Clogged Drains? What You Need to Know Right Now!

A stopped up kitchen sink, flooding laundry room, and overflowing toilet all have one thing in common: they’re problems you want fixed right now!

There’s no time to wait when your kitchen sink is full of stinky, greasy water that refuses to drain. Cascading waves of soapy washer water can strike dread into even the most steadfast homeowner’s heart. Clogged, overflowing toilets create a foul smelling, disgusting mess.

What is the fastest, most effective way to deal with clogged drains? Here’s what you need to know to get the problem fixed right now:

Pick Up the Plunger

Small clogs that are located close to the drain site can often be resolved by using your household plunger. Plungers work by creating a vacuum within your drain lines. Water, air, and other debris in the lines moves to fill that vacuum, dislodging the clog and getting your drains working properly again. Using your plunger can be a messy, dirty job but if it works, you may save yourself from having to call your Philadelphia plumber. However, if the clog is substantial or further down the line, a plunger won’t solve the problem.

Chemical Drain Cleaners

The chemical drain cleaners you get at the grocery store or discount mega-mart can handle small clogs that are composed entirely of organic material. These chemicals work by breaking down the components of the clog and sending them down the line. However, they work slowly, and often contain chemicals that are harsh on the environment. When your Philadelphia plumber uses chemical drain cleaners, they use more powerful commercial grade chemicals that are formulated to not negatively impact the environment.

Visual Inspection

It’s much easier to fix a clog when you know where the clog is and what it’s made of. That’s why your Philadelphia plumber may perform a visual inspection of your sewer lines. Visual inspection uses a specially sized and designed video camera to see inside your pipes. That way you can tell if a clog is due to a diaper inappropriately flushed down the drain, tree roots growing in your sewer lines, collapsing sewer lines, or some other problem. Visual inspection takes a little bit of time – but when you weigh it against the investment of time and money it takes to excavate sewer lines in an effort to identify the problem, it turns out to be a much more economical option.

Regular Drain Cleaning Saves Time and Money

Sewer drain cleaning needs to be part of every household’s regular maintenance routine. Depending on the region you live in, the environmental conditions, the amount of usage the system gets, and other factors, you may need to have your drains cleaned annually. Other households can go a few years between drain cleanings. However, if you can’t remember the last time the drains were cleaned, you’re running a chance of being surprised by a serious sewer line clog. Regular maintenance removes the debris and deposits that accumulate in sewer lines with normal regular use, clears away any inappropriate items that may have found their way into your system, and can identify problem areas before they reach the breaking point.