How Often Should I Clean Out the Drains in My Home? 

A drain that is clogged or slow is not something that you need to ignore. If you allow this problem to continue, it is going to just get worse as time goes on. This is never fun. What may start out as a minor inconvenience that you need to deal with can turn into a major headache and a big expense at the same time.

Cleaning the drains out with the help of a professional will do wonders for helping them work properly and can prolong the life of your drains.

Do I Need to Clean Out the Drains Often?

But how often do you need to get it done? You may notice that the drains are getting clogged and are not draining the way that you would like. But if you are to this point, then you may already have a major problem to worry about and the cost ca be higher. Most homeowners need to take a look at hiring a professional cleaning service to handle their drains at least one time a year.

Why should you do it this often? When you get a professional cleaning done on the drains yearly, even if they are working properly and aren’t clogged, this can be good. This can catch any of the potential problems that are building up before they break your pipes and cause problems.

Of course, that is just the start to what you say. The annual cleaning can make a difference, but you also need to do some of the maintenance each week and each month to make sure that your drains can last a long time. As soon as you notice that the drain is not moving quickly, you need to clean it out. This will help you troubleshoot the problem and get it fixed.

Safe Methods to Clean Your Drains

Hiring a professional to do your annual cleaning of the drains and handling any major clogs that happen can be a good place to start. But you may need to do some drain cleaning in the meantime to keep the drains in good working order. You can do some of this on your own, without having to call someone and spend the money. Some of the safe methods that you can use for cleaning the kitchen sink, bathroom, toilet, and shower include:

• Take the time to plunge the drains. This is going to add some pressure to the drain pipes and be aware of the type of plungers depending on the fixture you need to handle. Keep a cup plunger on hand for your shower drains or sinks. A Flanged plunger is good for the toilet when it has trouble.
• Get yourself a snake or a plumber’s auger. You can put these down the drain to catch any material that is in the way. You can then remove the item or break it up to pass through the piping and make things better.
• Pour some boiling water into the drain. Hold the water about two to three feet above the drain and then let the heat and gravity go to work to soften up the material that is inside the drain. This can force it through the pipes and make it easier to clean out.
• Take a cup of baking soda mixed with vinegar and add them to the drains. This will help clean them out and remove some of the blockages that are inside the area too.

What Drain Cleaners Should I Avoid?

It is easy to run to the store and pick up a cleaner that is available there. This can seem like a great option to help out. This may seem easy, but it is not good for the pipes. They can cause more damage to the inside of the pipes and can destroy things at the same time. Some of the products that you need to worry about include:

• Cleaning chemical products that will eat away at the pipes, which can cause corrosion that leads to more leaks and a new for some new plumbing lines in the long run.
  Any of the chemical cleaners that you may want to use. These can seem good, but they can interrupt some of the bacterial breakdown that happens in your septic tank and can cause a number of septic problems.
• Toxins are found in some of the chemicals that you use for cleaning and can harm water and habitats around you. And then the bottles will add to the landfills.
• Chemicals that are not appropriate for removing all types of blockages that will show up in your drains.

Do I Need Professional Drain Cleaning?

Even when you have taken the time to clean out your drains often, there are some issues that will arise that will create the need for professional or even emergency drain cleaning services. If you find that you can’t get the clog removed. your own, then it is time to call a professional. Some signs that it is time to call in the professionals include:

• You find that the drains continue to clog up even when you try to clean it.
• Water starts to back up in the shower or the sink.
• If all of the drains in the house are having some problems.
• You notice that there is a sewage backup int the sink. This is a sign of an emergency.

Taking good care of the plumbing in your home is going to be so important. You want to make sure that you work with the right professionals every step of the way to help avoid a leak or something going wrong with your pipes and the plumbing in your home.

Our team at C.I.D. Plumbing, Water Heaters, and Drain Cleaning to provide you with the exceptional service that you are looking for. We are here for all of your plumbing needs, no matter how big or small, to ensure that you will be able to get ahead and never have to worry about something breaking on you. Whether it is an emergency or you just want to do some updates, our team is here to make it simple.