Drain Cleaning Done Right: A Homeowner's Handbook

Walk into any hardware store in Spokane and you will find an entire aisle dedicated to drain cleaning products. Chemical solutions that promise to dissolve clogs in minutes. Plastic snakes that claim to clear anything. It is a booming business, because clogged drains are something nearly every homeowner faces at some point.

But here is what the labels do not tell you: some of those products can do more harm than good.

The Bathroom Sink

Bathroom sinks clog for one primary reason: hair. Mixed with soap and toothpaste, hair accumulates in the trap and along the pipe walls until water can barely pass. Our drain cleaning service uses state of the art hydro jetting that does more than just push through the clog. It blasts away years of buildup from the sides of the pipes and inside the trap.

Our technicians take pride in keeping your workspace tidy. They leave your bathroom sink and vanity as clean as they found it. That matters to us, because it matters to you.

The Tub and Shower

The buildup of hair and soap causes most shower and tub clogs too. But unlike a bathroom sink, where you can access the trap under the cabinet, a bathtub or shower drain sits below the floor. Sometimes there is an access panel in the basement or crawl space, but getting to the trap is often more complicated.

Our jetting system removes the clog and cleans the pipe walls to prevent future problems. We strive to leave your bathroom in the same condition we found it.

The Kitchen Sink

Kitchen sinks get heavy use, and plenty of things can cause them to clog or slow down. Grease and oils accumulate on the pipe walls until water can barely get through. Garden vegetables leave behind sand and dirt. Bits of packaging accidentally slip down the drain. We have even pulled full utensils that had lodged in the pipe from a previous homeowner.

Here is a tip worth sharing with everyone in your household: avoid pouring oils and fats down the drain. When fats are warm, they flow like water. But as they cool in the sewer pipes, they solidify on the pipe walls and build up over time. That buildup restricts flow and makes future clogs far more likely.

The Toilet

Clogged toilets are no fun. When the plunger fails, that is when you call us. We have removed flushed toys, cell phones, and other objects that had no business going down a toilet but ended up there anyway. Our hydro jetting system quickly clears clogs and leaves your pipes clean.

Hydrojetting: The Professional Difference

Hydrojetting is a plumbing technique that uses high pressure streams of water to remove buildup, blockages, and debris from inside pipes. It is not just about clearing today's clog. It is about cleaning the pipe walls so thoroughly that the next clog takes much longer to form.

This is the difference between a temporary fix and a real solution. Chemical drain cleaners might punch a small hole through a blockage, but they leave the buildup on the walls intact. Hydrojetting removes everything.

When Slow Means Something More

If water goes down eventually, some folks assume there is no real problem. But slow drains are an early warning. Ignoring them allows clogs to worsen until you are dealing with a complete blockage or backup. Early intervention is easier on your pipes and easier on your wallet.

Call Plumb Zebra at (509) 317-9009. We are eager to help.