Why Snaking A Drain Should Be Left To The Experts In Toronto

Clogs are one of the most common types of plumbing issues. They cause havoc in your pipes, leading to slow draining, water damage, and potential backups with dirty drain water. At best, they’re an inconvenience, and at worst, they’ll cause costly damage to your home's plumbing system. It is important to address clogs promptly to prevent further complications and ensure the smooth flow of water in your Toronto home. Drain snaking is one method our experienced Toronto plumbers use to clear clogs from pipes.

However, like most plumbing repairs, drain snaking is often best left to the professionals. An inexperienced amateur plumber can cause more damage to their pipes if they’re not careful, and certain clogs can’t be fixed with a DIY plumbing repair or cleaning. It’s important to weigh the potential risks and benefits before attempting any plumbing repairs yourself. When in doubt, it’s best to call a professional to ensure the job is done safely and effectively.

What’s Involved In Snaking A Drain: The Toronto Plumbing Guide

Drain snaking refers to the process of using a long, flexible tool called a plumbing snake to clear clogs and debris from drains and pipes, restoring proper water flow and helping to prevent further plumbing issues. Plumbing snakes, or plumbing augers, are commonly used by professional plumbers to tackle stubborn clogs that cannot be easily cleared with a plunger or chemical drain cleaner. In addition to removing clogs, snaking can also help to identify the cause of the blockage, such as tree roots or a buildup of cooking grease, clumps of hair, or soap scum, allowing for targeted solutions to prevent future clogs. This proactive approach can save you time and money by addressing the root of the problem.

If you know what you’re doing, drain snaking can save you time and money in busting through the blockage. A professional plumber can inspect your plumbing system and find the best way to fix or clean your drain system with minimal disruption.

Can’t I Snake My Own Drain?

Technically, yes: any homeowner can purchase a basic plumbing auger or drain cleaning tool at their local hardware store, and attempt to clear a clog in their plumbing themselves. However, using a drain snake requires more than a little elbow grease, wire hanger, or a DIY snake drain fix, and can cause further damage if not used properly.

Firstly, snaking requires a fair amount of patience. You’ll need to feed the snake cable carefully through the pipe inch by inch until you encounter the clog and pierce it with the auger head, a process that can be tedious and time-consuming, especially when you need to navigate around the various curves in plumbing like the drain trap.

Secondly, drains are different sizes. Toilet drains are 3 inches in diameter, shower drains and bathtub drains are 2 inches wide, and bathroom or kitchen sinks are 1.5 inches wide. As plumbing augers don’t come in one uniform size, you might end up sending an ill-sized one down your sink drain, causing further harm.

Thirdly, you don’t know where the drain clog is exactly. Professional plumbers use specialized cameras and video equipment to inspect drain lines. This helps them locate blockages efficiently and determine the cause and method of removal. The average homeowner does not have access to this equipment, making the task of locating the clog a challenging endeavor.

Finally, there will be times when you shouldn’t use an auger on a clogged drain. Homeowners shouldn't use a drain auger to clear a clogged sewer drain because residential snaking devices cannot reach the blockage, which is usually deep down the line in a sewer pipe. Old, fragile pipes won’t be able to stand up to the force and pressure exerted by an auger, increasing the risk of costly repairs. If you’ve recently used a drain cleaner on the clog, it's also not recommended to use a drain snake, as the residual chemicals from the drain cleaner can react with the snake, causing harmful fumes or even dangerous reactions. Additionally, if repeated attempts to remove the clog haven’t yielded results, don’t attempt to keep trying to resolve it yourself.

In these cases, it is recommended to consult a professional plumber who has the expertise to handle clogs without causing any harm.

When In Doubt, Leave It To The Professionals

While homeowners tend to be fairly handy, if you’re not experienced or confident in DIY plumbing repairs, you should leave it to the service professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Toronto ON. That’s because your home’s plumbing is a complex system that requires specialized knowledge and skills to ensure proper installation and maintenance. Hiring professionals not only guarantees a job done right but also saves you from potentially costly repairs caused by amateur mistakes.

Fixing a clog or snaking may seem easy, but the job requires using safety equipment like a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles to protect yourself from any potential splashes or spills of dirty water, and can be a lengthy, frustrating process which, if you’re not careful, will cause further damage to your pipes like accidentally pushing the clog further down, or scratching the interior of your drain pipes, leading to leaks and corrosion.

A licensed plumber can not only find clogs more easily, they have the experience and skills to safely remove them without causing further damage to your narrow pipes or plumbing fixtures.

Snaking a Drain in Toronto Doesn’t Have to Be Hard—Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing!

There are things a homeowner can do to prevent plumbing clogs. Not sending items like coffee grounds, bits of food, or other non-flushable products down your pipes, investing in drain covers or sink strainers, or running cold water after using your garbage disposal or garburator can all help prevent clogs.

At home remedies like pouring a cup of vinegar and baking soda down the drain, waiting 20 to 30 minutes, then chasing it with boiling hot water can help solve minor clog issues, but for tough clogs, it's best to contact a plumbing professional to clear the line. At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we work with all types of drain snakes, ensuring your plumbing lines remain healthy and in working order.

Schedule a service today and have all your plumbing nightmares handled with ease! Whether you’re in Toronto or the surrounding areas of Beaches and East York, we’re here to make snaking a drain in Toronto a walk in the park!