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Why You Should Never Use DIY Methods on Your Drains

When your drain gets clogged, of course all you can think about is getting it cleared as soon as possible. If you’re an avid do-it-yourselfer, you may assume at-home drain cleaning is the answer you’ve been looking for. However, when it comes to the health of your plumbing, DIY can do more harm than good. Here’s a look at three common home DIY drain remedies, and why they aren’t as effective at solving your problems as you might think.

1. Baking Soda and Vinegar

You’ve probably seen DIY practitioners recommend baking soda and vinegar for clearing drain clogs. While it’s true this all-natural combo leads to a chemical reaction – which you’ll probably remember from an elementary school “volcano” experiment – it usually can’t reach all the way down into the pipes where the buildup leading to the clog occurs, making it an ineffective solution for tackling the problem.

2. Commercial Drain Cleaners

Though the companies that market off-the-shelf drain cleaners claim that “anyone can be a plumber” when using these products, they contain highly toxic chemicals that are dangerous to use. Not only can they cause further damage by corroding your pipes, but they are also poisonous and bad for the environment. The fumes are also unhealthy to breathe in, and can irritate your nose, eyes and respiratory system. For health and safety reasons, it’s better to avoid these altogether in favor of calling a professional plumber.

3. Drain Snaking

While you may have had some success using a drain snake for smaller clogs, a drain snake will not be long enough to address clogs that have formed deep inside the pipeline. In cases where your clog is the result of tree root invasion, fallen pieces of pipe from a severely corroded line or another hard object that is clogging the pipe, a drain snake will not help. Also, bear in mind there are several different kinds of plumbing snakes, and if you choose the wrong one, the snake could loop back on itself or scrape the sides of the plumbing pipe, causing damage that could lead to leaks or even the need to replace the piece of pipe.

Professional Drain Cleaning in Colorado

When you need a reliable locally owned plumbing company in Denver or Colorado Springs, reach out to the team at Affordable Plumbing and Heat. We offer the most modern and effective drain cleaning techniques and equipment available today, including hydro-jetting, to clear any clog quickly and save you money and time.
