Why You Should Steer Clear of Liquid Drain Cleaners

It seems like a simple solution. You have a slow drain in the bathroom due to soap and hair going down your drain, or a clogged kitchen sink. Simply dump some liquid drain cleaner into your sink or shower and presto! No more clog. But have you ever stopped to think about what is in drain cleaners and what they may be doing to your plumbing and the environment? Here are few good reasons why you should steer clear of liquid drain cleaners. 

  • Corrosive chemicals. The chemicals in liquid clog removers are meant to breakdown hair, fats, soap and other items that typically are in home drain clogs. However, those chemicals can also breakdown the interior of your plumbing. This is especially true if you have a pipe that already has some corrosion; drain cleaners will weaken the pipe quicker.
  • Toxicity. Drain cleaners are very dangerous to your health and that of your family. Just the fumes alone can make you sick, and getting drain cleaner on your skin can burn. You must be very careful to ensure that kids cannot access this toxic substance and possibly injure themselves.
  • Environmental damage. Chemicals that we put down our drains must be purified to keep them out of our water supply. Drain cleaner is poison and can kill animals, fish and other creatures. Plus, if you have a septic system, it will kill the good bacteria you need to keep your tank healthy.

Next time you have a clog, don’t reach for the drain cleaner. Instead, remove the clog yourself or call a plumber for professional drain cleaning. It is a more effective way to completely clear a drain and will do much less damage to your plumbing, health and the environment.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.
106-M Oakgrove Road
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

Commercial Drain Cleaning

There is nothing worse for any commercial property owner or manager getting a call from a tenant about a clogged up drain line.  Often these clogs are the result of grease, sewage, detergent, chemicals, roots, paper or a variety of other materials.  In many cases, a clogged up sewer line will force a business to close until the issue is resolved, because a clogged up sewer line means no bathrooms!

Most commercial plumbers who provide drain cleaning services will utilize a camera to identify the location of the blockage, as well as the type of blockage.  The camera is snaked into the drain and a video image is transmitted back to a small video screen, which also has the ability to take still photographs.  Once the technician sees what is causing the blockage, they will determine the most effective tool to remove the blockage.

In most cases either a traditional plumber’s snake or high pressure hydro jetting will be used to remove the blockage.  While the traditional plumber’s snake is generally the least costly alternative, it is not effective in removing all blockages.  One of the advantages of high pressure water jetting is the ability of the system to not only remove the blockage, but to also remove the build up of any sludge on the pipe walls, especially cast iron pipe.  This leads to the interior of the pipe being just like new, which allows the waste water to flow freely!

The biggest advantage of today’s cutting edge technology in drain cleaning is the ability of the technician to quickly identify and remove the blockage, which results in commercial businesses staying open and making money!

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing Septic and Sewer

Drain Clog: When to Call a Plumber?

Nothing can be more frustrating than a clogged drain, whether it’s in the kitchen sink or bathroom toilet. Of course, this always happens at the most inconvenient time. How do you know when your clog requires the expertise of a plumber? If only a single fixture is clogged and the rest of your drains seem to be draining well, then the clog is close to the clogged fixture and you may be able to unclog it yourself.   Avoid caustic drain cleaners – these can damage your pipes, cause chemical burns, and if the clog does not respond, you will be left with a sink or toilet full of caustic chemicals.   Some clogs will quickly loosen with the use of a plunger or a household drain snake. If all of your efforts fail to unstop the clog, call a plumber.

If more than one fixture in your home is clogged, you may be experiencing a main sewer line clog. The main sewer line is the line through which all of your plumbing exits your home, either to the city’s municipal sewer system or your private septic system. If you are seeing dirty water backing up from more than one fixture at the same time, this is a clear indication of a main line clog. For instance, when the water drains out of your washing machine, it may back up into a sink or toilet. In the lowest level of your home, a floor drain may back up when an interior toilet is flushed.

If these types of “system-wide” backups are occurring, you should call a reputable local plumber to have the problem repaired.  Your plumber will be equipped with commercial grade sewer snakes, high pressure hydro-jetting equipment, and other professional drain cleaning equipment.  They can clear the clog without damaging your system and may also be able to advise you on how to prevent future problems.