Ensuring you can keep your home plumbing system in good condition is very important. One common plumbing challenge that anyone would have is a clogged drain. Many home remedies can be found online for those wondering how to unclog a drain. Unfortunately, many of these home remedies can actually cause a lot of harm to your pipes and may not be a good solution. When wondering what to avoid when unclogging a drain, certain remedies should be avoided completely.
Do Not Rely on Chemical Cleaners
One of the most popular ways that people will aim to clean their pipes is by using chemical cleaners. These cleaners are popular because they are very easy to use and can be quick as they can eat up and dissolve the gunk in a matter of 15 minutes or less. However, some risks come with using this. One risk is that it is only a temporary solution as it likely does not clean up all of the gunk and any hole created will fill back up quickly.
Another challenge is that chemical cleaners can start to cause damage to your pipes. These cleaners are strong, which means they could also start to corrode your pipes entirely. This could cause additional plumbing challenges that are more difficult to rectify.
Avoid Homemade Tools
Another way that people can try and clear out a clog is by using homemade tools. Commonly, someone will try to stick a coat hanger or other tool down the drain to reach and move around a clog. This may be effective in some situations, but in others, you may make it worse or damage the pipes. Instead, you should use snakes and plungers designed for use on typical pipe and plumbing systems.
Avoid Doing More Than You Should
When you have a clogged drain, you likely want to clear it out as soon as possible. When this occurs, you may try to fix it by either taking apart the drain or using more advanced plumbing tools. While these tools and processes can be effective, they should be used and followed with caution. If you are not experienced with fixing or cleaning pipes and drains, it would be best to save this task for the professionals.
If you do have a clogged drain in your home, it is very important that you are careful and follow proper processes. Doing this will help to effectively unclog the drain and allow you to avoid damaging your pipes. If you have recurring clogs, it is a good idea to contact your local plumber to learn more about how to keep drains clear and clean moving forward.