Avoid putting bleach down a kitchen drain to unclog or sanitize it if there is a garbage disposal attached. A garbage disposal can splash bleach back up into your face.
Sound familiar? Water is backing up in a drain or toilet, or pooling around a floor drain. The shower is draining slowly. Your drains make gurgling noises, particularly after you run the washing machine or dishwasher. Yes, it’s time to have your drains cleaned.
It's easy to think that a clog is a simple, one-time thing that will completely go away once you've dealt with it, but clogs are the result of a dirty pipe. Full drain cleaning from a drain cleaning expert cleans the inside of the pipes and keeps clogs from happening.
One of the biggest problems in plumbing has always been that it's hard to see the problems without taking the pipes apart, but technology has changed that. Modern drain cleaning experts have access to video cameras that can snake down your pipe and see exactly what's going on.
If you have been in your home for several years, and you have always heard gurgling sounds in the drains even though they do not seem to be clogged, the problem is not with the drains. Rather, it indicates that there is no, or inadequate, system ventilation.
In an older home, tree roots are usually the main cause of a clogged drain. In newer homes, common causes of clogging include paper towels, feminine hygiene products and certain types of toilet paper.
Cast iron is still used in some modern sanitary waste drain lines. Why? It’s strong, durable, and long lasting. Plus, the heavy material, thick-walled construction, and rubber gaskets that join the pipes help muffle the sound of flowing waste water.
Those drain cleaners found in the cleaning aisle of your local grocery store can actually make their way to the area’s water supply, posing a threat to the environment. Hiring professional drain cleaners is the better option.
Depending on the type of clog that is forming in your drain, there are many different tools available that can unblock it. These include motorized rooters, high-velocity water jets, specialized snake devices, and augers and cutting tools.
While plumbing may seem simple to work on, you might be surprised to know that it's actually quite complicated and unpleasant. Aside from complex connections, a plumber will also have to deal with potentially hazardous wastewater.
If you have multiple stories, knowing which drains are working can help locate the problem. If the upper flows are draining, but the lower are not, the issue is with the pipes on the lower level. However, if these lower-level pipes are clogged, they can back up through the lines to the higher floors.
Have you ever heard the phrase "forewarned is forearmed?" The same goes true with your pipes, which is many drain cleaning experts use video cameras to spot current problems and anything that might be an issue before it develops into a full problem.
