Most plumbing experts recommend scheduling a professional drain cleaning once a year. An annual cleaning can purify your pipes, remove any buildup, and flush out any potential blockage. It also reveals any problems you may have with your plumbing such as damage, loose connections, or water leaks. Professional drain cleaning is a simple, low-cost task that can save you time and money down the road.
What Is Professional Drain Cleaning?
For simple unclogging work, you can expect a professional plumber to clean your drains using a motorized drain auger or drain snake, which can take care of almost any size of obstruction within a drainpipe. Often, drain cleaning will start with a drain auger to remove basic drain trouble.
Some plumbers use a water jetting device to remove the blockage in your pipes. The hose sprays a high-pressure stream of water into the pipe, hitting all areas of the pipe walls and blasting any waste buildup out of the system. This method is popular because it both removes the current clog and makes it harder for further clogs to form in the future.
What Does Professional Drain Cleaning Remove?
Drain cleaning removes many chemicals and substances lodged in your pipes. Some of the most common items drain cleaning removes include
Grease
One of the common misconceptions about grease is that you can flush it using hot water and soap or dishwashing liquid. However, a lot of grease residue remains on the inner pipe wall no matter how much hot water you drain. Over time, the grease builds up and hardens. It can be difficult to remove.
Calcium and Magnesium Buildup
Hard water contains high amounts of dissolved minerals, including calcium and magnesium. As water flows through your pipes, some of those calcium and magnesium minerals get left behind. Over time, those minerals can build up, causing unsightly stains and scaling.
Food Waste
Food and substances that do not break down, such as fibrous food, egg shells, and non-food items, along with grease and oil, will build up in your pipes and create a clog in your drain over time. Do not allow meat bones, coffee grounds, fibrous vegetables, oils, nuts, eggshells, and starches to go down the kitchen drain. Professional drain cleaning jobs often include removing these items from your plumbing.
Soap Buildup
Solid soap chunks can clog up pipes by getting stuck or merging with existing accumulation to form thicker and more obstructive coats. Bar soap has a habit of re-solidifying in your drains, leading to clumps that form into a large, goopy mass. Over time, soap will cause a blockage that a plumber needs to clear out.
Small Objects
Small objects may end up in your drains and clog your pipes by accident. For instance, objects can fall down the shower or sink drain if the opening is not protected by a guard or be flushed down the toilet if they fall into the bowl.
What Are the Benefits of Professional Drain Cleaning?
There are several practical reasons to schedule professional drain cleaning. Some of them are:
Remove Plumbing Odors
Odors can occur from sewage, calcium buildup, grease, bacteria, dirty garbage disposals, or foreign objects lingering in the pipes. A professional flush removes these items and gives your plumbing a fresh start. You will notice a significant improvement in how your drains smell.
Reduces the Chances of a Full Plumbing Blockage
When combined, grease, hair, calcium, and soap can work together to create a solid wall of blockage that is almost impossible for water to penetrate. Home remedies will not work after a certain point. An annual professional drain cleaning can prevent massive buildup and keep your plumbing system clear at all times.
Prevents Plumbing Damage
Water and air pressure naturally build up in your plumbing system. For this reason, contractors install plumbing vents to release the pressure. Blockage can undermine the vents’ function, allowing pressure to build up in the system. It can lead to loose connections and burst pipes, as well as structural damage from water leaks. Cleaning out the pipes prevents pressure buildup.
Saves You Money in Costly Plumbing Repairs
Plumbers often use video inspection equipment to locate and identify plumbing blockage. While draining your pipes, a plumber may identify other issues that you need to address. It is important to take care of small issues before they become big problems that cost you time and money.
Speeds Up Water Drain and Flow
Few things are as frustrating as slow-draining pipes. A professional drain cleaning prevents water from standing in your shower or sink. It promotes healthy toilet flushing and keeps water from backing up in the system.
Schedule Professional Drain Cleaning in Ashburn, Virginia
If you have clogged drains and your water or sewage is backing up, call the professionals at Cardinal Plumbing, Heating & Air. We offer comprehensive drain cleaning services in Ashburn, Virginia. We can take care of all your sewer and drain cleaning issues.
Fill out our contact form or call us to schedule plumbing services in Ashburn, Virginia,