We’ve all been there before – you notice your kitchen or bathroom sink is draining slower than normal. After trying some DIY methods like a plunger or drain snake, you call a professional plumber to unclog the drain. But even after hours of work, your plumber can’t seem to clear the clog. Frustrating, right? In cases like these, there’s usually an underlying reason why your plumber can’t unclog your drain despite their best efforts.
We’ll also explore solutions for clearing extreme clogs that resist traditional drain snaking methods. Keep reading to learn why your plumber can’t defeat your drain clog and what your options are for getting things flowing freely again.
Reasons a Plumber May Not Be Able to Clear a Clogged Drain
Before calling for professional help, many homeowners try tackling minor clogs themselves using DIY methods like liquid drain cleaners, a plunger, or a basic snake. But when these don’t do the trick, a serious blockage is likely lurking down your pipes. Here are some of the reasons even experienced plumbers sometimes meet their match against severe clogged drains.
Severe Blockage in the Pipes
Drains can become seriously clogged from a major accumulation of thick gunk in your pipes. Buildup from grease, oil, soap scum, hair, food scraps, and other debris gets stuck. Over time, this forms a dense sludge that traditional augers just can’t penetrate. Tree roots can also invade and grow deep into pipes, forming impenetrable root balls. Partial pipe collapses or damage from aging and corroded pipes can likewise create major obstructions.
Inaccessible Location of the Clog
Even the toughest plumber’s snake may not be able to reach clogs located deep down main sewer lines. If tree roots have made their way well into your sewer line or a collapsed pipe occurs far from the drain access point, augers just aren’t long enough to reach the problem area. Clogs tucked away behind walls or under floors buried in a finished basement are also extremely difficult for a plumber to access.
Inferior Plumbing Snake/Equipment
Plumbers have a wide range of drain snaking tools, from basic handheld augers to high-powered rotating drum and sectional machines. An inferior quality snake that’s too short or flimsy or lacking proper corkscrewing ability may not have what it takes to push through a stubborn blockage. While skilled plumbers know how to work their equipment, average consumer-grade snakes probably won’t cut it against a serious clog.
Improper Technique
It takes skill and finesse to properly clear a blocked drain. An inexperienced plumber may have difficulty locating the exact area of the clog. Without properly positioning the snake down the pipe channel, they’ll have trouble getting the auger tip to push directly into the blockage. An improper snaking technique also leads to inadequate pressure applied. If the plumber fails to thoroughly remove all debris loosened after snaking, remnants left behind can easily lead to another clog.
Solutions for Clearing Clogs Plumbers Can’t Unclog
Based on the reasons above, you can see why a hard-to-reach, dense clog deep in your pipes poses problems for the average plumber. When typical augering doesn’t work, it’s time to bring in the big guns! Here are some advanced solutions for busting through the most stubborn sewer and drain clogs.
Hire a Drain Cleaning Specialist
For severely blocked pipes that resist standard snaking methods, call in a professional drain cleaning service. These specialists have commercial grade equipment like industrial strength augers and high-pressure hydro jetting systems. They can inspect inside pipes with cameras to pinpoint troublesome clogs. With advanced tools and technology combined with extensive experience tackling difficult clogs, drain cleaning pros have the best shot at fixing pipes even regular plumbers can’t.
Hydro Jetting
This method blasts clogs away with the immense pressure of water alone. Hydro jetting uses an intense stream of high-pressure water pumped through pipes capable of scouring blockages and obstructions. The powerful water pressure tears through any grease, sludge, or debris that simpler drain snakes just bounce off of. However, the intense water can damage pipes, and the equipment is expensive for consumers to own.
Replace Affected Pipes
For chronic, recurring pipe blockages, replacing the problem plastic or corroded metal pipes may be needed. By removing sections of damaged piping and installing brand new, improved drainage pipes, you eliminate the issues leading to reoccurring clogged drains. Although it’s an expensive and invasive undertaking, it can provide a permanent fix in severe clog situations where augering provides only a temporary solution before clogs return.
Sewer Line Replacement
In drastic cases with extensive roots or collapsed pipes along the main buried sewer line, replacing the entire line may be necessary. This major construction project entails excavating your yard and completely replacing your clog-prone sewer system. While an extreme step, a new modern sewer line eliminates devastating clogs and backups, saving you from costly emergency repairs down the road.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
We hope this gives you more clarity on why plumbers sometimes can’t clear severe clog blockages. If you’ve tried standard DIY methods with no luck, consider calling a professional plumber if you experience:
- Persistent drains that keep backing up
- Very slow drains throughout your home
- Gurgling sounds or water bubbling from drains
- Need for a camera inspection to identify the clog location
- Want professional advice on replacing your pipes or sewer line
A skilled plumber has the right tools and expertise to address troublesome drain clogs you can’t fix yourself. Be sure to ask if they have experience tackling severe clog cases should standard snaking techniques not work. Investing in professional drain cleaning services can save you from even costlier repairs down the road.
We hope this article shed light on why your plumber may sometimes be powerless against severe drain clogs. With causes ranging from major blockages to improperly pinpointing the location of the clog, overcoming these plumbing nightmares often takes advanced methods and professional equipment.
If you have a stubborn clogged drain even regular plumber’s snakes can’t clear, call on the experts. With high-pressure hydro jetting, pipe repair, and sewer replacement solutions, experienced drain cleaning pros have what it takes to decimate even the toughest clogs.
Don’t let a persistently clogged drain cause you grief. Get to the root of the problem and get your pipes flowing freely again with professional assistance. Your plumber may not always have what it takes, but the right drain cleaning specialists can get to the bottom of even the most problematic clogged drains.
