Keeping a drain clean shouldn’t feel like a major chore. You would be hard-pressed to find a homeowner, or even a renter for that matter, that hasn’t dealt with a clogged, stinking or otherwise problematic drain. There are probably a lot of drain cleaning concepts you’re familiar with that are actually myths muddying up the waters too.
Use this guide to separate drain cleaning myths from actual fact. Doing so can help you keep your drains at home in tip-top shape all year long.
You Don’t Need to Worry About a Slow Drain
Wouldn’t it be nice if this one were true? While a drain that’s not emptying very quickly may not pose any significant problems today, leaving it like that for too long can cause some serious issues down the road.
Deal with a slow drain while that drain is still functional and useable. Doing that will help you save a lot of time and prevent a messy, more expensive cleaning process later. Remember that problems you don’t address today will only be worse tomorrow!
Cleaning a Drain is Easy
Clearing a partially clogged drain with a plunger or a snake is something a lot of savvy people can handle on their own. In the case of minor clogs, you may even be able to completely fix the problem. More difficult clogs are not nearly as simple of a prospect though.
The truth is that drain cleaning, especially when you’re dealing with a severely backed up drain, is anything but simple. In fact, a lot of the remedies that non-professionals might try, like chemical cleaning solutions or a poorly-handled auger, can actually damage your pipes.
Unclogging a drain isn’t a simple thing to do as much as we’d all like it to be.
Chemical Cleaners Always Work
We’ve all been there – you’ve got a clogged drain and you’re willing to pour any noxious chemical into it to get the thing unclogged. The problem is that chemical cleaners don’t always work, and in some cases, those harmful chemicals can do some serious damage to your drain, pipes and even your toilet and sink basins.
That is not to mention the threat these dangerous chemicals pose to your health. Do you really want to be handling that stuff if it’s not a guaranteed fix? Unfortunately, no chemical cleaner is foolproof even if they do the job some of the time.
You Don’t Need to Hire Professionals
Defeating drain blockages is not always an easy task. Take on a tough drain yourself with the wrong chemicals or tools and you could wreak havoc on your plumbing, or, arguably as bad, you could spend days trying to unclog the drain on your own when a professional could have done it in an afternoon.
You most likely don’t do all of your own auto repairs or handle all of your medical needs. Then why assume you can tackle all of your plumbing issues? You need professionals when you’re dealing with a severely clogged drain. In the end, paying them what they’re worth is almost always a bargain compared to the headaches and frustration of a do-it-yourself job gone wrong.
Don’t let a backed up drain ruin your day. Take these drain cleaning myths into account the next time you’re thinking about taking on a DIY project. Sometimes calling a pro is simply the best option.