A well-functioning drain is one of the many conveniences of everyday life—a convenience that you likely take for granted. No one spends much time thinking about their drain system until it clogs, but once disaster strikes, it’s all you can think about!
When you’re trying to clean dishes, wash your hands, or brush your teeth, that gurgling, slow drain becomes a serious hassle. But don’t let your problem get even worse. As spring rolls around, any clogging from the winter can develop into serious damage.
When your plumbing system is in trouble, you need a hero in your corner! 🦸
Our team members at KC Flow Heroes can perform drain cleaning in Jackson County to eliminate your clogs and save the day. If you suspect you may have a clogged drain, read on. We can explain the most common signs of drain clogs, how they form, and how our team can treat them.
Table of Contents
Want to get to the information you need faster than the Flash? Take a look at our table of contents and jump ahead.
Signs You May Have a Drain Clog
Common Causes of Drain Clogs
Our Drain Cleaning Methods
Cast-Iron Pipes and Pipe Lining
Signs You May Have a Drain Clog
It can be very obvious when a certain villain strikes. If you come across a crime scene with a bunch of green question marks and a cryptic riddle spray-painted on the wall, it’s safe to say you’re not dealing with Two-Face or the Joker. Like the Riddler, drain clogs leave some pretty obvious calling cards.
You may have a drain clog if you’re experiencing concerns like:
- Slow draining
- Gurgling
- Foul smells
- Dirty water
These are good indicators that you may have a clogged drain, but they could stem from other problems. Our team members can look at your drains and determine whether your concerns have developed because of a clog. But what causes a drain clog in the first place?
Common Causes of Drain Clogs
When our team visits a home for drain cleaning in Jackson County, we can assess the drain and identify the cause of the clog. Then, we discuss one of the following with you and how to prevent issues in the future.
Flushing Things You Shouldn’t
One of the most common reasons people develop clogs in their drains is because they flush things they shouldn’t. Most toilets cannot handle anything besides human waste and toilet paper.
You may be thinking, “Wait, I’ve flushed tampons, q-tips, or trash, and I’ve never had any blockages before.” Not every toilet can handle the same things.
Even if you’ve pushed your luck in the past, flushing disposable wipes and female hygiene products, you shouldn’t continue to do so. You may find that a new toilet has more difficulty passing prohibited items, leading to blockages and long-term damage.
Pouring Grease Down the Drain
Another reason people need drain cleaning in Jackson County is because they pour grease down their drains. Look, we get it—disposing of grease can be a hassle.
After you’ve cooked up a delicious dinner, the last thing you want to do is wait for the grease to cool down so you can throw it away.
You may hear an evil voice in the back of your head, like the Green Goblin, whispering, “Skip the hassle, and pour that grease down the drain!”
As convenient as it may feel at the moment, hor grease doesn’t stay hot forever, and once it cools, it can cause a stubborn blockage in your drain.
Soap Scum
Another thing that may cause someone to hire our team for drain cleaning in Jackson County is soap scum. At first, this may sound paradoxical—after all, how can cleaning materials cause clogs in your drain?
However, soap doesn’t necessarily break down grease, so if you use dishwasher soap to scrub an oil-filled pan clean, it doesn’t just wash down the drain.
The soapy grease can actually congeal in the drain pipes, which can lead to clogs. You can prevent this by wiping down greasy pans before washing them clean in the sink.
Clumps of Hair
Have you ever hopped in the shower to wash off after a long day, only to realize that there’s water pooling at your feet? Few things will make you feel less clean than dirty, standing water in your shower or tub.
Many people develop clogs in their showers because of tangled hair in the drain. Although longer hair is more likely to get caught, all hair lengths can cause blockage, especially if you scrub your scalp rigorously.
These strands of hair clump together over time, prohibiting water from getting through. You can prevent clogging by installing a drain guard in your shower. These catch hair in a fine screen, which you can clean periodically for disposal in the trash.
Roots and Outdoor Debris
When you notice a drain clog, the cause doesn’t always come from inside the house.
Another common cause of clogged drains is tree roots. If you have any particularly hearty trees in the area around your home, their roots can snake through the ground and into your pipes, blocking water flow.
When the winter snow thaws and the water level in your community rises, it may sweep outside debris, like trash and plant matter, into your pipes, which can cause a drain clog.
But regardless of whether your drain clog stems from soap scum, hair clumps, or invasive tree roots, our team members can provide the solution you deserve.
Our Drain Cleaning Methods
At KC Flow Heroes, we offer several options for patients interested in drain cleaning in Jackson County. Some methods may be more effective than others, depending on the type of blockage and the age of your pipes.
Drain Snaking
If you have a minor drain clog, then our team may recommend a drain snake. This method of drain cleaning uses a thin metal coil or rod to piece through the blockages in your pipes.
The drain snake can clear up blockages caused by soap scum or grease, providing a path for water to move through. This option can remove drain clogs, but it isn’t the most comprehensive solution.
Drain snaking may leave some debris behind, which can serve as the foundation for future clogs. Batman will be the first to tell you—an escaped villain is just biding their time to attack again.
Hydro-Jetting
Another option for drain cleaning in Jackson County is hydro-jetting. This drain-cleaning method uses high-powered jets of water to clear out your blocked pipes. This isn’t just effective for eradicating grease, hair, and soap scum. Because this method uses extremely pressurized bursts of water, it can also cut through debris, like tree roots.
However, because of the intense nature of this drain cleaning method, it can cause some damage to older, cast iron pipes. If this is the case, we recommend replacing them. Fortunately, we can do that, too.
Cast-Iron Pipes and Pipe Lining
Plumbing technology has changed a lot over the years. Homes built before 1983 used cast-iron or clay pipes, and while these used to be the most effective choice, they come with a lot of challenges.
Cast-iron and clay pipes can retain moisture, resulting in rot that destroys the bottom of your pipes. If you have old, damaged pipes, you don’t need drain cleaning in Jackson County—you need a replacement. But you don’t want to rip up your front yard or your neighborhood’s roads.
Fortunately, cured-in-place (CIPP) pipe lining is a one-hole method for pipe replacement. This method works with the help of a special, flexible pipe lining. First, we drill a single hole to access your damaged pipes. Then, we use a special device to shoot the flexible lining through the damaged pipes. Finally, we cure the lining with a special epoxy resin.
This method allows us to restore your pipes without replacing them, and because the lining is damp-proof and corrosion-resistant, it reduces the risk of developing additional clogs.
Keep Your Drains Clear
When your drains clog, you want a solution as soon as possible, and when you work with KC Flow Heroes, that’s exactly what you get. Submit a service request, and our team members can perform an in-person site visit.
We examine your pipes so we can perform an effective drain cleaning in Jackson County. You can also learn more about our service options by taking advantage of our free digital tool. Get the high-quality plumbing assistance you deserve with KC Flow Heroes.
