4 Natural Drain Cleaning Techniques

Proven Plumbing Solutions For Your Daphne Home

Tired of dealing with clogged drains? Believe it or not, chemical drain cleaners aren’t the only way to get rid of blockages. In fact, many of these products pose a health hazard to you and your pipes. When it comes time to give your drains a deep clean, you shouldn’t need to rely on methods that work against you and your plumbing system.

Plenty of homeowners make use of drain cleaning techniques that don’t rely on hostile chemicals. With the help of Baldwin Heating & Cooling, you can too! We provide quality Daphne drain services, as well as some key techniques for your own cleaning. There’s no point in washing your drains if the method you use harms your pipes. Read ahead to see how to unclog a drain using a natural drain cleaner, while also keeping your pipes healthy.

You Don’t Need Chemical Drain Cleaners

Many people don’t know what they’re doing to their pipes when they use chemical cleaners. These chemicals are bad for your pipes, the environment and even yourself! If you want to clean your drains the healthy way, you don’t need to harm your home with these materials. Here are some reasons why you should consider leaving behind chemical drain cleaners:

• Chemical drain cleaners are corrosive, so they’ll damage the pipes they pass through. Plastic pipes, galvanized steel and older plumbing systems are particularly vulnerable.
• Contact with cleaner chemicals can cause physical irritation, and accidental inhalation can be very dangerous.
• When washed down drains, these chemicals can contaminate and pollute natural water sources.
• Residual chemicals can remain in your pipes, causing more problems down the line.
• Pipe repairs and replacements will burden you with unnecessary costs.

When you clean your drains, you want the job done right. Chemical drain cleaners simply won’t do that! There are far better natural alternatives available to you. The sooner you make the switch, the fewer costs you’ll incur from the effects of chemical cleaners.

Applying Natural Drain Cleaning Techniques

There’s a reason more homeowners are turning to the use of natural methods for cleaning their drains. Not only are they simple and effective, they’re also safer, cheaper and environmentally friendly. Natural drain cleaners are effective at removing minor clogs and preventing future ones, especially when employed regularly. Trust us — your pipes will thank you!

1. Bring In Baking Soda And Vinegar

Using baking soda and vinegar for drain-cleaning is a popular method, and for good reason. The chemical reaction it creates can take the fight to debris and grime. These chemicals aren’t harsh, so they won’t hurt your pipes or the environment the way others might. This combination can even help eliminate odors from the drain! Try this method:

• Pour at least a half cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of vinegar into the drain. Plug the drain to force the mixture to bubble down into the pipe.
• Let the mixture sit and do its magic. Wait about 20 minutes.
• Flush it all down with hot tap water. This helps to wash away the loosened debris.

While it may be tempting to use boiling water to ‘melt’ the blockage, it is not recommended. Boiling water can melt the adhesive between pipe connections and can warp PVC pipes, leading to costly plumbing damage.

2. Use Salt To Remove Grease

Salt can be used in much the same way as the previous method. It’s very abrasive and is good at breaking down substances in a clogged drain. Salt is grease’s worst enemy, so if you think your drain might be filled with grease, here’s your remedy. When using salt, try this:

• Pour a half cup of coarse salt into the drain. You can mix it with baking soda as well for more abrasion.
• Follow up the mixture with some hot tap water down the drain, which helps move the salt through the pipe, scouring the drain.
• You may need to repeat this process a few times, using half a cup of salt at a time, to completely clear the blockage.

You should take care to not use too much salt at once. An excessive amount of salt can corrode metal pipes over time.

3. Loosen Clogs With A Plunger

If you’d like to try a physical approach with no chemicals, consider using a plunger. So long as you have one available, the method is simple. Here’s the technique:

• Fill the sink with enough water to cover the bottom edge of the plunger.
• Place the plunger over the drain.
• Pump the plunger numerous times. What you’re doing is loosening the debris inside the drain.
• If you’re up to it, you can follow this up with some of the other methods. It never hurts to be thorough!

Make sure you’re using the right plunger for the job. A cup plunger is designed for flat drains like sinks and tubs. A flange plunger is specifically designed for the toilet.

Stay On Top Of Your Piping

Neglecting your home’s plumbing system can lead to big problems later on. By educating yourself on ways to keep your drain pipes clean and stable, you’ve put yourself ahead of the curve! We’d like to help your home stay as healthy as it deserves to be.

Baldwin Heating & Cooling provides expert drain cleaning and plumbing repair services for the people of Daphne. We’re out to keep your pipes in shape every step of the way. Give us a call today!