Important Points to know about Drain Cleaning

Drain Cleaning is a process of cleaning the clogged drains in sewer pipes using some chemical. Drain cleaner is the professional individual who employs the chemical drain cleaners or devices to perform the activity. Clogging or blocking can take place anywhere in sink, toilet, tub or shower. If those are soft obstructions like grease clogs or hair, they can be removed through chemical drain cleaners, air burst drain cleaners, plungers, handheld drain augers or home remedies easily. However, if clogging is on more than one plumbing fixtures, then drain cleaners use electric drain cleaner or sewer jetter toremove the hard obstructions connecting via main sewer drain.

Importance of drain cleaning

Drain cleaning eliminates additional dirty water and maintains a refreshing and hygienic home. Many people consider it to be a DIY job however; some hate it as they consider drainage system and sanitation a dirty job. Many drain cleaning powders, liquid drain cleaners are available in market that arepowerful enough to prevent cropping up of any stinking smell or germs. These are not only safe for the kids but other family members too who have low immunity.

Different types of chemicals used as drain cleaners

Chemical Drain Cleaners: These are solid or liquid forms that can be bought through licensed plumbers or hardware stores.

·         Alkaline Drain Cleaners are usually in solid and liquid states and contain sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. Clogs which are usually composed of oils, fats or hair are broken down via saponification reaction. 

·         Acidic Drain cleaners are available in liquid form only and contain high concentration of sulphuric acid. They easily dissolve proteins like fats and hairs and cellulose by acid hydrolysis. 

DIY Drain cleaning:

A mixture of ½ cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and ½ cup vinegar (mild acetic acid) should be poured into the drain after eliminating out excessive water with sponge from the sink. After the fizzing reaction is over, put boiling water into drain and the debris will be flushed out. Stay careful if you are planning to disassemble the drain trap as the trap constitutes of chemicals and the hot water.

Advantages of DIY drain cleaning:

The drain cleaning process becomes easy. They are readily available in retailer stores and can remove soft hair and greasy clogs at drain openings without employing any additional effort. The drain cleaners are economical in price too.

Disadvantages of DIY drain cleaning:

·         Some chemical drain cleaners are ineffective in dissolving solid obstructions. Dangers can arise as they can cause injury to eyes, lungs or skin.

·         They can damage cloths too.

·         Damage to household materials like wood, paint, fiberglass and aluminum can also take place.

·         Strong corrosive and acid drain cleaners can be most hazardous and can cause strong reactions. They may be explosive too.

·         Never mix two drain cleaners together as they can explode pipes violently.

Time to call the professional drain cleaners: In case, nothing works for clogging, call a professional drain cleaner and they will use any of their professional devices like handheld drain augers, hydro mechanical drain cleaners, electric drain cleaners, sewer jetters, air burst drain cleaners or enzymatic drain cleaners and will flush out the clogs.