Drain Busters

They can be. However, it’s risky to assume that any drain clog is as simple as a hair clog or a buildup of grease and soap scum. Drain clogs can indicate more serious problems down in the drainage system, such as a broken or clogged sewer pipeline, root infiltration in the sewer line, or blocked drain vents. If these larger issues aren’t dealt with, clogs could soon be in every household drain and sewage may start to flood into the lower parts of the house.

We recommend it, since it’s one of the best ways to maintain healthy home plumbing and keep away clogs in the future. There are a number of situations where we strongly recommend calling for preventive drain regularly: your home is more than 30 years old or clogs occur with higher frequency. You should also call for drain cleaning when you move into a new house.

No! No professional plumber recommends using store-bought “drain cleaners”—and for many reasons. They aren’t very effective, since they only chew open a small hole through the drainpipe obstruction without actually cleaning anything. The clog will come right back. Their acidic action (sulfuric acid and lye) can end up damaging drain pipes. And they are extremely toxic, putting dangerous fumes into the air and burning eyes and skin.