Let’s say you’re a robust Tampa homeowner, and want to handle a plumbing issue yourself to save some cash. Rarely are residents aware of the dangers of DIY drain cleaning. It’s tempting: your sink or shower slows to a trickle, and you figure a bottle of store-bought drain cleaner will do the trick. Maybe you even try to snake it yourself. After all, why call a plumber when you can handle a “simple drain cleaning” on your own, right? The reality is that DIY drain cleaning can backfire — big time. Many Tampa homeowners spend more fixing damage than if they’d just scheduled a professional drain service first.
But you can save yourself the time, the money, the hassle, and the subsequent problems by giving EVERYDAYPLUMBER.com a call today. And our professional plumbers will efficiently and effectively clean your drain right away!
1. Chemical Drain Cleaners: A Quick Fix With Long-Term Consequences
The most common DIY approach is pouring chemical drain cleaners down the pipe. But these products may cause more harm than good. The following are just a few of the potential risks of DIY cleaning your drain.
- Corrosion Risk: The harsh chemicals can eat away at your pipes, especially if your home has older cast iron, clay piping, orangeburg, or even thin-wall PVC. Over time, this weakens the plumbing and leads to leaks or full-blown pipe failure, requiring costly drain repair or a full drain replacement. Let us do a proper drain cleaning via hydro jetting for you and extend the life of your plumbing system.
- Incomplete Removal: Most liquid drain cleaners only clear a small opening through the blockage, meaning the underlying buildup remains. We offer complete and long term solutions – such as hydro jetting your drain – always guaranteeing customer satisfaction.
- Health Concerns: Many of these chemicals are hazardous to humans and can be dangerous if exposed to you and your family, especially if residue lingers in sinks or tubs. So don’t take the risk, and allow experienced professionals to handle all the dirty work.
2. Additional Risks of DIY Drain Cleaning: Improper Snaking
Another popular DIY tactic is renting or buying a drain snake. But without the right experience, you could:
- Puncture or crack a pipe, especially fragile older lines.
- Push the clog deeper, making it harder (and more costly) for a plumber to remove.
- Break the snaking device while inside the drain; we find this frequently when called for a plumbing emergency.
- Miss the real issue. Sometimes slow drains aren’t caused by simple hair or grease clogs, but by tree roots infiltrating your sewer lines or a section of collapsed piping — problems that a manual snake can’t solve.
3. When You Need Professional Drain Cleaning
When your plumbing suddenly fails, avoid the risks of DIY drain cleaning. Instead, hire our licensed plumbers who use specialized equipment that goes far beyond what’s available at the hardware store. For instance:
- Cabling – commonly referred to as snaking will provide the relief needed to restore flow in your plumbing system. Unlike what is available at the hardware store, we have customizable equipment made suitable for any job.
- Camera inspections let us see exactly what’s inside your pipes, so we can identify grease buildup, breaks, or invading roots.
- Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water, thoroughly removing debris without harmful chemicals — extending the life of your plumbing.
- If problems are more severe, plumbers can advise on whether sewer line repair or sewer replacement is the smarter long-term solution.
4. Preventative Maintenance Beats Emergency Calls
Scheduling routine drain cleaning services is one of the best ways to avoid plumbing emergencies. Many Tampa homeowners opt for annual or semi-annual inspections, which can catch small issues before they become big — and keep your drains flowing smoothly.
When you consider the cost of emergency plumbing services, water damage restoration, or replacing ruined flooring and drywall, investing in professional maintenance is simply smart.
5. Protect Your Tampa Home — Leave the Drain Cleaning to the Pros
At the end of the day, your residential plumbing system is too important (and too expensive) to risk on a DIY gamble. From repetitive clogs to hydro jetting and sewer consultations, EVERYDAYPLUMBER.com is ready to help. And no matter the size or complexity of the issue, we never leave a mess and always leave your home in spectacular condition after a job well done.
Don’t wait for a minor clog to become a flooded bathroom. Schedule your drain cleaning service with our trusted Tampa plumbers today and enjoy peace of mind all season long.
6. expert services — the EVERYDAYPLUMBER.com way
For over 13 years, our family owned and operated business has met every job with the following:
- Comprehensive Inspection
We use advanced diagnostic tools to assess the severity of your plumbing issues and provide clear options and competitive pricing on the spot! - Expert Pipe Repair, Re-Piping and Drain Cleaning Services
Our licensed, experienced plumbers will carefully replace leaky drain pipes and hydro jet sewer drains with minimal disruption to your home. - Clean, Respectful Work
We treat your home like our own, ensuring we leave everything clean and tidy when the job is done. - Transparent Pricing & Warranties
No surprises. You’ll know exactly what to expect, and we stand behind our work with solid guarantees.
7. How Much Could You Save Hiring our expert plumbers? — Potentially Thousands
Many homeowners try DIY drain cleaning to save a quick buck, only to face major, expensive repairs down the road. A minor clog treated improperly can turn into a cracked pipe, a sewer backup, or hidden leaks inside your walls — problems that often cost $1,000 to $5,000 (or more) to fix once the damage is done.
By trusting a licensed plumber from the start, you avoid guesswork and temporary fixes. Professionals have specialized tools like drain camera inspections and hydro jetting that completely clear your pipes without harming them. This approach doesn’t just solve the immediate problem — it helps extend your plumbing system’s lifespan, saving you thousands over the years by preventing major failures.
Ready to put down the wrench and leave the dirty job to the professionals?
Don’t let a clogged drain or leaky pipe become more of a headache! Let the best plumbers in Tampa assess, recommend, and carry out the solution that is best for your home or business.
Call today at 813-872-0200 for a smart plumbing audit, or request service on line at EVERYDAYPLUMBER.com.
Check out the hundreds of 5-star reviews on our Google Business Profile. Discover why we’re one of the most trusted plumbing companies in the Tampa Bay Area.
Frequently Asked Questions About DIY Drain Cleaning in Tampa:
Q: Are store-bought chemical drain cleaners safe to use?
Not always. Many off-the-shelf drain cleaners contain harsh acids or lye that can damage your pipes, harm septic systems, and pose serious risks to your health if splashed or inhaled. Professional plumbers use safer, more effective methods tailored to your specific plumbing issues.
Q: What’s the biggest risk of trying to snake or clear a drain myself?
Using a store-bought snake improperly can crack older pipes, push a clog deeper, or even puncture the line. It’s also common to miss the real cause of a blockage — which could be tree roots or heavy scale — leaving you with recurring problems. Worse still – it may result in breaking the snake head off inside the drain, which can become even more difficult to remove.
Q: When should I call a plumber instead of trying to fix it myself?
If you’ve tried a plunger or gentle flush and the clog remains, or if water backs up repeatedly, it’s time to call a pro. A licensed plumber can diagnose the true source with cameras and use methods like hydro jetting to completely clear the pipe — preventing costly damage down the road.
Related Content:
Drain Cleaning – Slow drain? We got your six! Learn about the process of high efficiency drain cleaning.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Chemical Drain Cleaners – Explore the dangers of chemical drain cleaners and why their use should be avoided.
5 Reasons to Hire Professional Plumbers – Find out more reasons why plumbing is a job best handled by experts.