While there are many plumbing tasks you can do on your own, there are several reasons to leave it to the professionals. When it comes to cleaning out your drains, some clogs are just too tough to do on your own, and you may not have the best tools to get the job done. If done incorrectly, you can cause even more damage, and replacing or installing new drains can cost thousands of dollars.
Here are a few reasons why you should hire a professional to clean out your drains instead of doing it yourself.
When Drain and Chemicals Don’t Work
Most local stores carry a wide variety of drain-cleaning chemicals. It is easier to pour a chemical cleaner down the drain, but it may not always work. These are not powerful enough to clear a tougher clog and often they do not clear out clogs completely.
Plus, using chemicals on your pipes can damage them. Anything with hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid can break down a clog, but it can also break down pipes, sinks, garbage disposals, and more.
You also need to safely store and use chemicals by keeping them out of reach of children and wearing protective gear when using them. Professionals tend not to use chemicals to clean out your drains.
When You Don’t Have the Tools
A professional plumber carries many tools to clear clogs like specialty plungers, a sink auger, snake tools, a snake camera, and water jets. These tools can clear a clogged drain much better than chemicals can, and without damaging your pipes.
While you may have a plunger in your home, plumbers carry plungers in various sizes and shapes unique for the specific job. They also have a sink auger designed to clear sink or shower clogs, snake tools that can be put down a drain, water jets for jobs that need high-pressure to break, without damaging pipes, and even a “snake camera” which can help see the problem.
When You Don’t Know What’s Down There
Finally, you should hire a professional to clean out your drains if you don’t know what is causing the clog. Often clogs are caused by hair buildup or food waste, but it could be anything. The more complicated the clog, the more important it is to hire a professional.
When You DO Know What’s Down There – And You Want it Back
If you’ve lost delicate items like jewelry or electronics down a drain, then you’ll want professional assistance to help you retrieve them. This is where a professional’s snake camera can come in handy to locate and safely retrieve items.
At the end of the day, it’s better to be safe than sorry with your plumbing and hire a professional to clean out your drains. While hiring a professional to clean out your drains can cost $100 to $400 depending on the complexity of the drain, it will still save you in the long run. If you damage your pipes in a DIY drain fix, it can cost you thousands to repair.