What Is the Difference Between Drain Clearing & Drain Cleaning?

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What Is the Difference Between Drain Clearing & Drain Cleaning?

water flowing down a drain

 

When your plumbing system isn’t working properly, what you really want is the right fix. But do your drains need to be cleaned or cleared, and what is the difference? In a nutshell, cleaning involves removing material that has built up overtime, while clearing means removing a large clog. Let’s break it down a bit more to really understand.

 

What Is Drain Cleaning?

Depending on the substances put down your drains, the age of your pipes, and the twists and turns of your plumbing system, your home’s water flow might become restricted over time. This might appear as slow drains, or you might notice a smell coming from your drain. That’s where drain cleaning comes in.

 

To assess the status of the plumbing system, a plumbing professional will often use a video camera to inspect the interior of your drains to find out where there might be buildup in the walls of the plumbing system.

 

With drain cleaning, a plumbing professional uses a special pressurized hose to blast water to clean off debris and grease from the pipe walls. At Neffsville Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Services, our experts use hydro jetting to scour the interior of your pipes and remove the buildup of gunk without damaging your pipes.

 

While slow-moving drains or foul odors might indicate your need to clean your drains, it’s also a good idea to make it an annual part of your home’s maintenance plan. Preventative drain cleaning can help improve your plumbing system’s efficiency and help avoid the need for a draining clearing.

 

What Is a Drain Clearing?

Unlike drain cleaning, drain clearing is something most homeowners have likely had to do more than a couple of times.

Clogged drains happen for several reasons and are like an immediate roadblock in your plumbing system. A clogged drain can occur when something foreign gets trapped in your pipes or just a buildup of gunk in your plumbing system that has restricted flow.

 

You might use home remedies like vinegar and hot water poured into the drain to encourage a breakup of the clog. Avoid the temptation to use harsh drain cleaners that use chemicals that can damage your plumbing system.

 

Some clogs are near the surface and easy to remove with a plumber’s auger or even with your hands. Be careful not to jam the clog further into the plumbing system when trying to remove it. That can damage your plumbing system and make a bigger problem out of a small one. Plumbing professionals use specialized tools like drain snakes to remove stubborn clogs carefully.

 

If your drains are running slow or you detect a foul odor coming from your drains, make sure to call our experts at Neffsville Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Services. We are dedicated to caring for the health of your plumbing system.

 

Ready to schedule drain cleaning or drain clearing services for your home? Contact the experts at Neffsville Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Services today by calling (717) 625-1000 or contacting our team online!

 

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