As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to check off those last few home maintenance tasks—and your drains should be on the list. Over time, buildup from grease, soap, hair, and other debris can take a toll on your plumbing, leading to slow drains, unpleasant odors, or even unexpected blockages. Scheduling a professional year-end drain cleaning ensures your home’s plumbing starts the new year in top shape, free from hidden clogs or lingering issues. So, is it worth it? Let’s dive into why year-end drain cleaning is a smart move for homeowners looking to avoid costly surprises and keep their plumbing flowing smoothly.

What Is Drain Cleaning Service?

A drain cleaning service involves a plumbing professional using specialized equipment to scour the inside of your drain and sewer piping. This removes any debris that has built up over time, which greatly reduces your risk of experiencing a clog in the future.

How Does Debris Get Stuck?

Unfortunately, clogs can form in your drainpipes when debris gets stuck inside the piping and builds up to the point where it blocks the flow of water down the line. This debris is usually an accumulation of multiple substances that have made their way down your down. Some of the biggest culprits that start the process of debris accumulation include fats, oils, and greases. While these materials may go down your drain in liquid form while they're hot, they will turn into a gel-like substance on their way down your piping. Unfortunately, this gel-like substance creates the perfect texture to catch other debris that makes its way down your drainpipes, including hair, soap scum, and food particles. Eventually, the gel attracts so many particles that it restricts the flow of water and leads to an unfortunate clog in your drain line.

How Are Drains Cleared?

While there are different methods available for cleaning out drain lines, one of the most prominent these days is hydrojetting. This is where equipment with specialized tips shoots high-pressure water down your drain and sewer pipes. This works to effectively scour all debris from the inside of your pipes without causing any damage. Hydrojetting is not only extremely effective for all different types of drain piping, but it's safe and hygienic as well. This is because the debris simply goes down into the sewer system or septic tank where it can be properly disposed of instead of being pulled back up with a drain auger.

How Often Should You Get Drain Cleaning Service?

Most plumbing professionals recommend getting drain cleaning service at least once a year. Many find it helpful to get this service before the holiday season to prevent issues while they have guests in their homes. There's no doubt that increased demand during the holiday season can put more strain on your plumbing system.

The Various Benefits of Drain Cleaning Service

When you invest in a drain cleaning service for your home, it comes along with many great benefits. The most obvious thing is that it gets rid of debris buildup inside your piping and greatly reduces your risk of experiencing a clog in the near future. By removing this debris, you'll likely notice that your drains will drain faster, and any lingering odors around your drains will be eliminated. Drain cleaning service is a great way to help maintain the overall longevity of your pipes as it removes debris that would otherwise prematurely deteriorate the inside of your pipes. Furthermore, most professionals will send down a sewer camera to determine if there are any leaks in your sewer system during the service. This can allow you to catch issues like root intrusion while they're small and easy to fix. Additionally, drain cleaning helps to provide you with peace of mind. You'll know that your pipes are in good condition and that there's no debris that's likely to cause a clog anytime soon.

Drain Cleaning vs. Using Liquid Drain Cleaners

When you're in the cleaning aisle at the grocery store, it may seem like an easy idea to pick up a drain cleaner and put it down your drain. While these drain cleaners are marketed as a great way to help bust up any debris inside your piping without the need for professional drain cleaning service, that's not always the case. Liquid drain cleaners are known to contain chemical substances that can be damaging to the inside of your pipes. It can cause metal pipe to corrode and even result in the scouring of plastic pipe. Unfortunately, both situations can create unwanted texture inside your piping that will attract debris in your wastewater. In most cases, it will lead to a clog inside your piping, which is the opposite of what you were trying to do. It's typically best to avoid using drain cleaners and simply rely on regular drain cleaning services.

What Factors Influence the Cost?

As a homeowner, you're likely concerned with determining the overall cost of a drain cleaning service before you commit to getting it. The reality is that the price is going to vary depending on several different factors. These include things like the location of your drains, the length of your pipe, and the severity of buildup inside your pipe. It's best to talk with one of our drain cleaning professionals to discover how much the service will cost you.

Tips on Preventing Future Clogs

No homeowner likes to deal with a clog in their sewer system. While annual drain cleaning services can be a great way to help prevent clogs from happening, there are also other things that you can do. One of the most important is to be very mindful of what you put down your drains. Never put grease, fat, or oil down your drain. Instead, have a spare can or jar where you can pour these liquid items instead of putting them down your drains. Then, dispose of them in your garbage can. Another very helpful tool that you can utilize to help prevent unwanted items from going down your drain is drain strainers. These are simple mesh cups that sit over the drain and collect items like hair and food particles. Be sure to clean them on a regular basis so they can remain effective for your home. Additionally, avoid putting any flushable wipes or feminine hygiene products down the drain. Rather, opt for putting trash cans in your bathrooms to provide a convenient alternative disposal method.

Signs You Need Drain Cleaning Service

While drain cleaning can be very beneficial to do as a maintenance routine, it can also be used to handle any clogs that you currently have in your plumbing system. In fact, there are some obvious signs that will let you know that you are likely to have a clog somewhere in your drainage system. Some of the most obvious signs are going to be the slow draining of your sinks and standing water that won't drain. If there is a clog developing, you may notice a gurgling noise coming from your fixtures after you flush water down them. Some other key indicators include green patches on your lawn and foul odors coming from your drains.

Exceptional Drain Cleaning Service

Noticing any of those signs? No worries! Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® offers an exceptional drain cleaning service for the Southern Orange County area. We can also help with all your water treatment, water heater, water line, toilet, sink, plumbing repair, leak detection, outdoor plumbing, and more! Call our office today and book an appointment with one of our knowledgeable plumbing professionals in Orange County for drain cleaning today!