Few plumbing problems are more persistent, common, and aggravating than a clogged or slow drain. Everyone has dealt with this hassle at one time or another. When you’ve got a clogged drain, you’ll want it solved as fast as you can, and that might lead you to make some major mistakes.
Drain cleaning is an plumbing service in Marlborough, MA that we offer, and we want to provide you with some important information about it when it comes to getting rid of clogged drains. The next time you’ve got an obstinate clogged drain slowing down your day, you’ll have a better idea of what to do thanks to this info.
You Have Options to Tackle the Clog on Your Own
There are two helpful tools to have in your home that can help you take immediate action against the more basic clogs: plungers and drain augers. You can purchase them at many stores or online.
- Plungers: You’re familiar with this tool—you probably already have one. There are two different kinds. The standard sink plunger and the toilet plunger. The toilet plunger has flanges on the end so it better fits the shape of the bowl to create a seal. We recommend you have both types available in your home. When you’ve got a clogged drain or toilet, use the plunger to apply bursts of pressure. If the plunger does clear the drain, the clog was probably a simple one and unlikely to come back.
- Drain augers: This covers a range or tools you can slide down into a drain to break up clogs or pull them out. The simplest augers are plastic strips with hooks that can draw hair out of a drain. More complicated ones are metal coils with handcranks that spin around to break apart obstructions. You can sometimes clear out tough clogs with an auger, but they can leave behind parts of the clog afterwards.
Watch Out for Other “Remedies”!
Don’t attempt any other DIY methods beyond plungers and augers, which are safe for your drains. You might be tempted to try something like pushing a bent coat hanger down the drain, but this is rarely effective and can scratch the drain.
Worse are the chemical drain-cleaners you can buy in stores. These caustic chemicals are terrible for drainpipe materials, often leading to corrosion. They’re highly toxic as well and can harm your eyes and skin. They aren’t very effective either, only clearing a small passage through a clog and leaving most of the material behind so the clog can rapidly reform. No plumber recommends using chemical drain cleaners.
Calling on the Professionals
If you have a stubborn drain clog you can’t remove with safe methods, the best next step is to call on our professionals. We can truly clean your drains, removing the obstruction and getting the drainpipe back in top condition so it’s difficult for clogs to come back. We use professional-grade equipment to do these jobs that you can’t use on your own, such as motorized augers and powerful hydro-jetting equipment.
Schedule an appointment today with Landry Mechanical Inc Plumbing HVAC & Electric. We’ll take good care of you.