When a drain clogs, the bottle on the hardware store shelf is tempting. But store-bought cleaners and professional drain cleaning are not the same thing, and in older local homes the difference matters. Here is what you should know before you pour another chemical down the drain.
What causes drain problems here
Drain problems build up over time, and local conditions speed them along. In kitchens it is grease and food. In bathrooms it is hair and soap. Outside, roots get into older sewer lines, and leaves and dirt wash into outdoor drains. Freeze-thaw cycles shift the soil and crack old pipe, which opens the way for roots and debris.
If more than one drain is acting up at the same time, the blockage is probably in the main line, not the fixture.
The truth about store-bought cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners promise quick results, and for a small hair or soap clog close to the drain they sometimes deliver. But they come with tradeoffs. Many generate heat or react with metal pipe, and repeated use eats at older cast iron and galvanized pipe that is already thin from corrosion. They usually punch a hole through the clog rather than clearing it, and they leave the buildup on the pipe walls in place, so the clog comes back.
They do nothing at all for roots, a sagging pipe or a broken joint. And if the cleaner doesn't work, you now have a sink full of caustic water for whoever opens the drain next.
What professional drain cleaning does differently
Professional Drain Cleaning goes after the whole blockage, not just a hole through it. We use drain machines sized to the line, from small cables for sinks and tubs to heavy machines with cutting heads that clear roots out of a main sewer.
For main sewer lines, we run a camera before and after every rodding. Before shows what caused the problem. After proves the line is clear and shows whether a crack, sag or broken joint will keep causing trouble. Residential main-line rodding to the street carries a 1-year warranty.
What hydro jetting is
Hydro jetting cleans the inside of a pipe with high-pressure water. Where a cable cuts a path through a clog, a jetter scours the pipe walls, clearing grease, sludge, mineral scale, root fibers and years of buildup. It is especially useful in kitchen lines full of grease and in older lines that clog over and over.
Jetting isn't the right tool for every pipe. A badly cracked or broken line needs repair, not more pressure, which is one more reason we camera the line first. Our Hydro Jetting page explains when we use it.
The risk of putting it off
A clog left alone can lead to sewage backups, water damage, mold and pipe damage. With March snowmelt and spring rains running through May, a partly blocked line can also add to basement flooding when the public sewer fills up. That is why we suggest having older lines cleaned in January or February.
What to do next
For a minor clog, try a plunger first. Skip repeated rounds of chemical cleaner. If the clog keeps coming back, or several drains are slow, it is time for a professional.
We have been clearing drains in Des Plaines and the surrounding suburbs since 1989. There is no service fee, you get a flat-rate written estimate before we start, and we put tarps down before any work. Call (224) 567-2501. We serve Des Plaines, the North Shore and the northwest suburbs, 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are store-bought drain cleaners safe for my pipes?
Occasionally on a small clog in newer plastic pipe, but repeated use can damage older cast iron and galvanized pipe. They also leave buildup on the pipe walls, so the clog often returns.
What is hydro jetting?
Hydro jetting cleans a pipe with high-pressure water, scouring off grease, scale and root fibers that a cable leaves behind. It works best on pipe that is still structurally sound.
When should I call a plumber instead of using a drain cleaner?
When a clog keeps coming back, when several drains are slow at once, or when you smell sewage. Those point to a problem deeper in the line.
Is professional drain cleaning worth it?
Yes, for repeat clogs or main line problems. It clears the whole blockage and, with a camera, shows what caused it.