Professional Drain Cleaning: When Plungers, Snakes Don’t Work on Clogs

by | Aug 3, 2015 | Drain Cleaning

Professional drain cleaning is almost always an inevitable last resort for any tenant or homeowner in Saskatoon and elsewhere. Quite often it happens that the kitchen or toilet drains get too dense with build-up. Things like grease, fat, and soap build up so that water can no longer flow through. The solution requires more than just a plunger.

Plumber fixing pipe under sink

Sometimes, however, the cause of blockage is outside the home. Problems may occur between the house and the exterior environment. Clogged drains may also be caused by winter temperatures dipping below -12ºC.

A congested drain can cause some unpleasant issues, from interior flooding to foul smells. In such serious cases, it’s best to have plumbing experts. Their technical knowledge and experience, to deal with the challenges.

Tools of the Trade

One of the ways to free up a clogged drain is by using an “electric auger”. This device is inserted into the drainpipe, cutting through any blockages around the drain walls. They’re especially handy because they are long enough to reach deep down into the pipes. Using the drain auger (also called a drain snake) is usually the next tool that is used when plunging does not work. A little elbow grease and a plunger are often the first tools one grabs to fix a clogged drain. They are convenient to use to clear any easily removable obstructions in the pipes.

A drain snake, which is a coiled, spiral device, is pushed deep into the drain to cut through the obstructions to help break up the dregs so they could be flushed out or pulled out. Some drain augers can be attached to an electric drill so it could cut through the debris more powerfully.

Handy fixer-uppers sometimes use a mini rooter to clear deeper clogs as the machine can go 75 feet into the drain. It also may be necessary to snake out the debris from under the kitchen sink. If cleaning the drain line or the fixture trap does not resolve the congestion, and you are not able to root out the dross, it’s time to call the professionals.

When to Call the Pros

When the clog requires more work that is beyond your know-how, especially when you suspect the problem lies along the main drain to the street, don’t hesitate to call your local drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, such as Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, who will have the knowledge, experience, and powerful tools to deal with tree roots, caved in pipes, and stubborn debris deep in your home’s drainpipes.