Drain Cleaning Techniques That Might Not Always Work

Clogged drains are a great bother. Unfortunately, many people try to clean the blockages via incorrect methods. Sometimes you may be lucky enough to clear drain clogs with lots of fumbling and fiddling, but that doesn't mean the methods will always work. Below are some of the common drain-cleaning methods that you cannot rely on.

Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners work by breaking up debris into small pieces that can easily flush down the drain. For example, if you have food remains in your drain pipes, chemical drain cleaners can soften the food remains so they can flush down the drain with additional water.

However, the chemicals don't work on solid or hard objects, so you can't rely on them at all times. For example, if a child pushes a small plastic toy down the drain, no amount of chemical drain cleaners can soften the toy enough to unclog the blockage.

Using Improvised Drain Snakes

You might be tempted to insert a small object into your drain openings to try and pull out the offending clog. Some people grab hangers, wires, and even sticks to try to catch and pull out drain clogs. Unfortunately, it is difficult to grab drain clogs with such improvised clogs, and you can even end up pushing the debris further down the drain and make it more difficult to remove.

Pushing Clogs Down

Another tempting drain-unclogging technique is to push things down the drain with the hope that they will flow out of the house along with the water. Unfortunately, this is the worst mistake you can make with your drains because the distance from drain openings and main sewer or septic lines outside the house tend to be extremely lengthy. There is no DIY material that can push debris all the way out, so what you will be doing is merely complicating the unclogging job for the next person who will try it.

Using a Garden Hose

Lastly, some people also run to their garden hoses when faced with clogged drains. Their rationale is that they can use the force of the water to flush the drains and get rid of the debris. Unfortunately, this might not work because the garden hose doesn't always have great pressure. In fact, you might only succeed in flooding your house with water.

Drain unclogging is a science that requires the right tools and skills. Consult a professional residential plumber for help if you are unsure of the right way to unclog your blocked drains.