A clogged drain is one of the more annoying problems homeowners have to deal with every while. It can cause frequent toilet overflows, slow water draining, sewage backup, and a bad smell. If you think you’ve got a clogged drain at home and are considering cleaning them, you probably have many questions. Below you can learn more about popular drain cleaning methods and the best drain cleaning services for your home.

Why do drains get clogged?

Drains don’t get clogged for no reason. Several things contribute to blockage over time. These include utilizing toilets, showers, and sinks, disposing of garbage, and using kitchen appliances that are hooked up to the sewer system and water supply. Some of the most common objects and substances that lead to clogged drains include hair, soap, dirt, food waste, wipes and diapers, feminine products, toilet paper, and tree roots.

Signs your home needs drain cleaning

In most cases, drain blockage occurs gradually. That means you may have the opportunity to notice warning signs and take actions that can prevent it from becoming a more serious problem. Here are five common signs your home needs drain cleaning:

Slow water drainage: If the water in your sink or bathtub is taking longer than normal to empty, there may be a clog forming in your drain, mostly due to hair, soap, grease, or food particles.

Foul odor: Unexplained bad smell from your kitchen drain is likely the result of a block in the plumbing pipe. The source of the smell may be waste sitting in your drain.

Gurgling sounds: It’s not natural for well-functioning sinks to produce gurgling sounds or any other weird noises. These noises indicate that there’s a clog developing somewhere in your drain.

Overflowing toilets: Toilets that clog or often overflow without clear explanation are a sign there’s a problem building up behind the scenes. Waste and toilet paper often clog up toilets, preventing them from emptying properly.

Frequent clogs: If you have to unclog the toilet or shower drain every week or so, you’re at risk of experiencing a major clog in your plumbing system that may need professional help.

Drain cleaning methods

Here are some popular drain cleaning methods.

Chemical drain cleaning: This method involves pouring readily-available chemical drain cleaning products directly into the drain to dissolve all the clogged-up contents. These cleaning products are made of solid or liquid forms of acids and alkaline. While this might be the easiest drain cleaning method, it’s important to keep in mind that certain products are toxic and corrosive and can cause pipe corrosion and burns on your skin.

Drain snaking: In this method, a long, thick, flexible tool called a drain snake, also referred to as a plumbing auger, is inserted into the drain pipe. This tool has a hand crank on one end and a corkscrew on the other. The user is supposed to send the drain snake further down the pipe until it reaches the clog and dislodges or disintegrates it. Drain snaking is one of the oldest and most effective drains cleaning methods.

Hydro jetting: This is a relatively new drain cleaning method but has become popular very quickly. Hydro jetting uses a high-pressure (up to 35,000 PSI) stream of water to blast all the built-up waste out of the pipe. This process can remove any clogs that have accumulated in your drain pipe, including years of mineral scale deposits, grease, tree roots, and other resilience debris.

Cleaning drain pipes on your own may not be a good idea, especially if the blockage is serious and can do more harm than good. You must consider hiring a drain cleaning professional to get the job done effectively and efficiently.

Top drain cleaning companies

Here are some of the best drain cleaning services in the country:

Roto-Rooter: With more than 400 offices located across the country, Roto-Rooter is one of the largest drain cleaning companies. It’s been in the business since 1935 and is known for providing unrivaled drain cleaning services in both residential and commercial properties. The company’s professionals are available 24/7 for any emergency or a routine drain cleanup.

Rooter-Man: This company has been around for more than 50 years, offering professional drain cleaning services to residential and commercial properties in the country and Canada via its 450+ offices. Rooter-Man’s team of highly skilled professionals is available 24/7 to perform routine drain maintenance and emergency cleaning.

Zoom Drain: Founded in 1995, Zoom Drain is available in about 15 states. They offer top-quality drain and sewer cleaning services in residential and commercial spaces. The company’s professionals are trained to use various methods to unclog and fix kitchen and bathroom drain, toilet drain, storm and outside drains, and more.