Common Drain Cleaning Methods Everyone Should Know About
The uncelebrated plumbing hero is the drain system until something goes wrong. Once a drain clog forms, everyone becomes starkly aware of its importance.
Dealing with clogged drains is something that everyone should know how to do, but there is a lot of conflicting information about how it should be done. This article is a quick guide from local drain cleaning professionals for those unfamiliar with plumbing and drains.
DIY Drain Cleaning Methods 
Drain Cleaning Dos
- Do use hair catchers to keep hair out of drains
- Do keep plungers handy for toilet clogs
- Do maintain drains with baking soda and vinegar
- Do use approved manual pipe snakes to remove clogs in sinks and tubs.
Drain Cleaning Don’ts
- Don’t use hangers or other makeshift pipe snakes.
- Don’t use dangerous chemicals or “plumbers in a can.”
- Don’t do anything doubtful – stick to what is known.
Drain Snakes and Rooters
Once the homeowners' attempts are exhausted, it's time to call in the big guns. Even with good drain practices, clogs that need professional attention are common. The first tools that a plumber will use to deal with stubborn clogs are drain snakes and augers. These devices are long flexible devices that are inserted into clogged pipes. They can be rotated manually or by powerful motors to chew up stubborn clogs.
Drain augers and snakes come in various sizes depending on the size of the clogged pipe. Handheld devices are used in residential sinks and tubs to remove nasty wads of hair. If clogs are located in sewer lines, larger rotors are used to chew up clogs of waste, toilet paper, or tree roots that have blocked the sewer line.
How Does Hydrojetting Work?
In some cases, DIY solutions and drain augers don’t work. The failsafe tool in a plumber’s tool bag is called hydro jetting. Hydro jetting is a unique tool that uses highly pressurized water to remove buildup from the inside of pipes and stubborn clogs. During hydro jetting, a high-pressure hose is inserted into the clogged line.
High-pressure water sprays out through the end of the hose in the forward direction, cutting through tough clogs. Water is also poured in a ring to remove gunk from the pipe's interior walls. The result is a sewer line as clean as the day it was installed.
Hydro jetting is very effective at removing most types of clogs. In the case of tree roots, a drain auger may be better. However, hydro jetting is prized as a preventative solution. Since the inside walls of a pipe are washed, hydro jetting can be done on a scheduled basis to prevent clogs from ever forming.
About Green Hills Plumbing
Drain cleaning is one of the service specialties of Green Hills Plumbing. They provide their neighbors in the Nashville area with upfront pricing, 24/7 emergency service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call them today for drain cleaning services in Madison, TN.
