A healthy plumbing system is essential for the well-being of your household. Unfortunately, drains can get clogged with hair, grease, and other debris over time. Additionally, materials can build up inside your drainage pipes, leading to further problems. This piece will cover the differences between drain clearing and drain cleaning, additional issues that can occur, and techniques to fix them.
Drain Clearing Explained
Drain clearing is when any obstructions are removed from the inside of a drain. These can be obstructions near the drain opening or much further inside of the pipe. The obstructions can be minor clogs with partial drainage still possible or complete drain blockages.
Problems Leaving Uncleared Drains
Whether you have a completely blocked drain or only a partial blockage, several problems can occur when you delay getting it cleared. Some of these problems are:
Unpleasant Odors
When drains are clogged, it often involves organic matter. This organic matter can release an unpleasant odor into your home, especially as it decomposes. If the drain is left uncleared and the clog grows, the smell can become even worse.
Slower Drainage
Massive clogs can completely block a drain. However, even minor clogs can slow the drainage of water. The worse the clog is, the slower the draining. Eventually, this can lead to standing water in showers, bathtubs, and sinks.
Water Damage
When blockages are ignored and become worse, water can then back up and eventually overflow. This can cause water damage to your floors, walls, and nearby furnishings.
Increased Repair Costs
Even if a clog is minor, it shouldn’t be ignored. Failing to clear a minor clog can lead to a larger blockage that can cause damage to drainage pipes. Not only can this increase the cost of clearing the drain, but it can be quite expensive if a pipe needs to be replaced due to neglecting proper drain clearing.
Different Drain Clearing Techniques
Depending on the severity of the clog, the drain type, and the clog location, various techniques may be required. These are some common techniques to clear a clogged drain:
Plunging
Plungers can be used to help minor clogs in your drains. It uses suction to push and pull the clogged debris until it dislodges. Certain plunger types can work better depending on the drain type you are clearing.
Chemical Drain Cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners come in gel and liquid forms. These dissolve material that is stuck inside your drains, unclogging it. However, these should be used with caution. The chemicals can be harsh on your plumbing system, especially after repeated use.
Hydro-Jetting
Hydro-jetting involves using high-pressure jets of water to help blast any debris away inside your pipes. This type of drain clearing can be extremely effective against particularly stubborn clogs resistant to other methods. It can also help clean the pipes.
Drain Snake
Drain snakes are flexible tools that get pushed into the drain to help break any clog and remove the blockage. They have different sizes and lengths, depending on your needs. There are also more advanced types of snakes and augers commonly used by plumbers.
Drain Cleaning Explained
Drain cleaning isn’t just about removing blockages, but about removing any material buildup on the inside surface of your drainage pipes. Drain cleaning is typically more thorough than drain clearing. Drain cleaning protects the pipes from potential damage and reduces the chance of clogs by helping the drainage system to function better.
Problems Leaving Uncleaned Drains
Many issues that arise from an unclear drain can also happen to an unclean drain. Some overlapping issues are unpleasant odors, reduced drainage, and increased repair costs. Additionally, neglecting drains that need cleaning can lead to:
Recurring Blockages
When drain cleaning is neglected, unwanted material will continue to accumulate on the inside surface of your pipes. As this builds up, it increases the chance of a blockage occurring. Over time, recurring blockages can be a frustrating issue and are likely to become more severe.
Corrosion and Pipe Damage
The debris that accumulates inside of the pipe can start to corrode the pipe and damage it. This can lead to a leak. The leaking pipe can be expensive to repair in addition to any water damage caused by the leak.
Different Drain Cleaning Techniques
Some clearing techniques can also help clean a drain. However, when more thorough cleaning is necessary, some additional techniques may help:
Biological Cleaners
Biological cleaners use natural bacteria or enzymes that help break down any organic material that has built up in your pipes. They work similarly to chemical cleaners. However, unlike synthetic chemicals, these won’t cause damage to your pipes, even if repeated use is necessary.
Descaling Solution
Descaling involves the removal of any mineral deposits that accumulate in your drainage pipes. These deposits are common in homes that have hard water. Removing these mineral deposits can bring the pipe’s interior back to its original diameter, helping the drainage flow.
Power Rodding
Power rodding involves the use of a flexible rod that has rotating blades. Power rodding scrapes the buildup on the interior of the pipe. It is especially useful on older pipes that have a significant buildup of material. It can work on mineral deposits, hardening grease, and more.
Taking Preventative Measures
An essential part of keeping your drains clean and clear of clogs is to prevent them in the first place. Some ways to help prevent these issues are:
Avoid Pouring Grease
To protect your drainage pipes, you must avoid pouring grease down your drain. Any grease poured can solidify and lead to a blockage. Instead of pouring grease into the drain, you should pour it into a non-plastic container like an old metal coffee can with a lid. This container can be kept in your freezer to solidify it. More can be added to it later. When the can is full, ensure that it is sealed tightly and throw it in the trash.
Run Hot Water
It’s also a good idea to run hot water down your drains occasionally. Hot water can help loosen and dissolve any grease or other materials that have already accumulated in your pipes.
Use a Drain Screen
You can use a simple drain screen in your sinks or the drain for your shower and bathtubs. Using a drain screen will help catch many of the materials that you don’t want going down your drains like food particles, hair, and other unwanted debris. Just ensure you throw any blocked debris in the trash and keep your drain screen clean.
Importance of Professional Services
Although DIY techniques may be effective for some minor clogs in your plumbing system, a professional plumber is essential for a thorough job. Plumbers have the equipment and expertise to properly unclog your pipes without causing damage. They can also perform thorough drain cleaning to help prevent further issues.
Do you live in Tulsa, OK or the surrounding areas and need professional drain clearing or cleaning services? Half Moon Plumbing is happy to help you out. Some of our extensive plumbing services include plumbing repair, camera inspection, leak detection, and line replacement. We can also help with gas leak repair, water heaters, water treatment, and more. If you need help with your drains or want more details about our other household plumbing services, contact Half Moon Plumbing today!
