Calgary Plumbing: Doing it Yourself?
When to Call a Plumber or DIY
If you are like the average homeowner, then you know full well how to work a basic toilet plunger or pour a chemical drain cleaner down a clogged sink. But many times these tried-and-true techniques are not adequate enough to clear the drain, and it may remain clogged or become re-clogged. When this occurs, it is sometimes because some peculiar object has been flushed down the drain (where did little Billy put that toy car?) and is blocking the free passage of water. When this happens, more dramatic procedures are required to get your plumbing up and running again. So is it a do-it-yourself job or do you need to call out the big guns – the plumber?
Drain Cleaning
Liquid drain cleaner is very caustic and can take care of a plethora of nasty clogs, but if it doesn’t work, a physical drain cleaning may be the only thing that will get rid of the problem. A device called a plumber’s “snake” (available at most hardware stores for us non-plumbers) is sometimes fed down the pipe in an attempt to reach the obstruction. (It is worthy of noting that some ingenious and frugal housewives have created their own snakes with an unwound wire coat rack).With a clogged sink, cleaning the sink trap and using a plumber’s snake may be sufficient. One can also try to cover the overflow valve on the sink drain, which functions to build pressure and may help to burst through the clog. However, absent any success from this method, a power auger may be needed. In this case, calling up a professional plumber is almost a given as most folks do not have the basic plumbing knowledge that is required to operate this device while not inflicting further damage on their expensive plumbing systems. Keep in mind that pipes are not indestructible, and although the cost of calling out a plumber may give your wallet goose bumps, it is often the smartest and most cost-effective choice. When you call a plumber, be sure to give the plumber a specific description of what is wrong and perhaps even ask for an inspection of your home’s drain system as well so that you don’t need to call him out a second time if there is a larger “evil” at work in your drains.
Homespun Drain Maintenance
While the big chemical companies want you to keep buying their products to take care of simple clogs, the truth of the matter is that you can concoct your own homespun drain cleaning products at home, using products that cost less than a dollar. Boiling water and baking soda, or vinegar and baking soda are excellent drain cleaners. For bathtubs or sinks that are clogged with a known culprit – hair – cosmetic hair remover works wonders, literally eating away the hair clog and freeing your drain with less toxic ingredients that most drain cleaners. It really does pay, also, to use an enzyme culture monthly in your drains in order to keep them clog free and running smoothly; you can purchase a box of this product at any big retailer for less than five dollars. Whatever drain cleaner you do use, be careful not to mix them. They can violently react with one another, damaging your pipes or even worse, damaging your lungs if you breathe in the vapors!
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Keywords: Plumber, do it yourself diy, cleaner, damaging pipes, clogged sink snake, Calgary Plumbing
