What to Do When You Have a Clogged Drain

Whether it’s lots of standing water in the shower, a toilet that won’t flush, or a backed-up sink, the source is the same—a clogged drain. This is an inconvenient occurrence, but luckily not the end of the world. When you have a problem like this, it’s important to know what to do so that you don’t unintentionally worsen the issue. If you have a clogged . If you’d like to know how to properly handle a drain clog, keep reading below.

Handling A Clog

To properly understand how to handle a drain clog, we should start off with what not to do.

Don’t Use a Chemical Cleaner

We know what you’re thinking—“really?” But yes, really. You should never put a chemical cleaner down your drain. Although these methods are cheap and promise quick relief, this is hardly ever the actual case. The problem with chemical drain cleaners is that they’re incredibly corrosive and they don’t have an “off” switch. There are two outcomes with a chemical drain cleaner, one is that your pour this substance down your pipe and it actually does eat away at the clog. The only problem with this is that the caustic chemicals have an insatiable appetite and will start to eat away at your pipe too. The other outcome is that the chemicals aren’t powerful enough to power away at the clog and they sit in your drain corroding the pipe. It’s always a better option to call a professional and have them handle this problem with the right tools.

Don’t Use Homemade Tools

We encounter the aftermath of many homeowners’ drain disasters after they’ve stuck something down into their drain hoping to dislodge or unearth their clog. We know that this type of handy work is well intended, but it typically has a very poor outcome. Instead of going down this route, call a professional.

Don’t Use Professional Tools Either

If you’re not a professional technician, you shouldn’t use professional tools either. Although these tools are meant to handle these types of problems, they typically just cause a bigger mess when they’re put into the hands of someone without extensive knowledge, experience, and expertise. Your drain system is incredibly complicated, make sure you have a professional work on this delicate hardware.

Wondering How You Can Prevent A Clog?

Clogs are pesky and inconvenient—prevention is the best method. If you want to avoid a clog, you can do so in the following ways:

• Avoid putting coffee grounds down your drain
• Avoid FOG (fat, oil, and grease)
• Use a drain catcher in your kitchen and shower drains so that you’ll avoid hair, soap scum, and other materials from clogging your drain
• Avoid fibrous materials like celery and corn husks

Why Choose Mallick Plumbing & Heating

Here at Mallick Plumbing & Heating, we’re more than just a plumbing and heating company, we’re a family that knows HVAC. We’re committed to providing the best service at the best prices.