There’s nothing worse than a clogged drain filled with hair. Sometimes it seems like no matter how much gunky hair you pull from the drain, it just won’t unclog! But, dealing with the pooling water it causes can be just as irritating. The truth is eliminating most clogs isn’t as simple as scooping out a few strings of hair and going about your business. Instead, they’re a result of buildup over time that creates a significant drainage issue.
If you’ve reached the point of slow water drainage, it’s time to take action. As professional plumbers, we see this problem on a daily basis. To help you out with this hairy situation, here’s how we would handle your clogged drains if you called on us to stop by:
We’ll ask what you’ve done so far
When our technicians gets to your home, they’ll ask you what you’ve already done to remove the blockage. If you’ve used a chemical drain cleaner, like Drano, then it’s important to let your technician know. Although Drano is well-known, it can be very harmful to your pipes and even harmful to you and anyone who comes into contact with it.
Getting the hair clog out of the drain
Depending on what you’ve already done, the technician may examine the drain to see the extent of the clogging. Anything that’s within reach will be cleared. If the blockage seems close to the drain, he may use a drain snake from the location of the backup to clear the pipes. If you’re experiencing backups in multiple locations or the drain snake isn’t effective from the drain, the technician may want to take a look at the main line.
More serious drainage problems
The main sewer line is actually one of the most common lines to back up. The hair in your drain could just be a symptom of a bigger problem. If attempts to clear the clog locally don’t work then the technician will likely move on to the main line to check for more significant blockages.
If the technician thinks the main line needs attention, he may use the same drain snaking approach for that line as well. If it’s more stubborn than that, he may try using a high-pressure water jet to chip away at buildup. Think of it as a power washer for the inside of your sewer line. If none of that works, your technician will probably want to use a camera to inspect your sewer line to locate the problem areas.
Depending on what’s discovered and what needs clearing or replacing, the costs for this process will vary greatly.
How to avoid getting another clogged drain
Letting anything and everything go down your drain will eventually cause major damage and cost you a ton of money. You can eliminate those annoying clogs in your drain for good by following these preventative tips:
- Mind what you put down the drain: Oils and greases will build up in your drain (and don’t use Drano unless you absolutely follow the directions on the label!)
- Cover your drain with some type of screen to catch hair. Hair is a common threat to drain performance. By preventing from ever reaching the drain, you’ll save yourself from having to dig it out later
- Get a basic cleaning from your local plumber: Don’t wait for a complete blockage to ruin your day and cost you money. If you notice any slowing in your drainage, call on an expert to take a look and perform basic cleaning of your drainage system.
If you need help getting rid of hair clogs in your drain or you think you have a more serious drainage problem, contact Robinson’s Plumbing today for fast, effective service.