ARTICLES
CLOGGED SINKS: DRAIN SNAKE VS. HOME REMEDIES
SEP 26, 2017
When it comes to clogged sinks, it seems like the plethora of home remedies to fix the problem is even more numerous than all of the stuff that causes clogged sinks in the first place: hair, grease, food particles, etc. And while some of the home remedies can be particularly effective for clogged sinks, sometimes they do more harm than good. Professional plumbers should have the right tools, knowledge and experience to fix your clogged sinks thoroughly and quickly. So, in addition to tricks for regular maintenance to avoid clogged drains, let’s discuss reasons why a plumber should be hired to use a drain snake to clear a clogged drain and when it is an okay idea to try one of the various home remedies that are out there.
CLOGGED SINKS: WHAT TO DO
When to DEFINITELY call a professional
To start off, let’s be very clear that if you have any indication that you main sewer line is clogged, call a professional plumber for an assessment right away. Whether a professional drain snake or another fix is in order, you do not want to handle this issue on your own and only a professional will be able to make the right call for how to approach the issue. In addition to the symptoms typical of clogged sinks, if you notice toilets acting up or water backing into sinks, toilets or other drains making odd gurgling noises or other sounds similar to coffee percolating, it is not just an issue of clogged sinks — you may have a clogged main sewer line.
HOME DIY TIPS FOR CLOGGED SINKS
Avoid harmful chemicals: While there is a number of products marketed to handle clogged sinks, many of them contain harmful chemicals that can damage your pipes. Before using any product that you are not familiar with, be sure to research whether or not the ingredients are okay for use on your pipes.
Plunger: You have more than likely used a plunger to remove clogs from your toilets. A surprising number of people forget that the same tool can be used to vacuum out clogged sinks.
PROFESSIONAL DRAIN SNAKE
If you have tried the above home remedies for clogged sinks to no avail, or find that the clog keeps recurring, it may well be time to call in a professional to see if a drain snake is in order or if there is a more serious clog that requires even more aggressive treatment. The advantage of having a professional use a drain snake (AKA auger) on your clogged drain is threefold:
1) You can rest assured that the clogged drain will be thoroughly taken care of, rather than just breaking up the clog and moving it further down the line to create a bigger problem later.
2) Tough clogs in some places in your sewer line can require a large drain snake, which can be rather expensive for a typical homeowner to invest in considering how infrequently they would use it.
3) Clearing a clogged drain can be unpleasant business — just think of all of the things that make up a clog (hair, grease, old food, etc.) and many of them can be difficult to get to if you need to access a cleanout under the house or somewhere similar. An experienced plumber will not hesitate to go where civilians would rather not to get the job done.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY WITH false
Whether it is clogged sinks that need to be cleared once and for all or a more serious issue like a clogged main line, the plumbers at false are ready, willing and able to fulfill every plumbing need. With all of our work guaranteed, same day service available and decades of experience in the Valley, when it comes to clogged sinks, we have seen and solved it all.
To find out if you could benefit from a professional drain snake or any other plumbing-related service, call us today. We look forward to hearing from you!