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3 Tell-Tale Signs – Do You Need a Drain Snaking? (Tips that work)

sewer snaking

Drains are something that we take for granted. They take care of collecting all the waste from our homes, but we rarely spare a thought for their well-being. Until something bad happens and they need repairs, of course.

One of the most common interventions is drain-snaking. Here’s how you can tell that you need one:

1. The Drain Is Slower than Usual

Clogs never form out of the sudden. They happen in a time when the pipe collects more and more dirt. In time, the dirt accumulates within the pipe, allowing less and less water to pass through.

If you notice that your drain is getting slower every day, don’t wait until NO water flows through it anymore. Schedule your drain snaking in Toronto immediately.

Why does my sink drain so slow?

Usually, a slow draining bathroom sink is due to buildup from soap scum, beauty products, and hair. Over time, all this combines and jams up your drain, so water can’t flow through.

How to fix a slow drain?

You may think it’s not a problem now since the sink still drains, but it will become a clog. You may be able to repair the problem yourself by treating it as a clog. Avoid harsh commercial drain openers as they often do more harm than good.

First, you should try to clean the stopper and see if that’s the problem. You may have to remove the stopper from the sink. Remove it, clean it thoroughly, and reinstall it. If that doesn’t help or you don’t have a stopper that’s installed in the sink, move on to the next step.

Instead of purchasing harsh chemicals, use a one-to-one combination of baking soda and white vinegar to try to dissolve the buildup. Pour the baking soda down the drain first, followed by the vinegar. Cover the drain with a rag, so the solution doesn’t escape the drain. After about 10 to 15 minutes, flush the drain with boiling water.

If there isn’t any noticeable debris in the drain and trying to clean it yourself doesn’t work, you may need the services of a drain snaking from a Toronto plumber.

How to identify a clogged drain

2. The Drain Smells Bad

Bad smells typically occur in the kitchen and are the result of waste that obstructs the drain pipe. The reason why this happens in the kitchen most commonly is the fact that this is the place where the drain pipe has to deal with oils and fats. In time, they congeal; they stick to the walls of the drain pipe and obstruct it.

If you notice bad smells in the kitchen, a drain snaking followed by a thorough drain cleaning can help you get rid of them. Plus, this type of intervention will also improve the speed of your drain.

When should you consider snaking the drain?

You should be cautious if you try snaking a drain yourself because you can do more harm than good. Using a drain snake improperly can destroy your plumbing and create a bigger mess. If you’re inexperienced, call the reputable drain services professionals at MT Drains & Plumbing to help you.

How to keep you drain smelling fresh?

Once the drain is clear again, the odor should dissipate. Use your favorite cleanser, and clean your sink. Be careful of using bleach, especially if you have a septic system because it will destroy the good bacteria and cause an imbalance that leads to problems down the road.

If you have a trash disposal in your kitchen sink and are dealing with an odor, there is one more step you can take. Put some lemon juice in an ice cube tray and freeze it. Once a week, put several of the cubes down the disposal and run it. This will keep your disposal smelling fresh.

In the future, prevent bad smells in your kitchen sink drain by cleaning it daily. You should also dispose of food, grease, and other organic materials in the trash. Both steps should prevent the odor so you can enjoy your kitchen again.

3.The Drain Is Clogged

This sign is pretty hard to miss as it implies that you can no longer use the appliance it serves. Clogged drains are also the result of dirt build-up in the pipe. There are many reasons why drain can be clogged, from a foreign object, stuck in the drainage system or a cracked or broke drainpipe caused by an old tree where the roots of the tree damage the drainage pipes.

How to check for a Clogged Drain?

Use a flashlight and shine it in the drain to see if any clogs or objects are visible. If you can’t see anything, the issue may be further down the drain.

Are you dealing with a Septic System?

To find a solution, you need to know if you have a septic system. A septic system behaves differently, and you may need a different approach to clearing the clog. A poorly maintained septic system can cause many problems.

With a septic system, the drains in your house can appear clogged when the tank is full. Your drains will seem clogged because the water has nowhere to go. In this case, snaking a sink drain won’t solve the problem.

Is your Septic Tank full?

There isn’t an easy way to know if your septic tank is full. A good sign is how long it has been since it was last pumped. If it’s been over 4 years, it’s overdue. Depending on the installation of your drain field, heavy rain can fill up the tank, leaving no room for water from your indoor plumbing.

What can you do about it?

Before you call a plumber, use the vinegar and baking soda method as described above. You may need to repeat it several times if you have a stubborn clog. If the problem persists, there is likely nothing you can do alone to fix it.

If the clogging isn’t too serious, it can be solved with a drain snaking. Otherwise, you may need a stronger solution that your local Toronto plumber can recommend after diagnosing the problem.

Is Your Shower Drain Clogged?

When you take a shower, is the water pooling up? If so, you may have a clog. Usually, clogs in showers are due to clumps of hair and soap scum holding the hair in place like glue.

A shower drain rarely gets clogged with something other than hair. It may happen if someone puts something down the drain that doesn’t belong there. With septic systems, the drain may not have a clog at all, but the tank full instead.

You may see the hair covering your drain, depending on what type of drain you have. If you can see it, you can remove it. If you have a drain cover with holes, you won’t be able to see or reach the hair. If possible, remove the cover and grab the hair until the drain is clean.

How to deal with a Clogged Shower Drain?

With a clogged shower drain, you have options. You can always start with the baking soda and vinegar method mentioned above. Since hair is likely the culprit, it may take several tries to flush the hair and dissolve the sludge holding it in place.

Snaking a shower drain is usually the least complicated and most effective. However, an inexperienced person using a snake is never a good idea. It’s better to try cleaning out the drain and dissolving the clog but leave the snaking to the professionals.

Call the Toronto Drain Snaking Experts

Drain snaking isn’t very complicated, so you might be tempted to believe there’s no reason to pay a professional for it. However, if you don’t have any plumbing experience, you may end up tearing up your pipes. Even more, the three signs above can also hide bigger problems. If you need help with drain snaking in Toronto, give us a call. We can help you with any plumbing problems quickly and reliably.

The good news is that a clogged drain isn’t usually a big problem. It’s something that we resolve quickly in most cases. Snaking a tub drain clean just requires a quick service call, and then you can go about your day.

The exception to this is if someone has put something they shouldn’t have down the drain. This often happens with children. Things like stuffed animals, toys, and clothing can cause major problems and take a little while to sort out.

If you do have a full septic tank, a drain snaking won’t solve the problem, either. We will have to get to your septic system and pump it out to make your plumbing work again. You’ll know if this is the problem in your home if many drains are experiencing problems.

No matter where your clog is or what caused it, you don’t have to suffer through it. If you tried a few of the methods mentioned above to relieve your clog unsuccessfully, let us help. Our experienced team is standing by to take your call.

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Paul S

Paul has more then 20 years in basement waterproofing and plumbing projects experience. Looking for an advice from an expert plumber? Make sure to read Paul's articles about residential waterproofing and plumbing projects in Toronto.

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