The Risks of DIY Drain Cleaning and When to Call a Pro

When your sink starts draining slowly, your toilet won’t flush properly or you have standing water around your ankles in the shower, your first instinct may be to tackle the problem yourself. After all, do-it-yourself drain cleaning is quick, cheap, and convenient—right? No, not always.

DIY methods temporarily relieve minor clogs but often can’t resolve more serious plumbing issues lurking beneath the surface in your drains and sewer line. In this blog, the plumbing professionals at Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling outline Learn the risks of DIY drain cleaning and when calling a professional plumber is the wiser choice ideal to prevent stress along with saving time and money long term.

DIY Drain Cleaning Methods

Home remedies and over the counter products are popular first lines of defense against drain clogs. Here are some common methods homeowners attempt, along with the pitfalls to be aware of:

• Chemical drain cleaners: These products promise quick results by dissolving surface level clogs almost immediately. However, they can corrode and damage your drains pipes leading to leaks and even burst pipes, especially with repeated use or if your pipes are aging. Chemical cleaners often don’t fix blockages deeper down your drains and could even worsen the problem. Plus, they pose health risks if mishandled and are harmful to the environment.
• Plungers: Everyone should have at least one plunger at home to tackle minor clogs in sinks, showers, and tubs, plus another plunger reserved for toilets. They work well for simple blockages near the drain opening but are often ineffective for deep or stubborn clogs. Overzealous plunging can also damage seals or push the clog further down, making them harder to remove later, so proceed with caution.
• Drain snakes: Manual plumbing snakes physically break up clogs. While effective for certain types of blockages, improper use can scratch or damage the pipes or push clogs further down the line, making the problem worse.
• Boiling water, baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar: This natural combination that creates a fizzy cleaning foam is often praised for being environmentally conscious and safe for your pipes. While useful for minor buildup and clog prevention, it’s ineffective against tougher blockages caused by grease or solid debris. This “natural” cleaning remedy can still damage your pipes over time, while the extreme heat from boiling water can warp and bust pipes if used too often, so be careful with frequent use.
• Makeshift hook: Unwinding a metal clothes hanger to fish out hair or debris from a drain might work for surface-level clogs from hair or other smaller debris, but its limited reach and the potential to scratch the pipe makes it less than ideal.

Although it’s tempting to take the easier and cheaper path to clearing drain clogs with DIY remedies, its highly recommended calling a professional plumber to assist with any persistent or serious clogs to prevent more extensive and costly damage to your drain pipes and sewer line.

Dangers of DIY Drain Cleaning

Attempting to clear your drains without a professional plumber know-how and expertise can have unintended consequences:

• Pipe corrosion or weakening: Repeated use of chemical drain cleaners can corrode metal pipes and weaken plastic PVC joints. Eventually, your pipes may leak or even burst, causing expensive water damage.
• Cracked or broken pipes: Aggressive snaking or using inappropriate tools may crack pipes, especially older, fragile ones. The damage might not be immediately apparent, but you may face major issues down the line that could result in costly repairs or even pipe replacement.
• Incomplete clog removal: DIY methods might clear the immediate blockage but fail to address deeper sewer line issues like tree root invasions or main line backups. You’re more likely to have recurring problems or future drain and sewer line repairs or replacements if you leave the issue only half fixed.
• Worsened clog: In some cases, DIY attempts push multiple partial blockages together, turning them into one severe clog. This complicates removal and increases repair costs.
• Injury risk: Harsh chemical cleaners can splash or release toxic fumes that irritate your eyes, skin, and lungs. Mechanical tools like drain snakes can cause cuts or muscle strain for inexperienced users. And if your DIY efforts trigger a sewer backup, you could find yourself face-to-face with contaminated wastewater and sewage.

Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional Plumber

Even if you’re an avid DIY’er for home service needs, it’s important to recognize when you need backup. Here’s how to tell it’s time to bring in a plumbing professional:

• Slow drains throughout the house: Multiple sluggish drains in your sinks, showers, or bathtubs could indicate a systemic issue, possibly in the main sewer line. Such a deep clog isn’t something a plunger or drain chemicals can fix and sewer line cleaning or spot repair might be necessary.
• Recurring clogs or no drainage despite DIY attempts: If water refuses to drain or clogs keep coming back after your best efforts to clear them, you know the underlying problem hasn’t been resolved. Persistent issues require a professional assessment and service intervention.
• Gurgling sounds or foul odors: These problems emanating from your drains suggest trapped air or decomposing waste. A blockage or venting issue is likely, both of which benefit from professional attention.
• Water backing up in sinks, tubs, or toilets: Backflow and standing water in fixtures is a common sign of a main sewer line blockage. If not promptly addressed, unsanitary conditions and potential water damage may occur.
• Interacting plumbing fixtures: If flushing the toilet causes water to bubble up in the tub or the sink backs up when you run the dishwasher, consider that a red flag. These cross-interactions between fixtures point to a blockage deep in the main sewer line that only a professional can clear.
• Standing water around floor drains: Water pooling around basement or garage floor drains is another sign of a main line blockage. This often means wastewater has nowhere to go and could back up inside your home.

Benefits of Professional Drain Cleaning

Hiring a professional plumber offers several advantages over repeated DIY attempts:

• Specialized equipment: Professionals use sewer video cameras to accurately locate blockages, heavy-duty motorized augers to clear deep clogs in drain pipes and sewer lines, and hydro-jetting equipment to pressure wash and scour the insides of your pipes. These tools are both effective and safe for your plumbing system.
• Accurate diagnosis and long-term solutions: A professional can figure out what’s causing the problem—whether it’s grease buildup, foreign objects, or structural issues with your pipes —and provide effective long-term solutions that prevent stop future clogs before they start.
• Health, safety, and sanitation: A thorough professional cleaning removes the gunk buildup and debris inside your pipes that harbors bacteria and mold. This keeps your home smelling cleaner and prevents unnecessary health risks.
• Protect your plumbing system: Addressing issues correctly the first time prevents the escalating costs and frustration associated with repeated DIY attempts while lengthening the lifespan of your drains and sewer lines.

Don’t Risk It—Know When to Call

While DIY methods are often suitable for tackling minor drain clogs, they may only provide temporary relief and can lead to bigger and costly problems in your drain pipes and sewer lines if mishandled. Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has been serving Knoxville, TN, since 2001, earning the trust of over 70,000 customers.

Our licensed and certified plumbers use the latest tools and techniques to handle drain and sewer issues efficiently and safely. We also pride ourselves on our commitment to quality, offering Same Day Service Guaranteed, or the Visit is FREE!

Don’t let a simple clog turn into a plumbing nightmare. Contact us today to schedule reliable drain cleaning services.