As a new homeowner, I can tell you that things aren't always as simple as they appear. I started thinking about it a few years ago, and I realized that there were some serious problems with our plumbing system. We had issues with drains working correctly and toilets flushing like they should, so I started focusing more heavily on understanding the basics of our plumbing system. Within a few short months the entire system was operating more fluidly because of a few changes that I made, so I wanted to create a blog all about my journey. Check out these articles to learn more about the plumbing basics.
Understanding Plumbing Basics
What To Know About These Three Drain Cleaning Methods
Jorge Alexander
Have a clogged drain that needs to be fixed? It is important to know what your options are so that you can have the best chances of clearing that clog.
Liquid Drain Cleaners
A liquid drain cleaner will be good at dissolving what is stuck in your pipe. This can be a good solution if you know the clog is just toilet paper and it needs some help breaking down. However, these cleaners can be dangerous if there is a clog that it cannot dissolve. The drain cleaner will be stuck in the pipe behind the clog, which can eat away at the pipe itself. You are better off avoiding liquid drain cleaners all together because of this.
Sewer Snaking
Many people are familiar with a sewer snake, which is essentially a spinning blade on the end of a cable that will cut through whatever clog is in its path. This method works best for small clogs since there is only so much that the spinning blade can do. The goal should be to break the item up into smaller pieces so that it can be removed or chop it up so that it is small enough to continue down the sewers.
A sewer snake works great on clogs in a sewer line caused by tree roots or when someone puts too much toilet paper into the toilet. However, it is going to be ineffective against any large objects that were accidentally flushed and need to be retrieved with specialized tools. There are hand sewer snakes that you can purchase at your home improvement store for clogs that are within your home, but you'll need to hire a professional when you have a clog that is deep within the sewer line under your backyard.
Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting is unique due to how it uses water to clean out the inside of your pipes. It requires a plumber due to the specialized equipment and knowing how to use it, but it can be a very effective way to clear a clog. Hydro jetting essentially washes the inside of the pipe as if you used a power washer inside of it. While a sewer snake just cuts the debris in the blade's path, hydro jetting can actually remove grease stuck to the inside of a pipe which is making the path smaller for water to flow through. Unfortunately, hydro jetting is mainly for your main sewer pipe and not the plumbing inside your house.
To learn more about drain cleaning, speak to a professional from a company like Roto Rooter Sewer & Drain Service that provides this service.
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