a professional who can ensure the job is done correctly and safely.

Drain Maintenance in Chicago

Regular drain maintenance is essential to keeping your plumbing system running properly. Professional drain cleaning services in Chicago can provide regular maintenance services to ensure your drains remain clear and in good condition. Preventative maintenance such as sewer rodding service, hydro-jetting, and sewer camera inspections can help prevent clogs and other problems from occurring.

Rodding is a common maintenance method used to clean out small debris and buildup that can cause clogs. Hydro jet drain cleaning cleaning is a more powerful method of cleaning and can be used to clear out larger buildups and debris. A sewer camera inspection is a great way to inspect your sewer and drain pipes for any problems and can be used to detect clogs and other issues that may be difficult to see.

Regular maintenance of your drains can help prevent clogs and other plumbing problems from occurring. Drain cleaning services in Chicago can help ensure your system is functioning properly and can help you save money in the long run.

When it comes to drain cleaning and maintenance in Chicago, it’s important to choose a reliable and experienced company. Professional drain cleaning companies have the experience and tools to get the job done right and can help keep your plumbing system running smoothly. From unclogging drains to providing regular maintenance services, a drain cleaning company in Chicago can help ensure your drains remain clear and in good condition.

—

Looking for help unclogging a drain or sewer line? Call us at 773-599-9181 or contact us by form below!

Mar '23

What Do Several Clogged Drains Indicate?

A clogged drain is a common problem in the home and commercial building plumbing systems. A drain clog is when wastewater cannot move freely through the drainpipes, or the water moves very slowly. Why do drains get clogged?

There are several reasons why a drain might become clogged. It can be due to natural processes, such as when corrosion narrows old pipes, making it difficult for water to pass through. It could also be due to soil movements that change the position of underground drainpipes.

But the most common causes of clogged drains are artificial, avoidable outcomes of how the drains in a home are used. Toilet drains may clog if something other than human waste is flushed into them, warns Action Properties Management. Kitchen drains are often clogged by a variety of food waste.

In addition to clogs in any drain inside your home, clogs can also occur in different sections of the drain system outside your house. Clogs close to drain openings inside the home are less severe than clogs deep inside the system.

The first type of drain clog will only affect the plumbing fixtures attached to that drain. But when a clog happens in a location deep inside the drainage system, the effect of that blockage will often be seen in all the plumbing fixtures in your home.

Why multiple drains in your home are clogged at once

Clogs affecting multiple drains in your home simultaneously signify serious issues within the home’s drain systems. That is because although each drain opening in the house appears separate from the others, they are connected.

Home drain systems comprise a network of pipes with a central drainpipe – the main sewer line – which collects all the wastewater from the house and carries it to the city sewer. This main sewer line is linked to the various plumbing fixtures in your home via connecting drain pipes.

If one of the drainpipes that feed into the main sewer line becomes clogged, the effect is only felt in the plumbing fixture that uses the drain. But if the clog happens in the main sewer line of your home, all the smaller drainpipes that connect to it will not be able to drain effectively. A good way to prevent this is by having a plumber perform a sewer rodding service.

The clog in the main sewer line creates a bottleneck that keeps wastewater from the plumbing fixtures in your home from flowing through the main sewer line. Instead of flowing into the city sewers, the water collects inside the pipes and may flow backwards into the house.

In most cases, the problem first appears in floor drains inside the home and other ones close to the ground. These drains become slower such as when bathwater doesn’t drain quickly when you shower. You may also find that toilets flush very slowly.

Other signs of a clog in your main sewer line are gurgling sounds from your home’s drains every time you use them, movement in the water inside the toilet bowl when you use the kitchen sink or washing machine and foul odors from drain openings in the house.

Frequent problems with your home’s drains may also signify deeper issues with the main sewer line. If several drains in the house are slow or showing signs of blockage, you may assume that the cause of the problem is in your home’s main sewer line that needs repairing.

Why your main sewer line is blocked and what you can do about it

Here are common reasons why your home’s main sewer line may be clogged:

Pouring grease into the drain:

Fats, grease and oils (FOGs) are the number one cause of drain clogs. These materials stick to pipes and walls and debris attached to them.

Flushing forbidden items into your toilets:

Putting anything other than human waste and toilet paper into your toilet can result in a sewer line clog.

Sagging sewer lines:

This is caused by movements in the soil surrounding the sewer line. Burrowing animals, sinkholes and soil movements due to house settling can cause these.

Aged sewer pipes

This is a common issue with clay and metal drainpipes. As these pipes age, their channels become narrower due to corrosion and sedimentation.

Tree root infiltration

Tree roots may find their way into sewer lines through hairline cracks in the pipe. Once inside the pipe, they can grow until they eventually block it.

What should you do if you are experiencing frequent drain issues in your home and multiple drains show signs of blockage?

The first step is verifying that the problem is with your main sewer line. Have a plumber perform a sewer camera inspection to pinpoint the exact location of the blockage in the sewer line. How you remove the clog depends on the location and what is causing it.

Sep '22

5 Reasons to Call a Professional Plumber for Drain Cleaning

So, you think something inside your drain obstructs the channel and would like to clear it out. But how are you going to do that? What is the best way to clean your drains? Should you do it yourself or hire a professional plumber?

Doing it yourself typically means using a chemical drain cleaner. But while this is a quick method to get water flowing through the drains again, there are good reasons why it is not a good option, warns Rent Appeal, especially if you consider the long-term impact of this solution.

Most homeowners use chemical drain cleaners because they think they save time and money. But the sad truth is that chemical drain cleaners do not save you money. Using them in your drains will cost you more money in the future.

How is that?

Why you should never use chemical drain cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners contain corrosives, principally sulfuric acid and caustic soda. These chemicals are so corrosive that after about five seconds of being inside your drains, they will not only start to eat away at the debris inside the pipes but also corrode them.

But the damage to your plumbing is not immediately evident when you use a chemical drain cleaner. That’s because drain cleaners thin out the pipes, making your plumbing fragile, more susceptible to leaks, and exposing your home to a greater risk of water damage.

The other reason not to use chemical drain cleaners is for personal safety. When using drain cleaners, you must wear rubber gloves and protective goggles. Additionally, you must pour the chemical very slowly because if it splashes on your skin, it will cause burns.

However, even if you succeed in pouring a drain cleaner into your drain without getting it on your skin or your eyes, drain cleaners sit inside your drain pipes for a long time. If the drain cleaner inside the pipe mixes with other cleaners, it can release deadly gases into your home.

So, if drain cleaners are harmful, what is the alternative?

You can buy a hand auger or plunger for nearly the same amount you pay for a chemical drain cleaner. These effectively remove clogs near the drain opening and can be used repeatedly. There are also lots of natural drain cleaning methods you can use.

But these methods do not address the root cause of the clogs in your drains. They only work as short-term fixes. The best long-term solution for keeping your drains in good condition is to hire a professional plumber. Why should you take this option?

Benefits of hiring a professional plumber

Solve problems effectively

Unlike when homeowners try to solve issues in their plumbing, a professional plumber does not just focus on the symptoms of the problem. A professional plumber will find the root cause of the problem by way of a sewer camera inspection service.

Also, unlike chemical drain cleaners, which do not distinguish between the debris inside the pipes and the PVC, metal, or enamel of your plumbing, the professional plumber can pinpoint the cause of the problem and solve it effectively.

They can educate you

Most blockages inside your drains are caused by the improper use of the drains, such as when you flush fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) into the drain or misuse of the garbage disposal.

A professional plumber can prevent future problems by identifying behaviors contributing to your plumbing issues. They can give you advice that will help you avoid future problems and save costs.

Detect problems early

Most plumbing problems start as minor issues with early warning signs of the impending catastrophe. Blockages happen when those initial signs are overlooked. A professional plumber can save you money by catching problems at the beginning stages and solving them before they become significant costs; instead of compounding your plumbing issues, as chemical drain cleaners would, professional plumbers help you avoid problems.

Routine maintenance

A local plumber can help you do routine maintenance of your plumbing. Rather than wait for problems to happen before you pay attention to your drains, regular maintenance of the system will prevent issues.

For instance, a camera inspection of your drains does not cost much, but this simple step will save you the thousands of dollars you would have spent to fix damage caused by a sewer backup.

Professional advice

A professional plumber will help you keep your plumbing up to date. From information about new regulations to innovative plumbing products that have just entered the market, your plumber is more in touch with the industry.

They can ensure that instead of merely spending money to keep the system running, you can invest your money to improve your plumbing system. A professional plumber can help you build a resilient system with fewer problems and lower costs.

To sum up, why should you call a plumber for drain cleaning services? The straightforward answer is that only a professional plumber can clear the debris inside your drains by way of sewer rodding or high-powered hydro jetting service. Chemical drain cleaners and other methods will not do it.

Sep '22

Why Fall is the Best Time for Drain Cleaning

The leaves on the trees are starting to change their colors, and the amount of rainfall we get has slowly begun to drop. Fall is here, and it is time to prepare for winter. This is the time to do all those maintenance chores you have been postponing all summer.

To prepare your home for winter, says RedSail Property Management, you should ensure your heating is working, and that there are no cracks or openings in the building where warm air can escape. You also want to check the plumbing for emerging issues, and, most importantly, this is the time to clean your drains.

Drain cleaning is best done in the fall to avoid complications during winter or unpleasant surprises at the start of spring. The chances of sewer backups increase when your drains are not cleaned at this time of the year. Why is fall the best time to clean your gutters?

Why fall is the best time for drain cleaning

There is more debris during fall and winter

The potential for yard waste to build up inside the drains is highest in autumn when trees shed their leaves. As more leaves, twigs, and dirt find their way into the drains, the risk that they will block your drains is greater.

If the water table rises during this time and your drain is not clean, you could find yourself dealing with a sewer backup. The cost of fixing the damage caused by a sewer backup is massive compared to what it will cost you to clear the drains.

To prevent trouble after Halloween

The fleshy insides of pumpkins, sticky Halloween candies, and holiday baking ingredients are just a few of the things that can find their way into the drains during Halloween.

Your drains are not equipped to handle this stuff, and there is a chance they will get overwhelmed with the garbage. Thanksgiving, which happens less than a month after Halloween, also releases much waste into the drains. All that debris needs to be taken out before the onset of winter.

Preparation for upcoming winter activities

As you get closer to winter, you may find that your shower, sinks, and toilet drains are slower. This results from accumulated debris from the yard, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. If you don’t do something to solve the problem, you may have more significant issues when there are more people in your home in the coming holiday season. If you have plans to cook a holiday meal, you want to make sure those plans are not upset by a clogged drain or backed-up sewer.

Trees alter their behavior

Trees get their moisture from above ground during spring and summer because there is enough precipitation in the atmosphere for their needs. But as rainfall gradually ceases and fall sets in, tree roots also change their behavior.

They turn their attention to sources within the soil for nourishment. One of the places they are likely to turn to is your sewer line. If your sewer line is clogged, it increases the chances of leaks and the possibility of tree roots finding their way into the pipe.

It is practical

It makes sense to clean your drain during fall for several practical reasons. For one thing, it is back to school season, the home is quieter, and the kids are less likely to get in the way of your plumber.

Secondly, the groundwater level at this time is optimum for drain cleaning; there is a lower risk of soil being washed into the drain. Finally, most businesses are winding down for the year, and you can clean the drain in readiness for next year’s activities.

The right way to clean your drains

When there is a clog in one of the drains in your home, it is normal to first try to solve the issue by applying a DIY solution. While do-it-yourself measures are effective for certain drain problems, they will not solve the deep-seated blockages covered earlier. Moreover, some DIY methods, like chemical drain cleaners, will damage your drains.

You need a professional plumber to clean the drains without damaging your pipes. The plumber will not just remove the debris inside your pipes; they will also give you an idea of the general condition of your drains. The plumber will also identify budding issues with the drains and advise you on the best ways to avoid them.

Professional plumbers use the following drain cleaning methods:

Sewer camera inspection: A video camera is inserted into the drain opening and fed into the sewer line to capture the inside of the pipes and help the plumber determine the location and extent of blockages.

Hydro-jetting: Using highly specialized equipment, a professional plumber will send a powerful stream of water into the pipes to clear blockages and shear away any tree roots inside your drains.

Sep '22

DIY Drain Cleaning and Why It Can Be a Bad Idea

Slow or blocked drains are common issues every homeowner experiences with their home’s plumbing from time to time. Due to how often we use them and what we use them for, toilet, bathroom, and kitchen drains are always at risk of getting blocked.

When this happens, it is normal that you will want to cut costs by trying to fix the problem yourself. Like most homeowners, says DRP Management, you will reach for a drain snake, plunger, chemical drain cleaner, vinegar, or baking soda, each time your drains show signs of trouble.

But do DIY drain cleaning solutions work? Are you really saving money when you use them? What is their long-term impact on the health of your drains? Is there a right time to use DIY drain cleaning methods, and what are their limitations? This post answers those questions.

Common DIY drain cleaning methods and why they can be a bad idea

The most common do-it-yourself methods for clearing clogs and blockages from your drains are:

Handheld drain snakes
Plungers
Baking soda, vinegar, salt, and boiling water
Chemical drain cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners are easily the worst things you can pour into your drains. While they may clear your drains, they do so at a huge cost. Chemical drain cleaners have acids in them. These acids do not discriminate between the material blocking the pipe and the pipe itself.

Chemical drain cleaners not only shorten the lifespan of your pipes, but they also harm the environment. The acids in chemical drain cleaners will not only dissolve the clogs inside your drain but corrode your pipes and eventually find their way into the soil, which will leach into groundwater.

The other DIY drain cleaning methods in this list are only suitable for removing clogs close to the drain opening. If the material blocking your drainpipe is further inside the pipe, removing it with the above drain cleaning methods is often impossible.

Baking soda, plungers, salt, vinegar, and hot water are only useful when you have an emergency. Because they do not actually remove the material blocking the pipe but merely push it further down the pipe, they cannot be used as a long-term fix.

But if you do not understand these DIY drain cleaning methods and use them as your go-to solution for drain issues, you can expect the following problems.

The trouble with DIY drain cleaning

Health and environmental issues

In addition to the harm they do to your drainpipes, chemical drain cleaners are also dangerous to your health. The toxic compounds inside drain cleaners linger in the air after the cleaner is flushed into the drain. They may eventually end up inside the lungs and stomachs of humans and pets.

Furthermore, using chemical drain cleaners is almost the same as putting poison in your drinking water. These harmful substances flow from your drain into the city sewer system and finally into the water bodies that feed the natural systems where we get our drinking water.

DIY solutions ignore the root cause

When you hire a local plumber to unclog drains in your home, that plumber adopts a holistic approach, including the entire plumbing system and how you use them.

This ensures that whatever solutions they employ for the issues will have a lasting effect. Conversely, DIY drain cleaning solutions are temporary fixes that do not address your drain problem’s underlying cause.

Your drain problems never go away

DIY drain cleaning methods only worsen the issues with your drains. Unlike when you use a professional plumber, DIY drain cleaning does not highlight the things you are doing that may hurt your drains. They also don’t altogether remove the offensive materials inside the drains. The result is that those drain problems only worsen with time until they do massive damage that will cost a ton of money to fix.

You can’t do preventive maintenance with DIY drain cleaning

With DIY drain cleaning, you must wait until there is an issue with your drains before you take action. These solutions lock you into a reactive mindset where you are always one step behind the problems with your plumbing.

A professional plumber, on the other hand, can help you create a preventive maintenance program via a sewer rodding service, that will let you avoid major issues with your drains, prolong the life of your plumbing and help you save money in the long run. You should also think about having your drains and sewer lines hydro jetted every 5-6 years for a full and thorough cleaning.

Save money and time

Hiring a professional plumber to solve the issues with your plumbing can help you save time and money. A professional plumber will find and solve those issues in a fraction of the time it takes you to find them.

Furthermore, when selling your home, the fact that your plumbing is managed by a professional makes much difference. Buyers have more confidence when the systems are under the care of an expert, and they are often willing to pay you more for the peace of mind that comes with that knowledge.

Sep '22

5 Benefits of Professional Drain Cleaning Service

5 Benefits of Professional Drain Cleaning Service – Plumbing systems are designed to withstand constant use throughout the year. But the resilience of your home’s plumbing system can also become a problem; as Paradise Management explains, it could be why you don’t view the plumbing as a top priority when cleaning the house or doing routine maintenance.

But just because your home’s plumbing doesn’t break down often doesn’t mean the system does not need regular care. Many of the plumbing issues you have had in the past or the ones you will have in the future are the results of minor problems you overlooked.

Plumbing systems will have problems and break down from time to time; that is normal. But if those issues become frequent or worsen with each occurrence, it indicates a long-term issue that has not been solved. Examples of such long-standing plumbing problems include:

Several drains inside your home are clogged simultaneously; the toilet, sink, and shower may have issues simultaneously. Or you may have clogs that persist for more than one week. These are signs of longstanding issues with the plumbing coming to the surface.
There are bad smells around the home, and they refuse to go away even after you clean your home. The usual cause of this problem is accumulated waste inside your drainpipes. The decaying materials release obnoxious gases that find their way into the house.
Gurgling sounds inside the drains. Air may become trapped inside your pipes as a clog forms within them. When water enters those pipes, that air is compressed and tries to find a way out through your drain opening. The escaping air causes the gurgling sound you hear.
Invasion by fruit flies. If you see a lot of drain flies inside your home, there must be some decaying matter inside the house. If you have checked and your trash does not cause the problem, the most likely cause is a blockage inside your drains.

What should you do when you have drain issues?

Most homeowners will use DIY solutions until the problem becomes so bad that the DIY solution doesn’t help anymore. Standard DIY solutions homeowners use include removing the clog with baking soda and vinegar or pouring a chemical drain cleaner into the drain to remove the clog.

But these DIY solutions do not really solve the problem; they only relieve the immediate symptoms. Even worse, some DIY solutions, such as chemical drain cleaners, worsen the situation. On the other hand, a drain cleaning service such as a hydro-jetting is always the best option for solving plumbing issues in your home.

a professional hydro jet drain cleaning service being performed.

A professional drain cleaning service such as a sewer line rodding or hydro-jetting is always the best option for solving plumbing issues in your home.

Here is why.

Five benefits of hiring a professional drain cleaning service

Avoid hassles and complications

Your home’s plumbing issues will never stop when you use short-term ineffective solutions. Living with drains that need constant cleaning or toilets that must be plunged every week is a major pain. The emotional toll of the problem is just one part. In addition to the stress, these DIY solutions will cause complications in your plumbing system, costing you tens of thousands of dollars to fix.

Avoid unnecessary health issues

Increased respiratory problems and allergic reactions among family members or pets are some health problems resulting from not handling drain issues well. This is because mold and mildew take hold inside the home’s drains or chemical drain cleaners find their way into the water supply. Conversely, the methods used by professional drain cleaning services will not endanger humans or the environment.

Save money in the long run

The number one reason homeowners prefer DIY methods for their drain problems versus hiring a professional drain cleaning service is that they want to save money. But do DIY solutions save money when they don’t actually solve the problem from the root? The problem only worsens, and the cost of fixing it becomes much higher. This would not happen if a professional drain cleaning service were hired from the get-go.

Detect problems before they happen

DIY methods are only useful after a plumbing problem becomes evident in your home. They are reactive in nature. Hiring a professional drain cleaning service for your home’s plumbing works differently. The local plumber will not only correct the current issues with the plumbing, but they will also prevent future drain problems by detecting potential issues via sewer camera inspections and taking preemptive steps to solve them.

Get professional advice

A professional plumber also plays the role of a consultant. They offer insights that can help you protect your home’s plumbing. This is important because many of the issues with your plumbing are caused by misuse of the system. A professional plumber will also help you take advantage of innovative plumbing products just entering the market. They will help you stay updated with changes to the building codes that may affect your building.

Apr '22

How Clogged Drains Affect Your Home Plumbing System

Clogged drains are not just a mild inconvenience as some people might consider. They can cause serious harm to the property, warns Whole Property Management. If you start to notice a clogged drain in your home, you need to respond urgently. But how do you identify a clogged drain?

Signs of clogged drains

Slow-moving drains

Pipes and drains do not block altogether at once. The blockage builds up gradually over time. As the debris keeps accumulating inside the drain, it slows down the movement of wastewater. So, if you notice that your drain is slowing down, it means a clog is developing in the drain.

However, if all your drains are slowing simultaneously, you may be dealing with a clogged sewer line. On careful observation, toilet drains are the first to slow down if the sewer line develops a clog. Water may hang on for a while before it gradually sinks as you flush the toilet following this occurrence.

Gurgling sounds

When clogs develop in your drain, they hinder the free flow of wastewater. Pipes conduct sound, and as a result, you may notice weird noises when wastewater drains through your plumbing fixtures. People commonly describe these noises as gurgling sounds when using the drain. Sometimes, you may observe it as bubbling, trickling, or hissing sounds. Cases that affect the main sewer line may experience these weird noises for a long time after you stop using the drain.

Clogged plumbing fixtures

A clogged plumbing fixture is a late sign. In this case, there is already a severe or complete blockage of the pipe. As a result, almost no water can flow through the drainpipe. You may notice this if your tub fills up as you are trying a shower or the sink overflows as you are using it.

The consequences of having a clogged drain

a woman smelling bad sewer odors from her drain.

Remember that you pour or flush items into the drains. Such things may include waste, food, gunk, hair, etc. These items will accumulate within the pipe and lead to clogging.

Unpleasant odors

Why do you experience unpleasant odors when you have a clogged drain? Remember that you pour or flush items into the drains. Such things may include waste, food, gunk, hair, etc. These items will accumulate within the pipe and lead to clogging.

As a result, bacteria will have a suitable environment to grow and cause decay. The decay will present itself as terrible odors emanating from your drain. In addition, these odors will not stay within the pipes alone. They will also spread to other areas of the home. Imagine perceiving an unpleasant odor throughout your property. It can be upsetting to guests and neighbors.

Pest infestations

Several types of pests may infest a property that is experiencing clogged drains. The reasons are that unpleasant odors from the drain will attract pests, and the stagnant water will provide a suitable environment for them to thrive. Mosquitos and other insects multiply by laying their eggs in stagnant water. If food particles clog the drain, they will serve as a food for the pest.

Clogged drains will attract the following insects:

Drain flies (moth flies)
Phorid flies
Cockroaches
Fruit flies

Health hazards

Clogged drains provide an unhealthy environment in the home. Remember that the pipes harbor bacteria and produce unpleasant odors. These bacteria can contaminate your drinking water and cause harmful infections.

Symptoms of such illnesses may present as fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. Common bacteria that may spread because of clogged drains include salmonella, campylobacter, helicobacter, etc. Unpleasant odors from clogged drains can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, anxiety, mood swings, and irritations to the throat, eyes, and nose.

Pest infestation during clogged drains also helps in spreading germs. After nesting inside clogged pipes, these pests may perch on your food, plates, or drinking water.

Molds also grow because of clogged drains. The effects of mold growths in your home may present as allergies or respiratory diseases.

After pooling for some time, water will start leaking through the pipe joints, seals, and caulking.

Plumbing leaks

Water will always find a way to escape. When drains clog, the wastewater will back up within the pipes. After pooling for some time, water will start leaking through the pipe joints, seals, and caulking. Depending on the size of the leakage, some homeowners may not notice it immediately.

Structural damage

Gradual leakage of plumbing fixtures into the soil and surrounding structure can affect the property. If it happens close to the foundation, the structural integrity will weaken.

Severe drain clogs will cause wastewater to back up into your home. As a result, your home may experience flooding. Depending on the type of flooring, floods in the home may damage the floors. When this happens, the repairs are usually expensive.

The bottom line

It is advisable to treat a clogged drain as an emergency. When you notice that you are experiencing clogged drains, turn off the water supply to your home and call a local plumber. Plumbers have the appropriate tools, training, and skills to locate the problem inside the drain or offer professional drain cleaning solutions such as high-power hydro jetting.

Oct '21

Why You Should Always Use Professional Drain Cleaning Services

When a drain in your home gets clogged and needs cleaning, what should you do about it?

Clogged drains are an all too common problem in the home. Drains may get clogged or even blocked as a result of neglect and misuse; when your property is a rental this is almost always a tenant-caused malfunction. The problem could also be the outcome of aging pipes or the normal consequence of the proper use of the home’s plumbing.

Man-made causes of drain clogs include:

Human or pet hair getting into the drain because there is no hair trap in the shower.
Indiscriminately feeding food waste down the kitchen sink drain and into the garbage disposal.
Flushing non-flushable items such as diapers, tampons, etc. – down the toilet.
Toilet paper buildup inside the drain, objects falling into the drain, and washing dirt down the drain, among others.

Drains may also get clogged from natural causes and in the course of the normal process of using the home’s plumbing. Some ways this can happen are:

Mineral buildup inside the pipes due to hard water from the municipal supply.
Tree roots that penetrate through the pipes and block them.
Subtle soil movements that dislocate the pipes and prevent the smooth flow of wastewater.
The age of the components of the plumbing system.

How to Handle a Clogged Drain

When your drains get clogged, what is the best way to deal with the issue? You have two options for solving the problem. You can head over to the internet and attempt to clean the drain yourself after watching some YouTube videos. Or you can get a professional plumber to look at the problem. The option you choose matters.

While there are lots of home maintenance tasks you can undertake yourself, plumbing is, unfortunately, not one of them. This is because of the vital role and enormous size of a home’s plumbing network. It is also because of how complex and interconnected this system is. The best way to clean out your drains when you have a clog or for routine maintenance is to hire a professional plumber.

Here are the reasons for this recommendation.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Plumber for Drain Cleaning

Drain cleaning should be part of your maintenance routine

Drains will clog and need cleaning, no matter how carefully you use them. This is simply because drains carry wastewater and wastewater contain sediments. Every time you wash your hands with soap, you wash soap into the drain that can potentially turn into soap scum and block the pipes.

The same applies to food scraps and grease; they will always find a way to get into the drain. Regular cleaning of your drains should be a permanent feature of your program for keeping the plumbing in good condition and avoiding costly repairs. Only a professional plumber can help you do this efficiently.

DIYs deal with the superficial causes

Understanding the cause of a drain clog, the process of its formation, and the different things that play a part in creating the clog is essential for solving the problem. Before they try to clean out a clogged drain, professional plumbers search for the immediate and remote causes of the problem. They do not apply temporary fixes as DIYers often do.

Professional plumbers use tools and services such as a sewer camera inspections to pinpoint the cause of a problem and apply solutions such as hydro jetting that are comprehensive and long- lasting. A non-professional, on the other hand, is only concerned about getting water to start flowing through the drain again.

Prevent bigger problems

Homeowners who take a DIY approach to solve plumbing issues often do it to save money. In their bid to save a dollar, they cause bigger problems that cost them more money down the road. For instance, homeowners may apply store-bought drain cleaners to get rid of clogs. These products actually remove drain clogs, but only because they are so harsh. The long-term effect of pouring these chemicals into the drain is it strips the pipes and makes them more vulnerable to damage.

A disjointed maintenance strategy that does not take the entire drainage system into account will cause problems for you. Professional plumbers don’t just clean drains; they maintain a history of the issues with your plumbing in order to detect a pattern to the problems with the home’s drainage system.

Professional plumbers save you money and time

Solving drainage problems takes a lot of expertise. For owners who want to do it by themselves, the only way to try and get that expertise is to spend hours on the internet. But watching a YouTube video on hydro jetting does not transform an amateur plumber into a professional. Eventually, the homeowner will have to hire a professional plumber to look at the issues with the home’s drainage.

More often than not, the plumber has to solve both the original problem and the additional ones caused by the homeowner. If the owner had called a professional from the get-go, they would have saved themselves a lot of time and money.