Drain Cleaning: Do You Need a Home Remedy or a Professional Plumber?

Whether you live in a new home or one that is 100 years old, problems with clogged or slow pipes can be a nuisance. Routine drain cleaning can help to solve, or even eliminate the problem of backed up drains and clogged sinks or toilets. In a perfect world, clear liquids would be all that entered the pipes in your home. However, organic matter, soaps, hair, food and oils all make their way into the pipes and eventually build up enough to cause a clog.

There are a few ways to effectively prevent clogs and slow drains. Obviously, limiting the amount of clogging matter that gets into the pipes is a start. Consider installing drain covers in your sinks and tubs– these will prevent a large percentage of hair and food from entering your pipes. A drain cover is especially important in the kitchen, where food can get into the sink easily. Drain covers can be purchased at most home improvement or hardware stores.

Another way to effectively prevent pipe problems is to do a little preventative maintenance. You can make your own drain cleaning products from common household ingredients and prevent a larger clog from forming. Mix 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of salt and ¼ cup of cream of tartar in a sealable container. Pour ¼ cup of this mixture into the drain, then follow it with 2 cups of boiling water. This will help to clean your pipes. Alternatively, you can pour the dry mixture in the drain and then add 1 cup of vinegar mixed with 1 cup of boiling water. The chemical reaction will help to break up small problems that may be lingering. If you do use the vinegar solution, flush your pipes with hot water after allowing the solution to work for 10-15 minutes.

Sometimes clogs are more than you can handle on your own. While commercial drain cleaning products do exist, even they may not work on every problem. If you have tried the homemade remedy or a commercial product and you still have issues, you should probably contact a professional plumber. It is not a good idea to re-try the commercial product since these formulas contain caustic chemicals. A professional plumber will have the tools necessary to quickly diagnose and remedy the situation you are facing.

Since standing water and clogged drains can rarely wait for a scheduled visit, many plumbers are willing to come to your home at any time. They are used to being called in emergencies and know exactly how to respond to your specific needs. Except for during natural disasters or other unplanned events, most plumbers can be at your home in just a few minutes. Oh, and don’t worry – they are used to seeing all kinds of problems and yours will not be any different from what they normally deal with on a daily basis. Make sure you communicate what you have already tried in your efforts to remedy the situation, and ask for his recommendations to keep your specific pipes clog free in the future.