Five Big Myths About Drain Cleaning Services Near You

You likely pay very little attention to the drains in your home until one becomes impacted by a clog and needs to be cleared. Over time, debris can build up in pipes, forming a clog that eventually slows your drain to the point where it drains slowly or not at all. Cleaning a drain is not difficult, but there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding what works, what doesn’t, and what’s safe for your plumbing. Here are five myths about drain cleaning.

#1: Drain Cleaning Products Work As Well As A Professional Cleaning Service

You’ve probably seen the commercials on television for a drain cleaning product designed to eat away at clogs and dislodge them. Seems simple, right? Just pour some of the liquid down the drain, wait a few minutes, and give it a good rinse and you should notice the clog has disappeared. That’s the ideal situation, but unfortunately, it rarely works like that. These cleaners do dissolve some of the clogs but also dissolve anything they come into contact with, including metal pipes. You’re far better off calling a professional who can come in with the proper equipment and snake your drain clean without damaging your precious plumbing.

#2: The Link Among All Drains

In a sense this one is true, but it’s also not true in the way most people think it is. Yes, it’s accurate to say that All your drains through the same sewer system. But they’re also separate from each other in that each has its drain pipe that leads out to the main sewer line. Think of your plumbing like the veins and arteries in your body: a clog in a main artery can cause a backup in a much wider area than in a smaller, less impactful spot. A clog in your bathroom sink is unlikely to impact your dishwasher or washing machine. A clog in your bathroom sink is unlikely to impact your dishwasher or washing machine.

#3: I Can Do My Drain Cleaning Services

As a homeowner, you’re far from short on options when it comes to drain cleaning services near you. You can pick up simple tools like plungers and plumbing augers at your local home improvement store. And, for bigger jobs, you can also rent special equipment designed to go way down your plumbing lines and fix the issue. While just about anyone can fix a backed-up toilet with a plunger, anything beyond that should be left to a professional. This is especially true for any major clearings, such as main sewer lines, or if something awkward or valuable has fallen down the line. By the time you manage to fix the issue, you probably could have hired a professional to do the job with far less damage to your plumbing.

#4: If My Sewer Backs Up Regularly, I Need It Replaced

Sewer lines are extremely important parts of your house, allowing wastewater to flow out to the sewer main where it can be taken away for treatment. However, these lines clog fairly frequently, especially if you have several trees located in the vicinity of the line itself. Tree roots can intrude into even the smallest crack in these pipelines, growing and eventually clogging the line entirely. Sounds like you have to dig up your whole yard to replace a sewer line, right? Not exactly. So long as the sewer pipe itself is still in good shape, you can usually destroy the tree root that’s blocking your pipe and then clean your sewer line to get it flowing smoothly again.

#5: All Plumbers Do Drain Cleaning

Drain cleaning is a fairly common service, but not all plumbers accept those jobs. Some plumbers choose to focus on new system installations, others specifically focus on re-pipe jobs. Some firms only do drain cleaning, particularly because it can be done professionally without a license. However, these unlicensed cleaners are not qualified to do work like replacing a faucet or installing a water heater, so be sure to ask about technician licensing before hiring a plumber to do these larger jobs.

Are your drains running slowly? Call Denver Plumber and HVAC today at 303-622-5526 to schedule drain cleaning services near you! Find us on Google Maps