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Do My Drains Need to Be Professionally Cleaned?

Do My Drains Need to Be Professionally Cleaned

Signs That Your Drains Need to Be Professionally Cleaned

Drains are an essential part of any plumbing system, allowing wastewater to flow out of your home and preventing potential problems like clogs and backups. However, over time, drains can become clogged with debris, grease, and other substances, leading to a range of issues. While some minor drain clogs can be easily resolved with DIY methods, there are instances where it is necessary to call in a professional drain cleaning service. In this article, we will explore the signs that indicate your drains need professional cleaning and why it is important to address these issues promptly.

The Importance of Regular Drain Cleaning

Before discussing the signs that indicate professional drain cleaning services are needed, it is important to understand the significance of regular drain cleaning. Many homeowners overlook drain maintenance until they face a major issue, but taking a proactive approach can prevent costly repairs and inconveniences.

Regular drain cleaning helps in:

  • Preventing clogs: Accumulation of debris, grease, hair, soap scum, and other materials can lead to stubborn clogs in your drains. Professional cleaning removes these buildup, reducing the chances of clogs occurring.
  • Improving water flow: Over time, debris and mineral deposits can restrict the flow of water in your drains. Regular cleaning ensures unrestricted water flow, preventing slow draining or standing water issues.
  • Eliminating foul odors: The accumulation of organic matter inside drains can result in unpleasant odors emanating from your plumbing system. Professional drain cleaning helps to eliminate these odors and keep your home smelling fresh.
  • Prolonging drain lifespan: When drains are regularly cleaned, they are less likely to experience major blockages or damages. This can extend the lifespan of your drains, reducing the need for costly replacements.
a sewer line rooter service happening in chicago.

If you notice that your sinks, showers, or tubs are draining slower than usual, it could be a telltale sign of a clogged drain.

Signs Your Drains Need Professional Cleaning

While regular drain maintenance is important, there are specific signs that indicate it is time to call in the professionals to provide a thorough drain cleaning, such as a professional hydro jetting service. These signs include:

Slow Draining

If you notice that your sinks, showers, or tubs are draining slower than usual, it could be a telltale sign of a clogged drain. Slow draining indicates that debris or buildup is obstructing the water flow, and it is time to have your drains professionally cleaned.

Recurring Clogs

Experiencing frequent clogs in your drains, even after attempting DIY methods to clear them, is a strong indication that there is a deeper problem. Professional drain cleaning services can effectively remove stubborn clogs that DIY solutions may not be able to address.

Foul Odors

If you detect foul smells coming from your drains, it is likely due to organic matter that has accumulated over time. This buildup can cause bacteria growth and emit unpleasant odors. Professional drain cleaning can remove the source of the odor and leave your drains smelling fresh.

Water Backups

One of the most obvious signs that your drains need professional attention is water backups. If water is coming up through your sinks, tubs, or toilets, it indicates a severe blockage further down the drain pipe. Professional plumbers have specialized sewer cameras to locate the blockage, and then tools to restore proper drainage.

Multiple Clogged Drains

If you have multiple drains in your home that are experiencing slow drainage or clogs simultaneously, it is likely a sign of a larger issue in your main drain line or sewer system. In such cases, a professional drain cleaning such as a sewer rodding service is essential to address the underlying problem.

a professional plumber in chicago cleaning out a drain.

Professional plumbers not only clean your drains but also have the expertise to identify underlying problems within your plumbing system.

The Benefits of Professional Drain Cleaning

Now that we have discussed the signs that indicate professional drain cleaning is necessary, let’s explore the benefits of hiring a professional for the job:

Effective and Thorough Cleaning

Professional drain cleaning services utilize specialized equipment and techniques to ensure a thorough cleaning of your drains. They have the knowledge and experience to remove even the most stubborn clogs and buildup, ensuring optimal drainage and preventing future issues.

Preventative Maintenance

By regularly scheduling professional cleaning, you can prevent major clogs and backups from occurring. Professional plumbers can identify and address potential issues before they become severe, saving you from costly repairs in the long run.

Safety and Hygiene

When drain blockages occur, they can result in unsanitary conditions and potential health hazards. Professional drain cleaning helps to maintain a hygienic environment in your home, eliminating bacteria, odors, and the risk of sewage backups.

Expert Diagnosis of Underlying Issues

Professional plumbers not only clean your drains but also have the expertise to identify underlying problems within your plumbing system. This includes issues like tree root intrusion, cracked pipes, or improper installation. Timely detection of these issues can prevent further damage and ensure proper functioning of your drains.

In Summary

Regular drain cleaning is essential to maintain the efficiency and longevity of your plumbing system. Signs such as slow draining, recurring clogs, foul odors, water backups, and multiple clogged drains indicate that it is time to seek professional drain cleaning services. By hiring professionals, you can benefit from their expertise, ensure thorough cleaning, prevent future problems, and maintain a safe and hygienic environment in your home. Don’t wait until you encounter a major plumbing issue – take proactive measures to keep your drains clean and functional.

7 Signs You Need Professional Drain Cleaning Services In your Home or Business

Signs You Need Professional Drain Cleaning Services in your Home or Business

How do you even know signs you need professional drain cleaning services? A clogged drain is not something that can happen to the plumbing system in your home. A clogged drain is something that will happen to the plumbing system in your home. Your home’s drains will clog at some point because drain clogs are a natural consequence of the function of your home’s drain system.

How is this true?

It is true because although drains are designed to transport wastewater out of the various plumbing fixtures in your home, that wastewater is not all-liquid. The wastewater from your home’s toilet, shower, and sink drains contains different amounts of solid and semi-solid materials.

This solid or semi-solid part of wastewater can settle along the sides and bottom of your drain pipes as wastewater flows through the pipes. Over time these deposits may start to harden and accumulate to a point where they interfere with water movement through the pipes.

If this happens, the rate at which solid and semi-solid matter is deposited inside the pipe will increase until the pipe channel is obstructed. This blockage can affect the rate at which one or all of the drains in your home function; you will have a clogged drain.

However, this is not to say that drain clogs are totally inevitable in your home. 

You can take steps to interrupt this natural process and keep your drains from getting clogged. By having the drains professionally inspected and cleaned, you can eliminate the buildup inside them and spare yourself the stress of dealing with clogged drains in your home.

If you’re a property manager and clogged drains are a frequent thing in your properties, you might want to consider scheduling a regular drain cleaning. This way you’ll automate the task and won’t forget about it, avoiding emergencies. It’ll save you time as well as money!

How do professional drain cleaning services work?

Professional drain cleaning is a detailed process done by a professional plumber to determine the condition of your home’s drains and eliminate any deposits and blockages within the system. This process often includes the following three steps:

  • A sewer camera inspection to detect problems in the drain or sewer lines and their severity.
  • Preliminary cleaning of the drain using a motorized drain auger.
  • Getting rid of all the debris in the pipes by hydro-jetting the system.

The benefit of doing this process periodically – before you have a drain clog – is avoiding the cost of fixing pipes that clogs and blockages have damaged. Scheduled drain cleaning is a proactive maintenance step that will save you the inconvenience and cost of clogged drains. 

How do you know when your home’s drains need professional cleaning?

a backed up drain.

If multiple drains are slow at the same time, you can be sure there is an issue with your home’s main sewer line.

7 signs that you need professional drain cleaning services

Multiple slow drains

If only one drain in the home is slow, the problem is usually not from your home’s main sewer line. But if multiple drains are slow at the same time, you can be sure there is an issue with your home’s main sewer line. In that case, you should call a plumber before the problem turns into an emergency.

Foul odors from your drains

A foul odor from your drain indicates that sewer gases are trapped inside the drainpipes and have nowhere to go. This only happens when a drain line is blocked. As water enters the blocked pipes, the trapped gases inside the line will be displaced into your home.

Gurgling sounds

Gurgling sounds from a drain are caused by air pockets in the drain system. When you flush water into the drain, this air is squeezed backward until it exits from the drain opening inside the home, causing the gurgling sound you hear. A drainpipe will have pockets of air if it is blocked or clogged.

a man washing his hands.

The conditions inside a drainpipe with buildup provide the perfect mold growth environment.

Invasion by pests

If your home is suddenly invaded by pests, such as rats or roaches, it could be because decaying food inside your pipes attracts them. These pests may not even find a way into your home. If you start seeing many pests in your yard, you likely have a clogged drain.

Mold smell and mold sickness

The conditions inside a drainpipe with buildup provide the perfect mold growth environment. If mold is growing inside your home’s drains, you may notice a musty smell inside the house and an increase in the rate of allergic reactions or respiratory issues among your family members.

Problem with fruit flies

Food debris buildup inside the drainpipes will draw fruit flies into your kitchen. Fruit flies are usually attracted to leftover food on kitchen counters and sinks. If your kitchen is always clean, but fruit flies suddenly appear in your home, they may feed on the food particles inside your drainpipes.

DIY efforts have failed

If you have tried to solve your home’s drain problem using different DIY methods and they have not worked, it is probably because there is a deeper issue with the drains. The best option at the time is to have the drains inspected and cleaned by a professional drain cleaning service.


What should you do next if you are dealing with any of these issues in your home? You should talk to a plumber that specializes in drain cleaning services.