Cleaning your Drain? : Avoid These Common Mistakes

Oftentimes, we try to do everything we can to avoid calling a plumber to save money. When it comes to drain cleaning, many people try and do it themselves. Although it is ALWAYS best to call a professional plumber, if you do decide to clean your own drains in your home, here are some tips of things to avoid:

Mistake #1: Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical cleaners for the drain are hazardous. In addition to being harmful if used incorrectly, chemical drain cleaners simply don’t work and can make more of a mess than they clean up. They also do not remove solid obstructions.

Mistake #2: Using a Garden Hose

Adding water pressure from a hose to flush out the pipes or unclog the drains DOES NOT work. All this does is create a giant headache. You also run the risk of damaging your pipes. It is best to leave your hose where it belongs – outside in the garden.

Mistake #3: Using a Coat Hanger

Just in case you are thinking of using a coat hanger to clean your drain at home, please STOP yourself! This is completely ineffective and you run the risk of getting the coat hanger stuck in the pipe. This will cause even more damage and wind up costing you more money.

Mistake #4: Using Drain Augers

Plumbers use drain augers to unclog drains. This technique should be left to a professional who knows what they are doing. If used incorrectly, a drain auger can easily and quickly damage your pipes. Additionally, it does not work for larger piping.

Mistake #5: Fixing it Yourself

We strongly advise you to not try and disassemble the piping yourself to clean an obstruction. Unless you are a plumber or have experience in plumbing, do not try to do this on your own. You are much more likely to damage your pipes than fix the actual problem.

You can avoid these problems by having your pipes cleaned and inspected on a regular basis, at least once a year, by a plumbing professional. Do your research and find a reliable plumbing company that will be able to perform drain cleaning properly and efficiently without causing any damage.

Arch Plumbing is located in St Charles, Missouri and has been in the service business since 2008 providing quality plumbing services.