If you have a slow sink or shower that’s leaving you with ankle-deep water or a kitchen drain that smells like last week’s leftovers, there are dozens of miracle drain cleaners out there to choose from. But do popular Google recommendations like baking soda and vinegar actually work?
There are a few things you can try before calling a plumber, but the truth is home remedies only fix minor issues and are better for preventative maintenance. They don’t help with deeper clogs or issues and can make the problem worse. Here’s what to know about DIY home remedies and when to call in the pros from DNA Plumbing Heating and Air.
The Limitations of Popular DIY Plumbing Methods
Here’s our round-up of the most common DIY plumbing methods we see and their limitations.
Baking Soda & Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar’s fizzy combination is effective at loosening light soap scum and food residue, but it won’t clear deeper clogs or tree roots in your pipes and sewer lines. Instead, it’s a good preventative strategy to use once a month and to refresh your drains.
Hot Water Flushes
Some homeowners swear by pouring boiling water down their drains. It might melt small grease clogs, but it could also damage your PVC pipes and won’t do anything for hair or solid obstructions.
Store-Bought Drain Cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners are powerful but will also cause damage and corrosion in your pipes. They are definitely not safe for older metal pipes and won’t solve underlying issues. The chemicals can also get caught up in clogs and eat away at your pipes. The team at DNA Plumbing Heating and Air has replaced customer pipes after store-bought drain cleaners caused more damage (and expense) than the actual clog itself.
Why DIY Fixes Fail for the Big Problems
Most clogs are symptoms of more serious issues: By the time homeowners call us for drain cleaning, they’re dealing with much bigger problems, including:
- Tree roots in your sewer line
- Collapsed or damaged pipes
- Grease buildup that’s hardened over months or years
- Mineral scale from hard water
Keep in mind that there’s no amount of baking soda or hot water that will fix pipe breaks or a sewer line invaded by roots. We also come prepared.
Our sewer services use high-tech, commercial-grade equipment, including hydro-jetting and camera inspections, to clear out the problem and keep it from coming back again. Our techniques also minimize disruptions to your property to keep the expense, mess, and stress as low as possible.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait Too Long to Fix Plumbing Problems
Unfortunately, we’ve seen many homeowners try to handle their plumbing problems themselves for weeks or months only to end up with blocked drains and water backing up into their tubs and sinks. Now their small clog is a middle-of-the-night crisis that needs an emergency plumber. At this point, they need more than a drain cleaning but costly repairs and water damage cleanup and potential mold mitigation. It’s not worth the risk.
A plumber from DNA Plumbing Heating and Air will come out as soon as possible to:
- Inspect the line using advanced camera equipment.
- Target the clog with specialized tools with no random chemicals required
- Flush the line completely so it’s as clean as possible, reducing the chance of another clog anytime soon.
- Identify underlying issues so you can fix them before they turn into emergencies.
Whether it’s routine plumbing maintenance or an urgent blockage, our process is thorough, safe, and built to last.
When to Skip the DIY Approach and Call Us Right Away
Don’t waste your time with the DIY baking soda, vinegar, and plunger approach, and call us right away anytime you notice:
- Multiple drains backing up at once
- Foul sewer odors in the house
- Water coming up through floor drains
- Gurgling sounds in your toilet when you run the sink
All of these red flags could point to major blockages or dangerous sewer line damage. You need sewer services as quickly as possible before the problem gets any worse.
Schedule Drain Cleaning with DNA Plumbing Heating and Air Today!
Some DIY drain cleaning tricks offer a few quick wins with a light clog and preventative maintenance, but they won’t fix stubborn, deep, or recurring issues. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to end up with an emergency plumbing situation. Give the team at DNA Plumbing Heating and Air a call and we’ll come out as soon as possible for drain cleaning repairs, camera inspections, and more.
Need urgent help? We can also send out an emergency plumber to help with your next plumbing crisis 24-hours a day. Call DNA Plumbing Heating and Air today for dependable, local service you can trust!
