Drain Cleaning Tips & Benefits

Imagine you wake up one morning, stretching and ready for a new day. You step into your bathroom and turn on the water to the shower, wait for it to warm up, go to step in, and step in ankle deep water. You have a clogged shower drain. Drain clogs are something that every homeowner has to handle at some point in the life of your home. Your plumbing system works hard every day and as deposits, hair, and other items build up in your pipes. When your pipes become clogged, it is incredibly important to take care of it quickly or it can lead to expensive plumbing emergencies. However, by having your drains cleaned regularly, you can help avoid major clogs and keep your pipes healthy and clean.

5 Benefits of Drain Cleaning:

1. Fewer Returning Clogs – You can avoid a majority of drain clogs by having your drains cleaned regularly. A professional plumber can help you clean your pipes, remove buildup, and keep your pipes in peak working condition.
   
2. Remove Drain Odors – Organic matter that can get trapped in your pipes. As this matter begins to rot it creates a foul odor and can even lead to drain flies. Regular drain cleaning will help to remove the root cause of smelly drains, leaving your home smelling better and all-around healthier.
   
3. Extend the Life of Your Plumbing – Maintaining your drains and sewer can help to protect your system from early pipe decay. Keeping your system clean helps to prevent expensive repairs or sewer replacement. While not all sewer repairs are invasive, such as epoxy pipe lining, fixing major breaks, leaks, or backups still cost much more than routine maintenance. Keeping up with drain cleaning slows the break down of your drain system.
   
4. Prevent Hard Water Issues – Hard water like we have in north central and central Texas leaves calcium and mineral deposits in your pipes which causes issues like clogs and backups, and can wear on your overall system over time. Keeping drains clean can help reduce these deposits and slow the break down of your pipes caused by hard water.
   
5. Improving Water Flow – When you decrease the amount of debris in your pipes, your water pressure and flow generally improve. Drain cleaning is a fit for improved pressure and flow in showers, sinks, toilets, and any other plumbing in the home.

Regularly cleaning the drains of your home is one way to help protect your plumbing system and avoid extensive damage and expensive repairs in the future.

5 DIY Tips to Help with Common Clogs

Not ready for a professional drain cleaning? Completely understandable! Some clogs are easily taken care of by common tools or household items.

1. Use a Plunger
   A plunger is a tried-and-true tool for clearing clogs. For toilets, it’s all about steady pressure and persistence. For sinks or tubs, use a smaller sink plunger that creates a tighter seal for more effective results.
   
2. Pull Out the Gunk
   Hair, food scraps, and soap buildup can form stubborn clogs over time. Try a plastic drain snake or bend a wire coat hanger into a hook. Push it into the drain, snag the debris, and pull it out.
   
3. Try Baking Soda and Vinegar
   Pour about 1/3 cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by 1/3 cup of vinegar. Let it fizz and sit for 5–15 minutes, then carefully flush with hot water to wash away the loosened debris.
   
4. Use a Plumbing Snake
   For clogs deeper in the line, a plumbing snake is a stronger option. Available at most hardware stores, these flexible wires can reach further than a simple coat hanger, breaking up or pushing through tough blockages. Run water afterward to confirm the drain is clear.
   
5. Harness Gravity with Water Pressure
   For bathtub clogs, try combining the baking soda and vinegar method with the force of water. After pouring the mixture down the drain, seal it with the stopper and let it sit for an hour. Then, fill the tub with hot water. When you release the stopper, the weight of the water can help push the clog free.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid using harsh chemical drain cleaners like Drano. These can damage your pipes, harm the environment, and create bigger plumbing problems down the road.

We don’t recommend using over-the-counter chemical drain cleaning “quick fixes.” These are dangerous to the skin and can corrode or fracture your pipes causing more damage than they’re worth.

If all else fails, call Reliant Plumbing. Whether you need regular maintenance, emergency repairs, or any related plumbing service, we are on stand-by and ready to help at a moment’s notice. Get a free estimate on any drain cleaning or sewer inspection service!