Helpful Plumbing Tips

5 Common DIY Drain Cleaning Mistakes

When getting ready to clean the drains around your home, it’s easy to focus on the things you should do, disregarding the things you shouldn’t do. However, making mistakes can actually damage your drains and cause more serious problems down the road, requiring you to contact one of Corona’s reputable drain cleaning companies. That’s why we’ve created a detailed list of all the most common mistakes you can make when attempting to clean your drains.

What are the most common drain cleaning mistakes?

Problems with your drains can occur in different parts of your home, necessitating you to thoroughly clean your drains. On top of that, you should also perform regular drain maintenance and cleaning to prevent the development of more serious problems and keep your drains and your pipes in good condition. However, make sure to avoid the following common mistakes:

Using chemicals

This is the single biggest mistake homeowners make when cleaning their drains. As soon as you notice slow draining or a clog your first instinct can be to pop to the store and purchase a chemical drain cleaning agent. This is a quick and easy solution that often yields great results. However, it’s also a big mistake.

Store-bought drain cleaning chemicals are very harmful to your drains and your pipes. They often use very harsh compositions to provide aggressive cleaning that will end up damaging the interior of your home’s pipes. They’re also toxic to inhale, making them a no-go solution to a clogged drain.

Plunging incorrectly

Plunger is the go-to tool for removing clogs in your drains. And there’s a good reason for that. Plungers are cheap, easy to use, and can be quite effective if used properly. And that’s also a common problem – improper plunging.

There are different types of plungers available on the market, such as sink plungers and toilet plungers. First, make sure to use the right one for the drain you’re trying to unclog. Then, make sure to completely seal the drain with the plunger and push it slowly and methodically up and down to make sure it’s able to do its job. Otherwise, you risk damaging the drain without resolving the issue.

Poking the drain

Don’t poke your drain if there’s a clog in an attempt to dislodge the blockage and remove it. For example, homeowners tend to use coat hangers for this ordeal, placing it in the drain and attempting to remove the clog. If it breaks, which is highly likely, you’re left with an additional problem you cannot resolve on your own.

Garden hosing your drain

It’s easy to grab your garden hose and try to remove your clog with some water pressure in a DIY hydrojetting attempt. However, this is a method reserved for professionals with the right equipment and you should refrain from garden hosing your drain to unblock it. This can lead to flooding, making the matter a lot worse, as well as damage your drain and your pipes.

Using the drain snake incorrectly

Mechanical snakes are great tools for removing clogs but only if you have the knowledge and the experience to use it properly. Don’t force the snake around difficult-to-navigate corners as this will lead to severe pipe damage and constant repairs.

Who are Corona’s most reliable plumbers who can perform thorough drain cleaning?

Maintaining the drains in your home clean and in good condition is one of the important requirements of you as a homeowner. This way, you’ll do your part in preventing the development of clogged drains and ensuring that you and your family experience the numerous benefits of regularly cleaning your drains. Just make sure to watch out for all the telltale signs that your clogs require cleaning.

However, if you’re not well-versed in drain cleaning it’s always better to hire professionals and ensure a high-quality service. At OneStop Plumbers, we specialize in cleaning household drains and eliminating the potential clogs that may exist. We’ll boost your pipe health and enhance its longevity. Besides serving Corona, you can also turn to us in the areas of Mira Loma, Norco, Yorba Linda, Chino Hills, Chino, Anaheim Hills, and many others. Give us a call today!

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