How Drain Cleaning Techniques Work

The most important part of any home, restaurant, hotel, or hog barn is getting rid of waste. There are two ways to remove waste: carry it out or through a drain system.

If you are old enough to remember, each bedroom had a little bucket. That little bucket was used instead of walking to the outhouse in the middle of the night. It’s scary outside at night you know. There was also a bucket under the sink too.

Then technology solved the problem with the installation of indoor plumbing. The sinks were all connected to a pipe that took the water out to a central city waste pipe or if you lived in the country, the waste was taken to a collection tank called a septic tank where the solids decomposed and later the liquid was leached into a drain field and safely into the ground.

Drains Often Plug and Need Drain Cleaning Bellmore systems work very well until a time comes when they plug. A clogged line could be a minor problem if it was just a seldom used sink. It could be a major problem if a central line gets clogged.

Chemical and Enzymatic Drain Cleaners When it comes to drain cleaners, store shelves have hundreds of selections. They come in liquid, solid or gel. In all case a chemical reaction occurs to clear the clog. In most cases you will notice heat being generated in the process.

But before someone pours a bottle of drain cleaner down the drain should know what is in the bottle first. There are two types of cleaners: chemical and enzymatic

Chemical drain cleaners are corrosive. They damage galvanized steel, PVC plastic, steel and copper pipes. While the chemical sits and eats the clog, it is destroying the pipe and fixtures too. Don’t get the chemicals on your skin. It will eat away your skin just as it does the clog.

Enzymatic cleaners live in the pipe and eat the clog. They take some time to clear, but they are natural and safe and will not damage your plumbing.

Be careful not to mix chemical drain cleaners as it may cause dangerous accidents.

Mechanical and Pressure Drain Cleaners

Drain Augers The simplest way to clean a clog is with your everyday manual turn auger. Simply put the snake in the pipe and turn. The running action stirs the clog to loosen it and soon opens the pipe.

Electric Drain Cleaners These are essentially electrically operated versions of the manual drain auger. It is better for larger jobs such as main lines that have clogged.

Air Burst Drain Cleaners Clogs are freed in a pipe using a blast of compressed air, CO2 cartridges or other compressed gas. When triggered the air is blasted through the pipe. The use of an Air Burst Drain Cleaner, Such as Kleer Drain Instant Drain Opener is best when the clog if close to the opening. If the clog is at a distance, the force is not near as powerful.

Drain Repair and Installation Bellmore Extreme water pressure is use to clear the clog. The pressure is also able to cut through the clog to clean it. The pressure also cleans the pipe much in the same was as a pressure washer cleans the outside of your car.