Drain Cleaning for the Main Drain Line

The main drain is often a job for drain cleaning professionals to repair. If you do want to try this on your own, do so with care. The main system and lines are some of the largest but they also collect the most material around the edges of them, which leads to more frequent clogging when they are not receiving regular cleanings. It is possible to clean out and open up these systems, but to do so you will need to know a few helpful tips and methods for doing so.

Unclogging the Main Drains

The main drains in a home are those that run from the home outward. All of the other pipes in the home lead to the main lines. In other words, water runs from your faucet into the sink, down the drains, into a pipe that leads into the main line. When a large clog happens and the initial pipes are not the problem, it could be a clog in the main lines. Drain cleaning by a professional is by far the best way to open this up. If you do wish to do so yourself you should consider the following.

-First, locate the main line's opening, which is usually on the lowest floor of the home. There may be a plug on the floor or a metal top to the opening.

-In some cases, these are in pantries or garages rather than in the open area of the home, especially when there is no basement. Most of the time these are vertical pipes but they can be horizontal in some cases.

-Grab a bucket to place under or at the opening before you open it up since debris and material can be right at that location. Remove the fittings on the plastic or steel cap with a wrench.

-Do not force it to open. In some cases, it can be in very tight due to not being opened often.

-It is possible to use a plumber's snake in this line as long as you do so carefully. Do not allow the edges of the pipe to encounter the snake.

-Insert the auger into the line in both directions since it will be impossible to tell where the problem is. Be thorough about running it.

-Another solution is to use a powerful stream of water from a hose to break open the debris clogging the space. Be careful not to use too much pressure (avoid using pressure washers, for example) due to risk of breaking the line.

-After it is complete, replace the cap properly.

Professional drain cleaning is by far the best solution. It can prevent any problems from occurring. These professionals can also tell you what caused the clog to occur in the first place.