Clogged Drains? Don’t Panic! Here’s What To Do – And What NOT To Do!

It never fails. It’s the height of the holiday season. Your schedule is packed. There are parties to get ready for, house guests to care for, and gifts to wrap. That’s when the kitchen sink will clog up, the toilet will overflow, or the laundry room will deliver a surprise flood of soapy bubbles.

Don’t panic! A clogged drain is messy and inconvenient, but it can generally be fixed quickly and easily, without putting a lot of additional strain on your family budget. Here’s what you need to know:

You May Be Able To Fix A Clogged Drain Yourself

If you have a plunger, now’s the time to use it. Plungers are the low-tech solution to a very common problem. By creating a vacuum within your home’s drain lines, plungers leverage the power of suction to dislodge the materials clogging your pipes. Plungers work well if the clog is located close to the drain and relatively small. If your pipes are significantly clogged or the obstruction is further down the line, you’ll need the services of your Worcester County plumber to resolve the issue.

Not All Drain Cleaning Chemicals Are Created Equal

The drain cleaning chemicals available in grocery and discount stores promise almost miraculous results. They’ll bust through clogs and get your pipes free and clear in no time flat – or so the labels promise. Sometimes, this is true. If you have a small clog, composed mostly of organic materials, drain cleaning chemicals can dissolve it. However, if your clog contains inorganic materials, such as silverware or car keys, or organic materials that are larger and difficult to dissolve, such as bones from poultry, tree roots, or more, these drain cleaners are not up to the task.

Visual Inspection Allows You To See What The Problem Is

It’s much easier to solve a clogged drain issue when you know what’s causing the clog. Your Worcester plumber has the specialized camera equipment necessary to do a visual inspection of your sewer lines. This allows them to pinpoint exactly what’s causing the toilet to back up, and what needs to be done to resolve it. Many clogged drains can be resolved without requiring messy, expensive excavation. Visual inspection allows you to sidestep the expense and get the problem fixed fast. If your sewer lines have collapsed or are otherwise compromised, excavation and replacement may be in order. Visual inspection lets you know for sure.

Don’t Put Your Faith in "Home Remedies"

Everyone has their own ‘never fail’ solution to clogged drains. Some of these remedies will do nothing worse than alleviating the problem temporarily – hot water poured down the ,kitchen drain may dissolve a grease clog (at least until the water cools and the grease re-solidifies further down the line) while others may damage your home’s plumbing system. Your home is your largest investment, and you want to protect it. Let your Worcester Mass plumber handle the stubborn clogs! You won’t have to worry about damage to your home’s plumbing system and someone else gets to handle all the mess and aggravation!