Common Misconceptions Regarding Drain Maintenance

Clogged drains or pipes in your home can quickly become a huge problem. Not only can these problems cost homeowners money, but they can also be hazardous to one’s health. Many homeowners opt to try taking care of plumbing problems themselves, but this can lead to more problems, even if there are temporary results. To find out how to avoid this, check out the most common misconceptions regarding drain maintenance.

Myth #1: Plunging Hard and Fast is Best

If you have a clog drained, you’re probably tempted to grab a plunger and start plunging. You might start plunging faster and harder if the clog doesn’t clear immediately. But the problem is, this doesn’t always take care of the problem. It can make it worse. Plunging fast and hard might make the clog harder to find and fix. This happens because the force of the plunger pushes the clog down the pipe farther. To avoid this, it’s best to consult a professional plumber when you notice a stubborn clog in your drain.

Myth #2 Slow Drains Don’t Require Immediate Attention

We’ve all been there; the water drains slightly longer than usual but eventually disappears. All good, right? Nope. Slow draining is a symptom of a bigger problem. There might be a clog somewhere in the pipe, or the pipes must be cleaned to regain the drain’s power.

Ignoring a slow drain won’t make the problem disappear, and it will worsen over time. It’s best to call a plumber when you notice a slow drain. Taking care of the problem before it worsens can save time and money.

Myth #3: It’s Too Expensive to Get Drains Cleaned Professionally

Many homeowners try to clean their drains themselves. But even amateur plumbers need the products or tools to do it properly. In comparison to costs associated with fixing a clogged drain or pipe, drain cleaning is a less expensive option. Drain cleaning also helps prevent future problems, so you can think of it as saving money in the long run.

Myth #4 Store Bought Drain Cleaner is a Good Way to Clean Pipes

If you’ve noticed a slow drain or suspect a clogged pipe, you might run to the store to grab some drain cleaner. Unfortunately, store-bought products can do more harm than good in some situations, including creating a false sense of security by temporarily creating some progress.

Homeowners may pour a bottle of drain cleaner down the drain and see some progress in slowness or clogs. But, most of the time, this is short-lived. This type of product often doesn’t do a great job of eliminating the gunk that caused the problem in the first place.

If homeowners buy more products to try to replicate the results seen before, they, once again, could be making the problem worse. Overusing the wrong products can disrupt the natural balance and cause even more problems in a home’s plumbing system. For the above reasons, it’s best to skip the store-bought drain cleaner and call a plumber for expert advice.

Myth #5 DIY Plumbing Fixes are Good Enough

If you have a stubborn plumbing problem in the middle of the night, you might hit the Internet for a quick fix DIY solution. And your DIY plumbing solution might even take care of the problem. But it would help if you didn’t rely on a DIY fix to take care of slow drains or clogs for a long time. Instead, you should call a professional plumber to look at the problem, determine why it happened, and provide advice that will take care of it for good.

To maintain your home’s drains properly, consider calling a plumbing professional. They will make sure your drains and pipes are running properly.