One of the biggest mistakes that many homeowners make is trying to clear slow drains on their own without proper training or tools. You might think that it's easy to handle your own drain cleaning needs, but the fact is that there is a lot more to the process than you might think. There are a few key reasons why you should not try to clean your drains yourself, especially if you have slow-flowing drains that indicate a clog.

Many Home Remedies Are Ineffective

There are many different home remedies for clearing drains, but those remedies are often less effective than you might expect. Baking soda and vinegar, for example, might address a small buildup of residue at the drain, but it will do little for the rest of the pipe. Hot water flushes will melt some grease accumulation, but that grease will solidify further down the pipes, creating the same problem again, just in a different location.

You May Have Multiple Problems

It's easy to assume that when your drains are flowing slowly, the problem is a single blockage. You might take a drain snake to the line to try to clear it. Sometimes this resolves the immediate problem, but it doesn't address all of the problems. In many instances, when you have a blockage in one area of your drain line, there is often another one further down that, if left unaddressed, can worsen and cause backups. When you trust the task to a drain cleaning contractor, he or she can assess the lines and ensure that everything is flowing properly and free of obstructions.

You Could Damage Your Pipes

While you might not set out to create more problems with your drain lines, trying to clear a blockage without proper training could actually cause more damage to the pipes than you started with. For example, some of the retail drain cleaning products contain corrosive chemicals that can actually eat away at the inner lining of your drain pipes. This may cause the pipes to crack and fail, which creates a far more costly and damaging situation. Your drain cleaning contractor can handle the task safely and without jeopardizing the structural integrity of your pipes.

As you can see, it's in your best interest to avoid trying to clear your blocked drain line yourself. Talk with a local plumbing contractor today for more advice and to schedule a drain cleaning service.

Share