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Unclogging and cleaning a drain is one of the most common plumbing jobs, but you can avoid serious (and sometimes expensive) plumbing work if you clean your drains regularly. Serious clogging, replacing pipes, and fixing water damage are three of the most common results of unclean drains. In this article, we’ll be going over the various ways your drain can set you back financially (and the ways to avoid it).

Preventing Clogs (Which Are Costly to Fix)

The most significant financial advantage of regularly cleaning your drains is, without a doubt, the avoidance of clogs. Drains clog because of dirt and grime that build up over time, which is usually a result of people throwing things they shouldn’t down the drain. Once a drain clogs completely, it’s often impossible for people to unclog them without the proper tools, so they call us, and then we have to charge you for fixing an entirely avoidable problem.

How can you avoid clogging your drains, you wonder? This is usually a matter of regular drain cleaning, which is something you should absolutely do, and a matter of not throwing certain things down the drain. Grease, fat, and oil are some of the most common causes of sink drain clogging, as well as food waste and paper towels.

Avoid Expensive Replacements

Over time, debris and the clogs it causes can result in a burst pipe or a damaged pipe that needs replacing. Since water can’t flow through the pipes normally, it will ‘sit’ in certain parts of the piping, which places the joints of your plumbing in danger of leaking. When pipes are connected, they’re caulked and sealed to make sure nothing gets through the connecting parts of the piping. Since water is now consistently sitting in those parts of the piping (instead of just flowing through like it usually would), it will eventually start seeping through the joints.

If this happens, you need to replace that part of the pipes, and replacements are almost always more expensive than repairs because you need to pay for both the new pipe and the work itself.

Reduced Risk of Water Damage

It’s possible for your pipes to burst or for the water to back up since it can’t pass through the pipes, and the damage home flooding can cause is truly astonishing. This is one of the worst nightmares for homeowners because if it happens, the repairs to your flooring and your furniture will set you back by thousands of dollars. To keep the worst from happening, clean your drains regularly, and if you have a clogged drain, unclog it as soon as possible.

Spend Less Money on Drain Fresheners

The smell caused by backed-up pipes and drains usually isn’t bad in the beginning, but it can become unbearable very quickly. This isn’t only caused by the mildew growing in hospitable conditions but by rotting organic material as well. Instead of cleaning their drains properly, a lot of people try solving this problem by simply pouring baking soda or drain fresheners down them, which is an effective short-term solution but a bad long-term solution. The smell will only get worse over time, and eliminating the source of the smell is the right way to go about it. Clean your drains regularly, and this won’t happen – it’s as simple as that.

On another note, mildew can cause respiratory problems, especially for people who have underlying respiratory conditions, and cleaning your drains regularly is the best way to keep your wallet safe from medical expenses.

How to Clean Your Drains (Without Calling a Plumber)

The first step towards a clean drain is a preventative one – use drain strainers! Sink strainers are very helpful because they only let water or tiny debris through – anything larger than a tiny hole will get caught, and you can throw it in the trash. Although that debris is small, and you might think that it can’t hurt your plumbing, it will build up over time and grow into a pile. So, the first order of business is buying sink/drain strainers if you don’t already have them.

Another thing you can use is a drain snake. Drain snakes are simple tools used to jiggle around the debris in the pipes. Simply moving the debris around is often more than enough to remove it – it will dislodge and flow away with the water. It’s smart to snake around the pipes every once in a while, even if you haven’t noticed a drain blockage lately. Similar to the drain snake, you can use a simple plunger. Plungers use vacuum suction to dislodge debris stuck in the pipes, and they achieve the same effect as snakes.

A lot of people use chemical cleaners to clean their drains. Although they’re usually effective because they break down organic matter found in the piping, they can cause damage to the pipes, which is why it’s perhaps best to stick to mechanical, non-chemical methods.

Experiencing clogged or slow drains? Let Birnie Plumbing & Drains swiftly resolve your issues! With over 100 years of expertise in Hamilton and the Golden Horseshoe, our skilled plumbers ensure top-quality service with rapid response times. Say goodbye to drain worries – contact us today for prompt, professional drain cleaning solutions!