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what do plumbers use to clean pipes

by Bernita O'Connell Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Plumbers do not use chemicals for clogged drain cleaning, instead they use any of the following mechanical methods:

  • DRAIN AUGERS OR PLUMBER SNAKE: A standard tool for any plumber that demolish any obstruction in the pipes. This motorized drain auger has a long, flexible metal coil that works like a corkscrew. ...
  • HYDRO-JETTER: This piece of equipment will break through practically any clog while it comprehensively cleans the drains inside, removing any grease, soap scum, and more.

A manual drain snake
drain snake
A plumber's snake or drain snake is a slender, flexible auger used to dislodge clogs in plumbing. The plumber's snake is often reserved for difficult clogs that cannot be loosened with a plunger.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Plumber's_snake
, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger
, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.

Full Answer

What do Plumbers use to clear drains?

Drain Augers or Snakes The standard drain cleaner tool plumbers use to demolish obstructions in pipes is a motorized drain auger, also known as a drain snake. An auger consists of a long, flexible coil of metal that works similar to a corkscrew. The end of the auger goes down the drain until it reaches the clog.

What tools do Plumbers use on the job?

Several specialty tools are aboard the truck of every competent plumber, from pipe wrenches, blow-torches, and hydro-jetting machines. A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber’s snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it’s physically pushed through a stubborn clog.

How do you clean the walls of a drain pipe?

The best way to clean the built-up gunk off the walls of our pipes and keep the drains running freely, is to use an enzymatic/bacterial cleaner once a month in every sink. Pour the salt and the baking soda into the drain. Add the vinegar and let the concoction foam for about a minute.

Do professional plumbers clean pipes?

Professional plumbers can clean your pipes, but if you don't mind getting dirty you can save yourself some money and do it yourself. All you need are a few products that can be found at most hardware or home improvement stores. Determine the location of the clog in your drain by observing which of your fixtures are backed up.

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What do plumbers use to clear pipes?

Drain Augers or Snakes The standard drain cleaner tool plumbers use to demolish obstructions in pipes is a motorized drain auger, also known as a drain snake. An auger consists of a long, flexible coil of metal that works similar to a corkscrew. The end of the auger goes down the drain until it reaches the clog.

How do you deep clean plumbing pipes?

Mix 2 parts baking soda and 1 part salt and pour down the drain. Warm 4 parts vinegar and pour down on top of the baking soda and salt. It will bubble and fizz. Let it work for 15 minutes and then flush through with hot water.

Which chemical is used for cleaning pipes?

Caustic drain cleaners contain sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye or caustic soda. They tend to come in a solid form.

What chemicals do plumbers use?

Chemicals Used by a Plumbing Company Drain cleaners often contain potassium hydroxide to transform grease into soft soap, and thioglycolic acid to dissolve hair. Other common ingredients include sodium hydroxide, lye, or sulfuric acid.

How do you remove sludge from pipes?

Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain. The baking soda will deodorize and clean the drains while working as a nonabrasive agent that will break up the black sludge. Pour into the drain and let sit for a few minutes.

What is the best sewer drain cleaner?

These are the best drain cleaners, according to testing:Best Overall Drain Cleaner: Drano Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover.Best Drain Cleaner for Hair Clogs: Liquid Plumr Clog Destroyer + Hair Clog Eliminator.Best Single-Use Drain Cleaner: Green Gobbler Drain Opening Pacs.Best Enzymatic Drain Cleaner: Bio Clean.More items...•

What acid do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Hydrochloric acidHydrochloric acid, otherwise known as muriatic acid, is commonly used by plumbers around the world to clear a clogged rain. It is a strong acid that can cause serious injury if it is not used with care.

What breaks down hair in drain?

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar Baking soda and vinegar is a very powerful combination that can help clear nasty hair clogs. Besides helping dissolve hair in your drain, baking soda also has disinfectant qualities that can fight fungi and bacteria.

What is the main ingredient in drain cleaner?

sodium hydroxideChemical drain cleaners come in various forms, including powder, liquid, and gel. As their name implies, chemical drain cleaners create a chemical reaction in order to remove clogs. The main ingredient in these cleaners is sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye.

What is the most powerful drain cleaner?

Experts agree: Drano Max Gel is the best overall drain cleaner because it works quickly to get rid of tough clogs. This reliable and effective cleaner is a thick gel that goes deep in sinks, pipes, and drains to reach the source of the clog and completely dissolve it.

Can I pour white vinegar down the drain?

Vinegar is both safe and beneficial to pour down your drain. It acts as a natural cleaning solution and can remove blockages and harmful bacteria that cause foul odors.

Is liquid Plumber safe for pipes?

Are Liquid-Plumr® products safe for all pipes? Yes. Lab tests confirm that all Liquid-Plumr® products are safe for all household plumbing. However, we do not recommend using clog removers in rubber pipes.

Can plumbing pipes be cleaned?

If the clog still hasn't come loose, use a kitchen plunger and try putting hot water and dish soap down the pipes again. You can also try putting a foaming mixture of equal parts baking soda and vinegar down the pipes to provide a natural way to get rid of clogs and not damage the pipes.

How do I clean old pipes in my house?

Use safe drain cleaners For minor clogs, we suggest using a homemade baking soda and vinegar mix or a store-bought enzyme treatment on all your sinks and showers about once a month. Afterward, rinse thoroughly with hot water. This will keep your pipes relatively clean and help prevent buildup.

How do you clean internal pipes?

How Can I Clean the Inside of Plumbing Pipes?Turn off the main water supply to the house. ... Remove the faucets from your sinks, showers and bathtubs. ... Mix a solution of half hot water and half calcium and lime remover.Pour the mixture down the pipes and drains and allow it to sit for one hour.More items...

How do you clean a pipe with baking soda and vinegar?

Fill a container with warm water, add a tablespoon of baking soda and one of vinegar, place the pipe inside it, and let it soak for a few minutes. Remove the pipe and rinse it well with warm water. Push a pipe cleaner again and clean it thoroughly.

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What tools do plumbers use to clear clogs?

Several specialty tools are aboard the truck of every competent plumber, from pipe wrenches, blow-torches, and hydro-jetting machines.

What does it mean when a plumber has a snake?

If your plumber hasn’t had success after attempting to clear a drain or sewer line with a motorized snake, it could indicate a complete blockage further down your sewer line. One of the recent technological advances that has most helped the plumbing industry is the high-definition snake camera.

How far can a drain snake go down a drain?

Powered snakes can reach as far as 150 feet down a drain or sewer line, combined with an electric motor’s added torque and continuous rotation.

What is a motorized drain snake?

A motorized drain snake is brought onto the job site when a manual drain snake can’t get the job done. Usually, a motorized drain snake will be inserted into a sewer cleanout port outside of your home. Motorized augers have a maximum reach of around one hundred and fifty feet and can clear much larger clogs than a manually operated snake.

What is a drain snake?

A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber’s snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it’s physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet. Rotation of the hooked end occurs when the handle of the drain snake’s drum is turned, which also feeds more of the snake into the drain.

Is it safe to use a chemical drain cleaner?

DIY drain cleaning methods are great for localized, relatively easy clogs and partial blockages that can cause slow drains. We cannot stress enough to stay away from chemical drain cleaners. They’re bad for the environment, bad for your plumbing, and potentially detrimental to your health as well. Regular use of a harmless, enzyme-based drain cleaner that uses bacteria to eat away at the organic material in our drains can help to prevent future clogs.

Is DIY drain cleaning good for you?

DIY drain cleaning methods are great for localized, relatively easy clogs and partial blockages that can cause slow drains. We cannot stress enough to stay away from chemical drain cleaners. They’re bad for the environment, bad for your plumbing, and potentially detrimental to your health as well.

What is a drain snake?

Drain Augers or Snakes. The standard drain cleaner tool plumbers use to demolish obstructions in pipes is a motorized drain auger , also known as a drain snake. An auger consists of a long, flexible coil of metal that works similar to a corkscrew. The end of the auger goes down the drain until it reaches the clog.

Can video cameras clean drains?

Miniaturized video cameras mounted on long fiber-optic cables will not clean your drains or smash through clogs. However, this type of drain cleaner tool can be an essential part of finding the location of blockages. Thanks to the images that the cameras send back to video monitors from inside the pipes, plumbers will have much better ideas for how to attack dirty and blocked drains, saving time and doing a more effective job. That is why a video pipe inspection is a worth while endeavor when it comes to drain cleaning.

Can a plumber use a drain auger?

The plumber can use this drain cleaning tool to remove objets from the pipe or to break it apart. There are manual hand-cranked drain augers as well, but they are much less effective at cleaning out drains when compared to the motorized versions.

Can a plumber use a chemical drain cleaner?

Your plumber won’t show up with chemical drain cleaners, so you shouldn’t try to use these harsh drain cleaner tools either. If you have a clogged drain in your kitchen or bathroom, we recommend purchasing a motorized drain snake to dismantle the blockage in your pipes.

What to use if your drain doesn't clear up?

Instead, use safer methods like white vinegar and sodium bicarbonate, a drain snake, or a plunger. If your drain doesn’t clear up using these safe DIY methods, call a plumber. Your plumber might not use muriatic acid at all if they suspect that it might inflict damage on the pipes.

What acid is used to unclog drains?

Hydrochloric Acid. Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is the most common acid used by plumbers to unclog drains. Although this component can be found even in your own stomach, as part of the digestive acids, its pure concentrated form can only be purchased from certain stores if you carry a plumber’s license.

Can vinegar unclog drains?

Most often, when you research how to unclog your drain yourself, vinegar is mentioned. Other articles mention Cola drinks as an effective solution to clogged drains. These are, indeed, acids that can dissolve the gunk blocking your drain and get rid of the problem, as long as the clog is relatively recent or not too stubborn.

Should You Use Hydrochloric Acid at Home?

Even though it’s the most commonly used substance to unclog drains and pipes, it’s not advisable to use it on your own if you don’t have plumbing experience. Such acids can be dangerous to your health and they can actually damage your pipes if they interact with them chemically.

What is the best way to clean toilet pipes?

Water Blast. Something you can use to clean your toilet’s pipes is actually plain old water. A water blast (also known as a hydraulic ram or blow bag) is actually the least expensive tool you can use to clean your toilet’s pipes – and it’s totally safe! A water blast uses a bladder (i.e., a large rubber bag), which you then attach ...

What is the best way to clean a drain?

Some ideas for natural drain cleaners include: Baking soda, followed by vinegar or lemon juice. A salt, borax, and vinegar combination. Boiling hot water. These cleaners may not necessarily remove a clog, but they are certainly a viable option for keeping your drains clean and preventing clogs in the future.

What to do if drain cleaner does not work?

If you do use a drain cleaner and it does not work to unclog your toilet , you may need to call a professional. If so, warn the professional that you have already used drain cleaner, else the plumber may suffer a caustic skin burn as a result of working on your toilet.

What is the phone number for plumbing by Jake?

Don’t spend hours getting frustrated, trying to get your toilet pipes to clear. Give us a call now at (928) 377-5910, and let Plumbing by Jake handle the problem for you!

Can you use natural drain cleaner on toilets?

If you’re not a fan of the idea of using harsh chemicals to clean your toilet’s pipes , then you can always opt for one of the natural cleaners out there. Natural drain cleaners are a great and healthy way to remove any smells or leftover chemicals that may have built up or reside in your pipes. Natural drain cleaners are definitely a favorite among families with young children.

Do you need a snake to clean pipes?

If you’re just trying to keep your pipes clean, then you may not need to use a closet auger, or “ snake .” However, if you’re trying to clean your pipes because you’re experiencing a clog, then a snake is definitely a good idea.

Can you use drain cleaner to clean toilet pipes?

Many homeowners opt for the tried and true drain cleaners to clean their toilet pipes. You can find both liquid and powder drain cleaners at the store. Most drain cleaners contain lye, which is a caustic chemical that can burn you, so you must handle the product carefully.

Clogs within drain pipes

A clogged drain is annoying, bathroom or kitchen, doesn’t matter, it is annoying. You’re preparing for guests, and the bathroom sink isn’t draining, or the kitchen drain has slowed down and almost stopped.

Will bleach unclog a drain?

While bleach is a great household product and can do so many things, it is not a clogged drain cleaning product. Bleach will reduce any dirt on surfaces and brightens your white clothes. Bleach is excellent at killing bacteria and terms.

What chemical do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Plumbers never rely on chemicals to for clogged drain cleaning. The products on the market are chemicals that weigh more than the water you’re pouring them into, and typically are going right to the pipes and eating the pipes, leaving the clog behind.

What do plumbers use to clean pipes?

DRAIN AUGERS OR PLUMBER SNAKE: A standard tool for any plumber that demolish any obstruction in the pipes. This motorized drain auger has a long, flexible metal coil that works like a corkscrew. The plumber puts the end down the drain and when they feel it hits the clog, they activate the motor, and that metal coil forces the end through the clog.

What tools or equipment are used to unclog or clean out a sewer cleanout?

A wrench may be used to uncap the cleanout and in most cases a plumber’s Auger will be used for the clean out. A power washer with a sewer Jetter Nozzle may also be required.

What is a sewer cleanout?

A sewer cleanout is a capped pipe which gives access to a sewer line, allowing experts to wipe out blockages obstructing the sewer. Not all plumbing systems have cleanouts. Most newer plumbing systems do have at least one cleanout and many older systems can and are retrofitted with a sewer cleanout.

Why does it get clogged or need cleaning out?

A clogged drain can disappoint at times. This often happens when different types of garbage get into the plumbing system. A clogged drain can also be a residence to several virus and bacteria, which may cause common diseases and infections.

Why are there big clean outs in the sewer system?

Bigger sewer clean outs are situated at intervals along the municipal sewer line, so as to enable water and sewer workers to clear blockages in the part of the sewer system which is the city’s duty.

How long does it take to clean out a sewer line?

How long does it take to clean out a system via the sewer cleanout? The clean out and or repairs of the sewer system via the cleanout can take as little as half an hour or as long as several hours depending on the obstruction, where it is located in the system, and if it has caused any damage to the pipes.

Why is my toilet clogged?

Objects like block water, hair and objects can restrict its movement. For this reason your sink, tube and toilet can get clogged. Once your drainage system is blocked, the sink or the tube would remain filled with water or it would drain gradually until the tube or the sink gets totally backed up.

Is it safe to drain a pipe?

Damaged drainage pipes can lead to a much more serious problem and it is always preferable to be safe than sorry. Consider it like congestion that causes problems in your body after some time and should be treated rapidly before the problem develops. Your drainage system can become clogged in so many different ways.

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