A clogged drain can go from a small inconvenience to a major headache before you even realize it. That slow drain or quiet gurgle might not seem like much—until water starts backing up and disrupting your home.
Whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or shower, dealing with a clog can be frustrating, but catching it early can save you from bigger problems down the line.
Before you waste your time (and your money) on DIY clog fixes that may or may not work, read on to learn more about clogged drains and your options for drain cleaning in Nashville, TN.
What Causes Clogged Drains?
Drains are plumbing pipes that allow water to exit your home and run into the sewer system or a septic tank. You’ll find a drain under your kitchen sink, shower, or bathtub. Your toilet, washer, and dishwasher also use drains.
A clog happens when something blocks a drain. Common culprits include:
- Food. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, bits of food can build up in your kitchen drain. Grease, oil, and other foods that solidify when cold can cause serious clogs!
- Hair. Hair can build up in your shower drain and form stubborn clogs.
- Foreign objects. Flushing or dropping objects in a drain is another common plumbing problem.
- Tree roots. Did you know tree roots can grow through pipes and block them?
- Hard Water. Nashville has moderately hard water. Minerals in your drinking water can react with soap to form hard deposits in your pipes, eventually narrowing your drains.
Signs You Need Drain Cleaning in Nashville, TN
Is it a clog or something else? Let’s examine the common signs of a clogged drain.
You can usually diagnose the issue yourself since these signs are easy to recognize:
- Water sits in your sink or shower. It either won’t drain or drains slower than usual.
- Clogged sinks, showers, and toilets often back up.
- You might notice a bad odor coming from a clogged drain. Over time, mold and bacteria can grow in clogged pipes, causing a foul smell.
- When water drips down a clogged drain, air bubbles can form and cause gurgling and other unusual noises.
- For serious clogs in your plumbing system, you might notice these symptoms in multiple fixtures.
DIY Fixes: Can You Get Rid of Plumbing Clogs Yourself?
DIY fixes can handle small clogs, but be mindful of the products you use—some can damage your plumbing. If nothing works, it’s best to call a pro rather than risk unintended harm to your pipes.
- Hot water. Boiling water can damage plumbing pipes (especially the PVC ones). The trick is to use water that is hot enough to dissolve food bits and other waste but not too hot that it damages your plumbing pipes.
- Dish soap. Using lots of dish soap and a little warm water can have a lubricant effect that dislodges small clogs.
- Vinegar and baking soda. This popular DIY fix leads to a fizzy chemical reaction. The bubbles can be enough to flush a minor clog.
- Plunger. If the clog isn’t too deep, a plunger can create enough suction to dislodge it.
- Drain cleaners. These chemicals can dissolve clogs; however, you should use them with caution. They’re a good option if the water is still draining so that the chemicals are somewhat diluted as they enter the pipes. For more serious clogs, these harsh chemicals will sit above the clog for too long, potentially damaging the pipe. When in doubt, it’s best not to use them.
You can also dislodge debris or a foreign object only for them to move down the drain and clog it again.
When to Call a Nashville Drain Cleaning Expert
Give the DIY fixes listed above a try. If they don’t work, it’s time to call a Nashville plumber. They’ll safely remove the clog, prevent damage to the pipes, and diagnose any plumbing issues that caused the drain in the first place.
Plumbers remove clogs with special tools:
- Drain snakes or augers are a common option. These tools are essentially long cables that the plumber inserts in a drain to physically remove the clog. While you can buy a snake, it’s best to have a pro do it since you can scratch or even puncture plumbing pipes if you’re not careful.
- Cable cleaners are somewhat similar to drain snakes – except they use small rotating blades to cut through clogs. They’re great for stubborn clogs!
- Your Nashville plumber can use a hydro-jetting machine to clear your plumbing system by injecting high-pressure water into it. This is a common solution for serious clogs in the main sewer line.
- What’s clogging your drain? A plumber can find out by inserting a small drain camera in the clogged pipe.
How to Prevent Clogged Drains
Your best line of defense against clogs is to prevent them! There are a few things you can do:
- Let hot water run every once in a while to clear your drains, especially your kitchen sink.
- Get some drain stoppers to catch hair and debris.
- When doing the dishes, scrape food residues into the garbage rather than the sink.
- Be careful with what you flush (only toilet paper is safe – and some brands dissolve more easily than others!).
- Hard water can contribute to clogged drains. If clogs are recurring, it’s time to look into a whole-home anti-scale system to prevent mineral buildups.
- You might need some plumbing upgrades. A drain cleaning Nashville, TN expert can inspect your plumbing and recommend replacing pipes with mineral buildups or sharp bends that facilitate clogs.
Professional Drain Cleaning in Nashville, TN with Airstream
Don’t wait if you suspect a clog. The issue will only get worse!
Airstream is here to help you with all your plumbing needs in the Nashville area. We’ve been around since 2012, and you can count on us to deliver high-quality work, plumbing expertise, and outstanding customer service.
Let’s get rid of that stubborn clog today! Book your plumbing service now or call us at (866) 238-5432.
FAQ
What is the average cost of drain cleaning?
Depending on the size of the home and the severity of the clogs, you can expect to spend $100 to $500.
Can you remove a clog yourself?
You can remove some small clogs yourself with hot water, dish soap, a plunger, or another DIY method.
How do plumbers remove clogs?
Plumbers use drain snakes or hydro-jetting machines to get rid of stubborn clogs.
Will boiling hot water damage my plumbing pipes?
Yes! Boiling hot water can melt the joints used to weld PVC pipes together. Hot water can clear some clogs, but you should never pour boiling water down a drain.
Is professional drain cleaning worth it?
Absolutely. Professional drain cleaning is the best way to remove tough clogs and address recurring plumbing issues linked to clogging.
