Drains that work are crucial to nearly every activity we do in our homes. Whether that activity is washing dishes, doing the laundry or taking a shower, as long as it involves water, you need functioning drains, says Schambs Management.
Often, we don’t see the role efficient drains play in our lives until those drains stop working. Imagine the annoyance of having a bathwater pool around your feet in the shower.
These are just examples of what can happen when your drains stop working. But those problems will worsen if the initial signals are not heeded and the drain problem is solved.
How do you keep the drains in your home functional at all times? The one thing you should do at least once a year is have your drains cleaned professionally. Why does this matter?
What is drain cleaning, and why is it important?
Drain cleaning is a process of mechanically removing the blockages inside a drainpipe. This is done using a range of methods. The key feature of drain cleaning is it clears the obstruction rather than merely punching a hole in it to restore the water flow.
What are the benefits of drain cleaning?
Buildup is always happening inside your drains. Buildup eventually becomes drain clogs if the debris is not removed through drain cleaning. You can’t stop buildup from happening, but you can keep it from clogging your drains.
If your drains are clogged, the food waste and debris inside the pipes become a breeding ground for bacteria and other organisms. Along with the sewage stuck inside the system, this can cause foul odors to enter your home.
Overflowing toilets, clogged sink drains, or sewage backups are leading causes of water damage in homes. It makes more sense to spend a few hundred dollars to clean your drains than thousands to fix water damage to your home.
Regular drain cleaning promotes efficient drain function. Because they are subject to fewer problems and less wear and tear, efficient drains will last longer.
Clean drains cost less money to maintain. The money spent to clean a drain is an investment that yields returns in the form of lower maintenance costs due to fewer drain problems in your home.
Regular drain cleaning helps to prevent water damage, foundation issues, mold and other problems that impact negatively on the curb appeal and structural integrity of your building.
Professional drain-cleaning methods and strategies for drain maintenance
To be effective, however, regular drain cleaning must be accompanied by good drain management strategies. There are a few things you should never do to your drains if you want them to function efficiently. Here is a list of the most important ones:
Once inside your drains, FOGs (fats, oils and grease) congeal into a solid, sticky mass.
Only human waste, toilet paper and water should enter your toilet, not even items labeled as flushable.
Starchy foods, stringy veggies, eggshells, coffee grinds, etc should never enter your drains.
These merely punch a hole through the obstruction and threaten your pipes.
Tree root penetration of sewer lines is a leading cause of drain clogs and pipe damage.
When planning to have your drains cleaned professionally, you have two main options: sewer rodding and hydro-jetting. Because these two methods are different, you can use them to complement one another.
Lastly, you need an experienced and reputable plumber to help you work with these strategies. A good plumber can help you avoid problems that waste your time, money and energy.