Drain Questions – Answers to Common Questions

Are dissolving liquid drain openers (like Draino or Liquid Plumber) harmful to pipes?
Draino and like product are adequate for minor clogs, but do not overuse them and never use them on a completely clogged drain. The corrosive ingredients will be trapped in your pipes, which can severely damage them. For any severely drained clog we definitely recommend you to contact us to do so.   Also, never use dissolving drain openers in a drain that has a garbage disposal.

Why does my bathtub constantly have standing water?
The main cause of drainage problems in tubs in showers is hair clogging the pipes.  Physical removal of hair is best. Overuse of chemical based drain clearing products will eat away and corrode metal piping causing many kinds of repair issues.  Always let us know when you have used one of these harsh chemicals before we work on the pipes to protect us from the chemicals.

My kitchen sink constantly gets clogged.  What can I do to fix this?
The most often clogged drain is the kitchen sink. Kitchen sink stoppages are usually caused by liquid fats, emulsified by warm soapy dishwater and then carried through the drainpipes. As the water cools, it proceeds down the drain and leaves the fatty deposits along the piping. A film of grease forms on the pipe wall and so on. Coffee grounds, egg shells, etc add to this accumulation layer until the pipe becomes impassible.

Never pour excess grease down a sink drain.  The best is to pour it  into a tin can, such as an old coffee container.   When using a garbage disposal, always let sufficient cold water run to carry the particles down and into the main line to prevent buildup in the smaller waste lines.