What Not to Do When Your Pipes Clog Up

Avoid these DIY clog-clearing disasters

When your pipes are clogged, it can be tempting to try every trick you can think of to clear them. However, no matter how annoying it is to have standing water in your sink or a toilet that won’t flush properly, there are a few things you should never do in an attempt to get rid of clogs.

Don’t Poke at It

Drain snakes, also called augers, can be useful tools if you know how to use them. If you don’t, all you’ll wind up doing when you stick one down the drain is stuffing the clog further into the pipes. Using an auger is pointless for large clogs if they’re located further down than the instrument will reach.

The same thing goes for unbent coat hangers. These might work to clean out a clogged vacuum hose, but putting one down the drain in the hopes that it will clear a clog is futile at best.

Don’t Rely on Chemicals

While the occasional use of mild drain cleaner on small clogs is okay if you follow the instructions on the product, frequent use can eat away at your pipes and lead to bigger problems in the future. Using industrial-strength cleaners with an acid or lye base is even worse. Not only will these not clear big clogs, they might also move small ones further down, stripping part of the pipe as they do so.

Don’t Become a Plumber

Unless you have experience working with pipes, the last thing you want to do in an attempt to clear a clog is take the plumbing apart. Dismantling pipes may seem easy enough, but without knowing exactly where they’re clogged, you could wind up spending hours hunched on the floor with your head under the sink. Even if you did manage to find the problem, then you’d have to put everything back together, which is like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle without the picture on the box, only much more expensive if you get it wrong. If your attempt is unsuccessful, it could lead to costly leaks as well as a major headache.

Don’t let the frustration of having clogged pipes drive you to do something you’ll regret. Instead, give ABC Home & Commercial Services a call. Our San Antonio area specialists can take care of clogs for you the right way without damaging your pipes. Visit our website for a full listing of services or to schedule repairs today. The sooner you can get your pipes cleared out, the sooner life can go back to normal.