Clogged drains are one of those things that most handy homeowners try to tackle themselves, but in most cases you are really better off letting a professional plumber handle it. Sometimes a homeowner can successfully clear a clogged drain, but if efforts are unsuccessful, they often end up damaging their pipes or making the problem worse. In addition, most of the time a clogged drain is just that – a clog that only affects a single drain. However, sometimes a clogged drain is a sign of a much bigger problem and an experienced plumber has the training and skill to recognize these problems.
Some clogged drains can be cleared by the homeowner. If your stopper has collected too much hair or if the clog is in the trap, many homeowners can safely remove these clogs and get their drains flowing freely. In addition, some clogs will respond to gentle pressure from a plunger.
However, when homeowners start using plumbing snakes, drain cleaning chemicals and the like, the problem can go from bad to worse. Drain cleaning chemicals sound great – just pour it in the sink or drain and let it do it’s magic to dissolve the clog. Unfortunately, these caustic chemicals can do just as much damage to your plumbing as they do to the clog. In addition, they usually don’t work and you end up with clogged sink full of dangerous chemicals.
Plumbing snakes are another home remedy that looks like a great idea, but rarely works out that way. Homeowner grade plumbing snakes are only useful for light clogs very close to the drain. Even when the work, they often only knock a hole in the clog and leave most of it behind. The sink drains today, but the clog will be back soon. In addition, plumbing snakes can damage pipes or get stuck in the pipe causing even more problems.
For all but the simplest clogged drains, you are better off calling a plumber who can quickly and safely clear the clogged drain. Also, your plumber will be able to tell if the clog is a symptom of a more serious problem like a collapsed sewer line or a backed up septic system.
