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Get A Fantastic Drain Cleaning Service With Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Of Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach, SC
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If you have a clog in your drain, you know just what a nuisance this problem can be. It can make it so that you are not able to function efficiently in your own home, which will show you right then the value of a good drain cleaning service. It can be particularly bothersome when you don’t know the exact cause of the clog. There are many different things that can be done to clear out a clog, but in many cases, you will have to call in a drain cleaning professional for the job. If you live in the city of Myrtle Beach, SC, you can call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach, a great drain cleaning service, to help you out.
Ways to Clean Your Drain
In some cases, you will want to call a professional drain cleaning service business in order to unclog your drain. However, it might help to know a little bit about the different ways to unclog a drain, so that you can attempt to do it yourself or at least understand better what the professionals are going to do when they are in your home. There are a few different options when it comes to how to clean out your drain. In some cases, this might involve bringing in drain cleaning service professionals.
Physical Drain Cleaners
There are certain devices that you can use to get a clog out of a drain, which drain cleaning service professionals will use as well. There are three common types of physical drain cleaners that you can purchase. These would be drain snakes, drain augers, and plungers.
There are different types of drain snakes out there. Some are short, and some are basically long rods. If you get a reusable drain snake, it is going to have a crank on one of its ends, and a flexible tube on the other.
If you get a disposable drain snake, it is probably going to be made with plastic and not have a crank at all. In order to use a drain snake, you just need to place either the thinner plastic end or the flexible tube into your drain. You can spin it around either using your hand or the crank that is on the drain snake. This will work best if the clog is caused by hair.
Alternatively, you can use a drain auger. These cannot be disposable. Usually, they are either electronic or powered by a crank. The working end of an auger has a cone-shaped tool that can be used to break up the clog in your drain. Generally, these are best used on clogs that are made up of soap buildup or other types of gunk.
Drain plungers are not the same as toilet plungers. Drain plungers have giant suction cups at the end, rather than any kind of tapered end. These are best for removing clogs in sinks, rather than tubs.
There are a few benefits that come with physical cleaners. They are relatively quick because you don’t need to wait for any kind of chemical process to happen in order for them to do their job. Additionally, reusable drain cleaning tools, such as physical cleaners, are typically better for the environment as well. You’re not using the same source of harsh chemicals that you would be with chemical cleaners, and these won’t be so harsh on the environment. However, you should keep in mind that using a physical tool to take out a clog can sometimes be dangerous. They can cause harm to you, and in many cases, these types of tools can damage your pipes if you don’t know how to use them properly. This is why it might be a good idea to call in a drain cleaning service to do the job.
Chemical Drain Cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners are much more commonly used than physical ones. Generally, these will clear up a clog by dissolving whatever substance is causing it. There are several different types of drain cleaners that work chemically. The three primary types are oxidizing cleaners, caustic cleaners, and acidic cleaners. In some cases, you will have to call in a drain cleaning service to choose a type and use it.
Oxidizing cleaners are somewhat more gentle than other options. However, they might not be capable of cleaning out a very severe clog. Typically, these cleaners contain either peroxide, bleach, or nitrates. These substances can sometimes not be so efficient at breaking down a clog, making them best suited for clogs that are composed of organic materials, such as food.
Caustic cleaners are typically made of potash or lye. They have high pHs and are considered to be strong bases. These types of cleaners are best suited for grease clogs, as any drain cleaning service professional will tell you.
Acidic cleaners have low pHs, in contrast to caustic cleaners. They use acid to break down clogs, typically composed of muriatic or sulfuric acid. Sometimes, you will need to use an acidic cleaner multiple times before they actually function to dissolve the clog. They are best for clogs that are caused by hair.
Chemical cleaners are often quick and fairly user-friendly. However, they aren’t entirely without negative aspects. Chemical cleaners will be much harsher on the environment and your home’s plumbing as well. If your home is equipped with metal plumbing, it’s probably the best choice to avoid chemical cleaners, since they can cause erosion within your pipes. If you need any more information on how this happens, you can call a drain cleaning service professional and ask for their opinion.
The Takeaway…
If you are having a problem with your drain in Myrtle Beach, SC, you should feel free to contact the professionals at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Myrtle Beach. The professionals here will know exactly how to examine your drain and clean it out so that you will be able to use it again without too much trouble.