Get matched with top sewer cleaners in Evergreen, VA

Snaking a drain can take as little as a few minutes for small, simple clogs, up to two hours or more for tough clogs located further down the drain line. For tougher clogs, a professional drain cleaner can likely get the job done much more quickly because they have the necessary tools and expertise. However, your drain cleaning pro might not be able to give you a firm time estimate until inspecting the clog and its surrounding plumbing.

It might be possible to dissolve hair caught in a drain, but it’s usually not a good way to go about clearing the clog. Some sources mention that baking soda and vinegar can do the trick, but this won’t actually dissolve the hair. The hydrochloric acid in drain cleaners can dissolve the hair over time, but it will much more quickly destroy your plumbing pipes and leave you with bigger issues. The best way to remove hair is to do it manually with a drain snake or to have a plumber use an auger to pull clogs out.

Most commercial liquid drain cleaners work in 15 to 30 minutes. Consult the label on the bottle for additional instructions or time suggestions to prevent damage to your drainpipes. Alternative solutions such as baking soda, salt, white vinegar, and/or boiling water can take longer since they are less harsh than liquid drain cleaners.

In most cases, drain cleaners will not clear a clogged sewer line, and they’re likely to damage your plumbing. Sewer lines are several inches wide, meaning any material that clogs it will need to be large. Drain cleaner can work on small clogs, but it usually won’t clear a larger one in a sewer main. Drain cleaners can also easily damage and corrode your plumbing with prolonged contact, and a clog will keep the cleaner in contact with the pipes for an extended period. Hire a professional sewer cleaner instead for a safe fix.