Widely-available, affordable and easy-to-use tools, plus tons of detailed how-to videos and websites, are helping to turn a lot of everyday homeowners into avid DIY-ers. As PG Management Group says a lot of what homeowners used to hire technicians now gets done by the homeowners themselves.
Some homeowners jump on the DIY train to save money (why pay someone else for something you can do yourself?). Others do it as a hobby; because they love fixing things. Yet others use it to get familiar with their home, its various systems and how they work.
This growing trend can be good or bad, depending on whom you ask. However, there is one thing everyone agrees on; there is a limit to what homeowners can DIY. Knowing what not to DIY in your home can make the difference between a $2000 repair bill versus a $10,000 bill.
That is particularly true when cleaning a home’s drain systems. Drains are often viewed as tough and capable of taking whatever we throw at them. After all, a lot of the goo and gunk that is generated in your home eventually flows into the drains. But this is a wrong perception.
Despite their relative toughness, home drains are fragile. They are designed to handle only certain types of content. As a result, they are sensitive to any other kind of material getting into them. That is why drain cleaning is where many homeowners make their worst DIY mistakes.
You are better off working with a local plumber experienced in drain cleaning. That is DIY why drain cleaning rarely gets the work done. The huge drain repair bill some homeowners incur is due to using DIY quick fixes to clean their home’s drains.
Why is DIY drain cleaning such a bad idea?
You can miss the problem or make it bigger
Most of what you see when your drains have a problem is often just a symptom of the real issue. For instance, clogs may happen in floor and toilet drains as a result of blockages that are deep inside the sewer line. While your focus is often on treating the immediate symptoms, the distant cause of the problem steadily gets worse.
Also, some drain cleaning solutions only compound the problem. This is the case when a DIY drain cleaning method results in a punctured or weakened pipe or pipe junction. Issues like these happen with prodding tools which are a favorite DIY drain-cleaning tool for homeowners. Chemical drain cleaners can also compound your drain’s problems.
Homeowners use chemical drain cleaners because they promise to – and do – clear drain clogs quickly. But the effectiveness of chemical drain cleaners is due to the powerful corrosives inside them. The corrosives not only attack the debris inside the pipes, but they also attack your pipes. Constant use of chemical drain cleaners will weaken drainpipes and make them susceptible to leaks. In time you will eventually have to replace those pipes, needlessly.
Home tools are ineffective
Home tools are attractive because they get immediate results, even if they only create an illusion of solving the problem. When there is a blockage in your drain, that problem is not solved when the drain starts to flow again. The problem is solved when the material blocking the drain is removed. Most home-use solutions do not remove the cause of the blockage. For instance:
- Plungers are only effective when a blockage is close to the opening of the drain. A plunger can worsen the problem by pushing the blockage deeper into the pipe.
- Wire hangers and chemical cleaners only cut a hole through the offending material inside the drain, but the pipe’s diameter is still narrowed. Consistent use of these methods offers immediate reprieve that allows the blockage to get progressively worse.
- Baking soda & vinegar mix is a good option because it does not harm your pipes. The problem with this solution is it needs a closed container to be effective. Since drainpipes do not provide such an environment, this solution is ineffective for serious clogs.
You expose yourself to danger
The amount of danger involved in cleaning your home’s plumbing is often overlooked. Due to the ever-present risk of physical injury, the appropriate protective gear and safety procedures are recommended when cleaning the drains. Most homeowners don’t have the proper PPE or safety awareness to avoid injuries when fixing drain issues in their homes.
Also, if you have ever used chemical drain cleaners, you will remember the pungent odor of the solution and the warnings on the side of the container. The toxic fumes from such cleaners pose a danger to the health of humans and pets. Chemical drain cleaners don’t stop posing a risk when they enter your drains; they continue to release fumes that may find their way into your home.
Lastly, homeowners take a piecemeal approach when cleaning their home’s drains. They tend to isolate the issues and treat them as unconnected. In contrast, a professional plumber sees the trends and connects the dots. A plumber’s expertise helps them pinpoint the root of drain clogs with a camera and predicts their eventual outcome, saving you a lot of money.