Choose a professional when you need drain cleaning services in Englewood, CO. Other options may seem to temporarily relieve clogs and unpleasant smells, but they rarely get at the underlying issue. The only way to know for sure that your drains are clean, clear, and reliable is by choosing a clogged drain cleaning expert. Turn to the team at High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. You’ll rest easy knowing you can count on drain cleaning services are done right.
Professional Clogged Drain Cleaning in Englewood
There are many warning signs that it’s time to schedule a professional drain cleaning session. While most drain problems start out with your drain gradually running more slowly, they eventually become more serious. A clog usually starts with waste sticking to the sides of the walls, at which point it builds toward the center and renders your drain completely unusable. An unusable kitchen or shower drain can be extremely inconvenient and stall meal preparation, hygiene, and other essential elements of day-to-day life. Reaching out to experts for clogged drain cleaning services can resolve all of these issues and keep your plumbing working right into the future.
Benefits of working with a professional for drain cleaning services, include:
- Certification, training, and plumbing expertise
- Clean drains and clear water
- Advice on preventing future leakages
- Early warning on future plumbing issues
It’s especially important to turn to a drain cleaning professional because these signs can all arise from something more serious than a clogged drain. For instance, a nasty smell emanating from one drain might just be a particularly unpleasant clog. If it’s coming up from multiple drains, there’s likely a problem in your underlying sewer system that can introduce bacteria and unpleasant smells into your home. If you’re also experiencing water backup issues, then sewage can potentially leak from your pipes and create extremely fertile grounds for mold growth. Regular drain cleaning can preempt this problem and help keep your home in good, reliable condition.
At first, you notice that the water in your sink is draining a little slower than usual. A few days later, you see that the water is beginning to pool and then low-and-behold, a few days after that you are experiencing a full-on drain clog. While you may be tempted to handle the problem on your own, we would not recommend that.
A lot of sink clogs that happen are much deeper than you may think, and the severity is so severe that a typical store-bought drain cleaner or impromptu home drain cleaning remedy cannot fix.
Unfortunately, there is a wide range of things that can clog drain lines, often without us even knowing about it. While blockages are marked by gross smells and slow water flow, they may result in more severe problems, too, like bursting and back-ups. Protect your drains, and remember to call High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to take care of clogs ASAP.
Common Causes of Drain Problems
Hair, Soap Scum & Other Paper Products
Hair and soap residue often accumulate in the drain pipes in our bathrooms. While you can clean a certain amount of hair out of bathroom sinks, you may want to consider putting a net in your shower/tub, in order to stop hair and soap scum from causing clogs deeper in your system. The other major cause of bathroom drain clogs are any items other than regular toilet paper which you are flushing down your toilet. This would include paper towels, tampons, pads, cotton balls, and even so-called “flushable” wipes.
Root Intrusion
Root intrusion refers to what happens when tree roots start to grow around and into your drain and sewer lines. This occurs because the moisture in these lines is a natural fertilizer for tree roots. When roots eventually do piece your drain lines, they can cause blockages, breaks, and back-ups which may result in extensive property damage. Watch out for moist, green patches in your yard, a persistent sewage smell in or around your home, an uptick in rodent and insect activity, and slow drains, as these are all common signs of root intrusion.
Food
Obviously, it is okay to put softer materials in your garbage deposal. But tough food waste like fruit rinds, eggshells, coffee grounds, and any kind of seeds or bones should be dumbed in the trash can. You should also watch out for fibrous foods such as celery and beans, as well as starches like pasta and rice, since these items are often hard for your garbage disposal to take care of and may expand to cause obstructions.
Rain/Extreme Weather
Your drains are meant to withstand a certain amount of wear and tear from the elements, but storms and heavy rainfall can cause overflowing and blockages. It is particularly important to watch out for this in places like Englewood, where snowfall precipitation is heavy, and can even lead to frozen pipes.
Broken Pipes
Speaking of pipes, you are likely to notice problems with your drains when leaking, corrosion, or breaks in your piping occurs.
Bad Pipe Installation
In addition to broken pipes, pipes that are installed poorly may lead to slow or obstructed drains.
Low Water Pressure
When there is excessive sediment build-up in your drain lines, it may cause problems for your water pressure. If you are experiencing poor water pressure, consider hiring a plumber to see if there is sediment build-up or another type of clog in your system.
Grease
Never pour grease, fats, or oils down your kitchen sink. Rather than washing away, these materials often congeal to form nasty clogs, which you may need a plumber to remove.
What Are Chemical Drain Cleaners & Why Shouldn’t You Use Them to Clear Your Drains?
Chemical drain cleaners are a popular method of clearing clogs. They typically utilize sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide to dissolve gunky build-up. While effective at removing clogs, they could do your plumbing more harm than good. Here are three reasons to avoid pouring these harsh chemicals down your drain.
1. Chemical drain cleaners often cause corrosion
As we mentioned earlier, chemical drain cleaners use harsh chemicals as their main ingredients. Because of this, they not only destroy whatever is clogged in your drains but also your plumbing system. The interior of your pipes may sustain damage, potentially costing thousands of dollars in repairs.
2. Chemical drain cleaners are a safety hazard
Specifically, the harsh chemicals found in these drain cleaners can be especially harmful to young children and pets. Additionally, not adhering to the safety warnings on the bottles of chemical drain cleaners could result in skin and eye irritations or worse. Dangerous chemical reactions can also occur if you mix different brands of drain cleaner together. If you insist on using this product, follow the precautions outlined on the bottle (i.e. wear a breathing mask, protective eye equipment, and rubber gloves.) Serious, this stuff is nothing to mess with.
3. Chemical drain cleaners are not environmentally friendly
Because drain cleaners are emptied down your drains, there is always the risk that they get flushed out into the environment. This means that they could be introduced into the water stream, where they pose many health and environmental threats.
Alternatives to Chemical Drain Cleaners
Now that you know the risks associated with chemical drain cleaners, let’s look at a few potential alternatives you can use to effectively clean your drains. A few methods include:
Prevention
Although it can be difficult, try not to allow long hair, food products, or hygiene products to fall into your drains. That’s why we recommend using a drain screen or strainer. To maintain free-flowing pipes, you can use a homemade solution of white vinegar, baking soda, and water. Pour this mixture down your drains once a month and flush with hot water. While it won’t bust clogs, it will help purge thin layers of gunky build-up.
Enzyme-Based Drain Cleaners
Like the baking soda and vinegar mixture, an enzyme treatment will also keep pipes running smoothly. Enzymes are bacteria that feed on organic matter, such as hair, mold, algae and other common clog-causers. This all-natural solution is safe and effective. Contact us today at High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to purchase our recommended enzyme cleaner, Bioclean.
Clean the Pipe
In some cases, the best way to clean out your drains is by cleaning the pipe with a pipe brush. Simply run the brush down the pipe and gently scrub away caked-on grime. Make this part of your monthly maintenance routine.
Call in the Pros
Ultimately, the best way to clear pipes of stubborn clogs is to hire a professional plumber. Plumbers use specialized tools such as a plumber’s snake and hydro-jets to safely remove clogs without causing any undue damage to your plumbing system.
Best Drain Cleaning Services in Englewood
At High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we combine deep expertise and experience with an open, communicative style that inspires confidence as we answer all of your questions. After working with us, you’ll feel like celebrating.
When you need drain cleaning services in Englewood, give High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling a call today!