How Do Plumbers Unclog Drains?

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How many times does this happen to you? You’re having a shower or washing the dishes, and the water just refuses to go down the drain. A clogged drain is a nuisance that many of us face in our lives, so much so that it may make you curious as to how plumbers unclog them? Well, don’t worry, that’s exactly what we’re here to tell you.

Pipe inspection

As soon as you call up a plumber to fix your clogged drain problem, the first thing they do upon arrival is conduct a pipe inspection. This is a process that should happen about every two years to maintain a functioning drainage system. This immediately alerts the plumbers as to what is exactly causing the blockage.

Plungers and Drain snakes

I’m sure most of us know that plungers can be used for toilets, but did you know that it is a tool that is used a lot by plumbers in showers and sinks to unclog a system? A tool as simple as plungers can be mighty effective! Other than plungers, drain snakes and drain augers are tools that are widely used by plumbers to clear blockages that are deep within the drainage lines.

There are two types of drain snakes: manual and motorized. A simple drain snake is usually an elongated cable with a screw-like end to clear up clogs. A drain auger is very similar to a drain snake but is used for bigger drains.

Chemical drain cleaners

Aside from equipment that plumbers use to clear out blockages, they also use chemical methods that may be more convenient and effective. Whether you get them yourself or use an excellent service to hire plumbers such as royalflushsa.com.au, drain cleaners usually contain a high amount of sulfuric acid or other acidic substances which soften and break up the blockages.

Hair snakes

You might not think it, but hair is one of the most common causes of a drain in an average household.  Human beings shed a lot of hair, and this usually ends up being a problem for our drainage systems. Fortunately, hair snakes are tools specialized for the purpose of removing large knots of hair from drainage systems.

Hydro-jets and Cable cleaning

Hydro-jets and cable cleaning machines are both pieces of equipment that are usually reserved for the toughest of clog jobs. Hydro-jets send down highly pressurized water that breaks down clogs and prevents future clogs. They are also more efficient than the aforementioned drain snakes. There are various means to go about cable cleaning, but in its purest form, this type of cleaning uses spinning blades attached to cables which are able to completely break through clogs.

Home remedies

Sometimes the simplest way is the best way, isn’t it? Aside from the elaborate methods that are listed above, many plumbers use basic home remedies such as a combination of vinegar and baking soda. This particular method will result in a bubbling reaction that is then washed down with hot water to loosen the drains. Another well-known home remedy is a mixture of salt, borax, and vinegar.

These are the main ways of how plumbers tackle the issue of a clogged drain. Clogged drains are extremely irritating, and you should always call a plumber to maintain a functioning drainage system.