Slow Drains Could Be A Sign Of An Impending Plumbing Emergency

Slow drains and clogs are bound to happen sooner or later. Most of the time, you can clear a clogged drain yourself if the problem is from something you just flushed down the drain that is stuck. That's a little different than dealing with a slow drain that gets slower and slower until it refuses to empty. In that case, you'll probably have better luck by letting a plumber, like those at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, clean out the drain. Here's why slow drains are such a problem and how they can be cleaned.

Why Slow Drains Are A Sign Of Trouble

When water is slow to empty from your sink, that's a sign the pipe is constricted somewhere. It might be due to a buildup of scale, soap scum, and grease on the sides of the pipe that grab on to tiny food particles. If that's the case, the debris will probably keep growing and give you problems until the drain is cleaned out. A plunger usually won't clear grime like this effectively.

How Drains Are Cleaned

One of the best ways to clean a drain is to scour it with a hydro jet. This process is done by a plumber because care has to be taken not to damage the pipes. The plumber uses a hose with water that's under pressure to knock off all the debris that's clinging to the inside of the pipes. The spray from the hose shoots out in all directions, so the entire pipe is cleaned out along its length and on all sides. This can get rid of years of build up and make your drains smell better too once the rotting food and slime is gone.

Not all drains are suitable for hydro jetting. If your pipes are old and corroded, they might be too weak for the force of the water. In that case, the plumber might clear out the clog with a drain snake. This aparatus has rotating blades on the end that chop through clogs. A snake can get rid of paper clogs as well as tree roots. However, because it is designed differently than a hydro jet, it doesn't clean the drain at the same time. Instead, it punches through the clog so water can flow normally again.

When you notice your drains seem slow to empty, use a plunger or manually clear hair or other debris to see if you can clear the clog. If your efforts don't work, consider calling a plumber before the drain stops completely and you have an emergency on your hands.