Drain Cleaning Tips & Benefits

Drain clogs are something that every house or business has to handle at some point in the life of the building, especially if the building is commercial. 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 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.

plumber replacing wax ring on toilet drain.

5 Benefits of Drain Cleaning:

  • Less 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.
  • Remove Drain Odors – Regular drain cleaning will help to remove 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.
  • Extend the Life of Your Plumbing – Regular drain cleanings can help to protect your system from early pipe decay. Keeping your system clean helps to prevent expensive repairs from wear and tear.
  • Prevent Hard Water Issues – Hard water leaves deposits in your pipes. Drain cleaning can help remove these deposits and ensure that your water pressure is normal. Plus this can extend the life of appliances such as your water heater and water softener.
  • 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 better water flow in showers, sinks, toilets, and any other plumbing in the home. Water softeners and water filtration devices remove hard water and other debris.

Regular drain cleaning of your home’s drains is one way to help protect your plumbing system and avoid damages and expensive repairs in the future. Contact the friendly and professional team at Reliant Plumbing and we will schedule a time to inspect your drains, clean them thoroughly, and help you ensure that your home’s plumbing is in the best possible shape.

plumber in a residential home interacting with young son sitting at the sink learning about plumbing fictures

5 Tips to Help with Common Clogs

There is often more to a clogged drain than meets the eye. To clear a clogged drain, in the sink or the bathtub, sometimes it’s just a matter of moving the clog further through the pipe to the sewer line. You’ll want some rubber gloves.

  1. Use A Plunger – A plunger is a basic tool used for generations that needs only a strong effort and the ability to withstand any foul smells. To clear a toilet, it’s all about pushing through the clog. For sinks and tubs, try a sink plunger for a tighter fit and more effective clog removal.
  2. Pull Out The Gunk – Rotting debris, i.e. food or hair, mixed with leftover liquids, i.e. saliva or personal cleaning products, can build up a nasty blockage in a sink. It’s usually a clog you notice after it builds up over time, slowing the water drainage more each day until nothing washes down the drain. Try a store-purchased plastic plumbing snake or a wire coat hanger with one end bent like a hook. Push the appropriate end down the drain into the clog and pull out the mess.
  3. Add Baking Soda and Vinegar to the Drain – Our elders have always been wise. A common recipe made popular uses 1/3-cup baking soda and 1/3-cup vinegar. Apply Baking soda to the drain and then pour the vinegar down the drain. Let this work for 5 – 15 minutes, then send hot water down the drain (WARNING: Be extremely careful with hot water).
  4. Grab A Snake – Not a real snake, but a plumber’s tool made of a strong, flexible wire! Plumbing snakes come in various lengths of a few feet up to hundreds of feet rolled into a dispensing drum. A shorter snake is available at any hardware store. Grab the snake when the clog just won’t budge, or it is further down the pipe beyond the reach of a wire hanger or plastic hair plug remover. Just force the snake into the drain to push or break up the clog. Run some water to make sure the pipe is clear.
  5. Gravity and Household Chemicals – Here’s a quick and simple bathtub drain clearing hack. Follow the baking soda and vinegar mixture above, pour it into the bathtub drain, seal the opening with the drain plug/stopper and let it sit for an hour. Now, without removing the drain plug, turn on the hot water and fill the bathtub. You have created a power pressure tool in your bathtub with gallons of water and all its weight ready to rush down the pipe. After an hour, pull the plug in the drain. The household chemicals should have loosened the clog enough for the water pressure to flush it free in the pipe. If not, don’t give up. Grab the plunger or the snake and get to work.

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. The above remedies and your own muscle power can produce results. With any clogged drain, sometimes the strength of a friend or neighbor may be enough to unseat the clog and save the day.

Reliant Plumbing CEO Max hicks standing in front of 3 reliant vans in yellow. His arm is resting on a hydro jetter and next to that is a plumbing camera designed to go into pipes.

If all else fails, call Reliant Plumbing. Whether you need regular maintenance, emergency repairs, or any related plumbing service, our professional plumbing company is on stand-by and ready to help at a moment’s notice. Your residential plumbing or commercial plumbing deserve quality service from a local plumbing company.