Whether in your kitchen sink or bathtub, a clogged drain is among the most common plumbing problems. It’s also one of the most disruptive, especially when clogs spread to numerous drains in your home. Explore common causes and signs of drain blockages and learn when it’s time to call a professional for drain repair and cleaning.
Common Causes of Clogged Drains
Numerous factors contribute to clogging, such as:
- Fats, oils, grease: When you pour cooking oils and grease down your drains, they eventually cool and solidify, narrowing your pipes and leading to clogs.
- Food scraps: Scraping leftover food down the drain instead of the garbage or compost may cause significant clogs, especially if it’s foods that are sticky or starchy.
- Soap: Soap scum can accumulate in your pipes and gradually narrow the passageways.
- Hair: When hair tangles with shampoo and other products, it forms obstructions that restrict water flow.
- Mineral buildup: In areas with hard water, minerals build up along pipe walls, narrowing them over time.
- Trash: Improper disposal practices can cause blockages. Even disposable wipes, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, and other materials don’t break down easily.
- Tree roots: Roots are drawn to the moisture in your pipes and may eventually penetrate them, leading to severe damage and blockages in your plumbing line.
Signs You Need Professional Drain Cleaning
Early recognition of plumbing problems helps prevent more severe damage and repair costs later on. Several symptoms suggest the need for professional drain cleaning. These may include:
- Frequent clogs: Frequent or persistent clogs are a clear sign of stubborn obstructions or buildup.
- Multiple clogs: If several drains clog simultaneously, you may have blockages deeper in your plumbing and sewer lines.
- Slow drains: Standing or slow-draining water often stems from narrowed pipes.
- Foul odors: Decomposing organic matter in your lines can emit foul odors from your plumbing fixtures.
- Gurgling noises: Gurgling noises from fixtures and lines indicate air trapped in pipes due to a blockage.
- Backed-up water or sewage: Even one backup suggests a blockage in the main sewer line.
Our Drain & Rooter Services
At Medley, our drain and rooter services offer specialized plumbing solutions to clear blockages and keep your plumbing system in good working order. Serving Carrollton, Dallas, Denton, and other Texas areas, we’re the leading service provider for drain and rooter services. With a team of licensed and expert plumbers, you can take advantage of high-quality workmanship, code-compliant repairs, and prompt response.
Our professional drain cleaning services can address a variety of drain types, including:
- Kitchen sinks
- Bathroom sinks
- Showers and bathtubs
- Toilets
- Main sewer lines
Our plumbing team employs a range of advanced technology and techniques to resolve blockages and clean your plumbing lines. They’ll start with a thorough inspection of your system to identify the underlying cause, such as leaking or broken pipes, often using a pressure gauge, thermal imaging camera for temperature differences in walls, or a specialized plumbing camera that provides a live video feed.
Several strategies can clear blockages depending on their nature and scale. Motorized drain snakes or augers allow our team to target and dislodge blockages deep in your plumbing system. Hydrojetting, which uses high-pressure water, can also remove blockages and clean your pipes.
Benefits of Professional Drain Cleaning
Many homeowners attempt to tackle clogs themselves, but some circumstances call for professional drain cleaning. Professional plumbers have the skills and experience to efficiently and accurately identify the underlying cause of blockages and can tailor their approach to your system and its specific issues.
Plumbers also have industry-standard tools that allow them to permanently resolve blockages without invasive techniques. For instance, hydrojetting not only breaks up acute blockages but also scrubs buildup from pipe walls. Removing buildup restores narrowed pipes to their proper size, allowing for optimal water flow and reducing the risk of future blockages.
Professional drain cleaning methods are also the best for your system’s health. DIY cleaning and unclogging methods often utilize corrosive chemicals that may damage your fixtures and plumbing system and pose health hazards to you and the environment. Using approved methods and adhering to plumbing codes and safety regulations, professional cleaning ensures your pipe’s cleanliness without compromising durability or longevity.
Preventing Future Clogs
After addressing clogs in your system with professional drain cleaning, preventative measures help minimize gradual buildup and future clogs. Try these strategies to keep your drains flowing smoothly:
- Avoid disposing of food waste: Use a composting system or garbage disposal for food scraps. Scrape food off of dishes before washing them in the sink.
- Don’t dump cooking grease: Instead of draining oils down your sink, store used liquid oils in sealed containers and dispose of them in your trash.Â
- Practice good toilet habits: Avoid flushing anything other than human waste and toilet paper down your toilets, such as cotton balls and disposable wipes.
- Install drain covers: Use screens or grates to catch hair, food, and other debris.
- Flush your drains: Occasionally flushing drains with boiling water or vinegar and baking soda mixtures can help break down buildup.
- Upgrade pipe insulation: Insulation protects your pipes from extreme temperatures that may lead to cracks, which increase the risk of root intrusion and other clogs.
- Arrange for prompt repairs: Address minor leaks or other concerns before they escalate into severe problems.
Clear Clogs Away With Medley’s Drain and Rooter Services
Don’t let clogs and backups disrupt your home’s convenience and comfort. Take advantage of transparent pricing, competitive financing, and other benefits when you choose Medley sewer line cleaning, hydro jetting, and other drain and rooter services in Carrollton and other Texas counties. Contact us today or book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unclog a drain myself?
Some DIY methods can resolve minor clogs. Plungers and snakes may dislodge localized clogs, and boiling water or vinegar and baking soda gently scrub away some grease buildup.
How much does professional drain cleaning cost?
Professional drain cleaning costs vary depending on the severity of the blockage and the cleaning method. Investing in professional services is often more cost-effective than ignoring problems or using harmful cleaners.