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Drain Cleaning- When Should You call a Professional?

8/14/2018

37 Comments

 
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There are many reasons a drain can clog, but that doesn't mean you have time to deal with it. A giant wad of toilet paper, a ball of hair, or even a children's toy can be to blame. It's never a fun situation to be in to have your toilet overflow or the sink fill with water that just won't go down. So what do you do?

Here are a few simple tips for unclogging a drain, but remember it's not always easier to "do it yourself".
​
Clogged Kitchen Sink:
Left over food can accumulate on the drain pipe wall which can clog a sink. 
You can try:
  • Running water hot down the drain to help soften and move the clog. 
  • Wait a few minutes and then try using a plunger.
  • Repeat with the hot water. 
    • Be sure to be careful with the hot water!
How can you prevent this from happening?
Always make sure to dispose of oil and grease by letting them solidify and throwing in to the garbage.

Clogged Toilet
There are several reasons why the toilet can clog!
  • Your first method of attack should be the plunger. Try using it to clear the clog.
  • You can also try an inexpensive hand-powered drain auger to help break up or retrieve the item. This can be tricky and can sometimes cause more harm than good. 

How do you prevent it from happening?
Make sure your household is only flushing water and paper that quickly dissolve in water. Items like cotton swabs, dental floss, diaper wipes, and feminine hygiene products do not belong in the toilet. 
Keep your toilets clean to help fresh water flowing freely!

Clogged Drain Pipes
Dirt and gunk can accumulate on the walls of your drain pipes which can reduce water flow.
  • You can start by removing and cleaning the drain stopper. Sometimes hair and other items can get stuck causing a blockage.
  • Use a plunger! Remember to block the overflow drain in the sink or tub.
  • Try removing the drain's elbow joint to clean it out. 
How do you prevent this from happening?
Clean out the drain stoppers regularly to prevent clogs. You can also use a hair strainer/drain cover to prevent items from going down the drain.

These are just a few examples of clogged drains with a few fixes for simple problems. If you find that they  aren't working or it's stressing you out to think about fixing it yourself, give us a call.  After all, that's what we are here for!



37 Comments
Sam Li link
5/7/2019 10:29:58 am

I like your advice about only flushing water and paper that can dissolve with water in order to avoid clogging your drain. I believe that having your drains cleaned by a professional is the best way to keep your plumbing system in check. My brother has a clogged drain on his property, so I'll make sure to help him find a septic service that can take care of his needs.

Reply
Chance Cook link
8/30/2021 08:09:19 am

I'll didn't know that dirt can accumulate in your drain pipes. That just sounds like a disaster. Hopefully, I can avoid this by having it cleaned regularly.

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Kristofer Van Wagner link
10/8/2021 02:02:07 am

The other day I noticed that my drains are starting to smell. I never knew that it is a sign to have the drains cleaned. I will definitely look at hiring an experienced plumber to have my drains cleand to prevent it from clogging.

Reply
Greta James link
10/11/2021 07:39:59 pm

It is good advice to dispose of grease and oil by throwing it in the garbage rather than down the drain. I noticed yesterday that my kitchen drain is moving very slowly and I suspect it has a clog somewhere. I don't have the knowledge or expertise to find it on my own, so I think I should contact a professional in my area who can help me solve the problem quickly and efficiently.

Reply
John Carston link
11/2/2021 09:53:42 pm

I like how you mentioned that it is important to make sure your household is only flushing water to prevent future problems. My uncle mentioned to me last night that he wants to get their drain cleaned due to clogging and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell him that he can consult a trusted drain cleaning service as they can answer all his inquiries.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
11/9/2021 07:18:25 pm

The other day my wife noticed that our drains are clogged and she is looking to have it cleaned. I appreciate that this post mentioned that when looking for drain cleaners, it is important to consider their method and experience. Assuming that I need my drains cleaned, I will keep these tips in mind.

Reply
Mats Wolff link
11/17/2021 11:26:05 am

I like how you mentioned some of the things to know before calling a drain cleaning professional. I just purchase a home and do not want to have drain problems. I need to look for a drain cleaning professional in case I need his services in the future.

Reply
Braden Bills link
12/16/2021 06:40:33 am

My toilet has been getting clogged a lot, and I'm not sure what to do about it. It makes sense that I would want to get a professional to help me out with this. I can see how a proper cleaning out would be important, after all.

Reply
Victoria Addington link
1/5/2022 01:43:28 am

Thank you for explaining that you should ensure that your family is only flushing water and paper that dissolves quickly in water because items like cotton swabs, dental floss, diaper wipes, and feminine hygiene products do not belong in the toilet. That's probably why our toilet is now clogging. I should get assistance from a plumber near our area as soon as possible to do the drain cleaning before it results in major damage.

Reply
Zachary Tomlinson link
1/10/2022 03:47:46 pm

I do agree with what you said that you shouldn't leave clogged drains unattended since they can do severe damage to your plumbing. I have been thinking about owning a home for a while now so I can propose to my girlfriend. I'll keep your suggestions in mind and find a plumber that can fix mine in the future.

Reply
Jeff Carbine link
2/3/2022 03:12:39 am

I appreciate that you explained a colossal wad of toilet paper, a clump of hair, or even a child's toy might be to blame. My best friend is looking for some info, this should help him. I appreciate that you helped me learn more about drain cleaning.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
2/10/2022 10:25:08 pm

Thanks for sharing that when our pipes and drains are slow, it is encouraged that we hire a drain cleaner to have it inspected to ensure that the issue is resolved before it escalates. The other day my wife said that our drains are beginning to slow. I will look at having a plumber hired to have the drains cleaned.

Reply
Leah David link
5/25/2022 07:19:23 am

its really a helpful blog, you are right calling a professional is the right solution to unblock a blocked drain. Thank you!

Reply
Kersin link
6/14/2022 05:52:49 am

Just read your article. You are doing great.

Reply
Eli Richardson link
6/30/2022 10:00:53 am

It's great that you talked about preventing clogged pipes in your plumbing system. We moved into another house last month, and we think something's wrong with its plumbing system since our drains keep getting clogged, so we'll look for a plumber to inspect them and follow your maintenance tips in the future. Thanks for the advice on cleaning our house's drains to prevent major clogs.

Reply
Afton Jackson link
7/5/2022 04:25:14 pm

Oil and grease stains have definitely been bothering us recently, and I wondered if continuing to try our home remedies would work to fix them. Reading what professionals can do to fix this made me realize that our methods might just not be enough anymore with how severe this problem is. I'll take your advice and look for a plumbing service in the area that we can rely on for this.

Reply
Tex Hooper link
7/18/2022 05:50:20 pm

Great tip about using the plunger first. I feel like that is the cheapest option to start with. I need to hire someone to snake out the drains that can't be plunged.

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Mia Evans link
8/2/2022 06:06:47 pm

Thanks for helping me understand that the water flow can be reduced because of dirt and gunk that have accumulated in the walls of the pipes. We might have that kind of issue in our home because we have been here for five years. We've never gotten a cleaning service in that aspect ever since we moved in, so we should invest in plumbing professionals now to get that kind of service to clear the drainage of our home.

Reply
getworldclassservice link
8/5/2022 03:04:16 am

Plumbing brings comfort and beauty into homes and lives. Kitchens and bathrooms not only serve functional purposes; they provide the refuge of comforting meals, soothing baths and restorative relaxation. This is why plumbing is very essential.

Reply
Millie Hue link
8/10/2022 10:26:12 pm

I totally agree when you said that we need to make sure that there are no other items like cotton swabs, dental floss, and more going down the toilet. One of my sons might have accidentally thrown an item there that caused the clogging now. So we need to hire plumbing supply professionals to ensure that the right tools will be used to fix the issues as soon as possible.

Reply
Jonathan link
8/18/2022 08:28:26 pm

Great read! You'd be surprised how many don't know that they can use a plunger for clogged drain pipes. Thanks for taking the time to list all these tips.

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Jessie Holloway link
9/6/2022 02:47:19 pm

Thanks so much for the tips on how to unclog certain drains. My brother has been having issues with his bathroom sink drains and hasn't been able to fix them himself. We've been looking into calling a professional to help him clean out and get the drains functioning properly again.

Reply
Iris Smith link
9/27/2022 07:50:55 pm

I appreciate you mentioning that your drain pipes' walls might collect dirt and sludge, which can lower water flow. My day is ruined by the very sluggish water flow I have. I'll contact the plumbing service to get my system checked and cleaned.

Reply
Iris Smith link
10/5/2022 06:25:08 pm

I really like how you mentioned always making sure to get rid of grease and oil by letting them congeal and putting them in the trash. My drain is clogged and filthy. In order to ensure that the drain is unblocked, I will contact a drain cleaning specialist.

Reply
Septic tank Cleaning link
10/6/2022 10:45:39 pm

I like this site it’s a master piece! Glad I noticed this on google.

Reply
Patrick Waller link
10/12/2022 01:04:34 am

Nice tips! Thanks for this.

Reply
Iris Smith link
10/13/2022 10:12:28 pm

We appreciate your advice to flush only water and papers that quickly dissolve in water in your home. I'm shifting to a new residence. To aid me in installing the plumbing system, I shall seek out a plumbing assistance business.

Reply
Tex Hooper link
10/24/2022 04:13:22 pm

You make a great point about cleaning the drain stoppers. I don't think my tank has been cleaned in 5 years. I'll have to schedule a cleaning.

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Afton Jackson link
11/1/2022 11:17:19 pm

Being mindful of the kind of garbage we send down a kitchen drain is something I appreciate you talking about. This might explain how this happened in the first place, and I really want to avoid something like this coming up in the middle of a large holiday party like the ones we have planned soon. I'll avoid that habit after we call a drain cleaning expert so this doesn't become a problem for us again.

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prideservicestoday link
11/2/2022 02:13:12 am

I agree. It is responsible for bringing clean water into the home and carrying wastewater out. Plumbing is also used for heating and cooling systems, as well as gas lines. Without a properly functioning plumbing system, a home or building would not be able to function properly.

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Olivia Smart link
11/17/2022 11:37:23 am

Thank you for explaining how you can avoid clogged drains by being careful with what you flush down the toilet. I've been having lots of problems with clogged drains this last month. I'll be sure to share this with everyone and see how that may help.

Reply
Burnice Bauch link
12/14/2022 06:55:52 am

Nice Blog!! The content you have shared is very elaborative and informative. Thanks a lot for sharing such a great piece of knowledge with us.

Reply
plumbing service near me link
12/29/2022 04:00:38 am

Nice post keep it up

Reply
Jake Williams link
1/12/2023 02:05:04 am

Excellent explanation on drain cleaning. It's good that you mentioned that regular drain unclogging will prevent serious blockage and costly repairs. This appears to be an essential point to highlight. I'll make arrangements for periodic drain cleaning. Thanks.

Reply
Steve Smith link
1/21/2023 07:42:29 pm

I like how you mentioned that all the grease and oil should be put on the proper waste management to avoid septic problems. My cousin mentioned the other day that he want to have their septic tank cleaned because of the slow flow of water. He asked if I had opinions on the best option to resolve the issue. I love this valuable article, I'll tell him it will be much better if they consult a trusted septic tank cleaning service as they can provide facts on how they operate.

Reply
Burnice Bauch link
1/26/2023 01:48:40 am

Nice Blog!! The content you have shared is very elaborative and informative. Thanks a lot for sharing such a great piece of knowledge with us.

Reply
Tex Hooper link
2/1/2023 05:20:24 pm

I agree that you shouldn't let food accumulate. My house has some serious piping issues. I'll have to consider getting a plumber to do an inspection.

Reply



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    At Tony's Plumbing & Heating, we offer outstanding residential and commercial plumbing and heating services in the East Twin Cities metro. With our blog, we hope to bring you useful tips and tricks for ever day life! 

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