Keeping the drains in your home clean means knowing what NOT to do. Here are common drain cleaning mistakes and how to avoid them.
In 2019, plumbing system repairs were the most common repairs done by homeowners.
Plumbing problems (especially blocked drains) can happen in any part of the home. The signs that a drain is blocked are not hard to spot. Overflowing water and even a foul smell coming from the drain is a sure sign that there is a blockage somewhere in the line.
A blocked drain is something that you cannot ignore. While you do need to take action quickly, there are certain drain cleaning mistakes that you should avoid when trying to unclog a drain.
Here are six!
1. Chemical Meltdown
When you have a blocked drain, one of the first solutions you may think of is to get chemicals to clear it. There are a lot of drain cleaning chemicals on the market and many make huge promises.
However, they often don’t live up to their promises. Depending on the kind of blockage you have, they may only worsen the problem and deepen your frustration.
If you have solids blocking a drain, it’s unlikely that chemicals will be able to clean it effectively. If the chemical is harsh but still cannot dissolve the blockage, then you are stuck with the blockage plus the chemicals inside the drain. Drain cleaning chemicals are toxic and can end up doing more harm than good.
2. Incorrect Plunging
One of the first drain cleaning tools you will probably reach for when you have a blockage is a plunger. There are several different plungers out there and they’re all made for separate kinds of drains. To get the job done, you need to choose the right plunger for the job.
Sink plungers will have a bell-shaped bottom. Toilet plungers, on the other hand, will have a flat bottom. However, even if you do have the right plunger, you need to make sure that you’re using it correctly.
Place it over the drain and completely seal it off. Push the plunger slowly and precisely, up and down. If you plunge too fast, you may push some of the matter that’s blocking the drain too far down.
Take your time when plunging. It’s understandable that you want to unblock the drain quickly, but plunging too fast can make matters worse.
3. Poking Into the Drain
After you’ve tried chemicals and even a plunger without much result, you may decide to get creative. But doing this while trying to unblock a drain can go badly.
For example, many people will try to dislodge the blockage by unbending a hanger and sticking it down the drain, but poking at the blockage is never a good idea.
Also, don’t try to use a stick to poke down the drain. It may break, leaving you with bigger problems. More often than not, once a plunger has failed to unblock the drain, poking something down may shove the matter causing the blockage to go further down the drain.
Sticking things down the drain can also put dents and holes into your drain pipe, which could leave you with a costly plumbing bill.
4. Garden Hosing
When you have a blocked drain outside, you may be tempted to grab your hose and start applying some pressure to try to unblock the drain.
Hydro jetting a blocked drain should be done with equipment that is designed for this purpose.
A garden hose is not the ideal equipment for trying to unblock a drain. The pressure from it will probably not be heavy enough to unblock the drain. This is especially true if the drain is outside and has been blocked by tree roots or even small animals.
Attempting to DIY hydro-jetting can cause flooding which will only make matters worse. It may also cause damage to the pipes.
5. Incorrect Use of a Drain Snake
A mechanical snake is a great way to unclog a drain. However, it should not be abused.
Do not force the drain snake around pipe corners that are hard to navigate. Using a drain snake too frequently and incorrectly can damage pipes leading to expensive repairs.
6. Avoiding the Plumber
DIY projects are to be celebrated. We understand that some homeowners would prefer to do repairs themselves to save some money . But there are certain instances where it’s just more cost-effective to call in a professional to deal with the problem.
If you’ve tried everything to unclog your drain and nothing is working, then there’s no need to go any further. It’s time to call a plumber!
Avoid These Drain Cleaning Mistakes
When you have a clogged drain, it can be easy to panic and make drain cleaning mistakes. As you can see, making the wrong choice when trying to clean your drain can have some damaging effects.
It’s not that you shouldn’t try to clean the drain yourself. However, once you realize that all your efforts are failing to get results, it’s best to stop what you’re doing and get help from your nearest plumber. The last thing you want is to damage your drainage system.
Need a plumber in Omaha, NE? Call our team of professionals at (402) 731-2727.