Call or TEXT

Vinegar is acidic and other caustic drain products can be strong acid, alkali or base. I use vinegar for mold in my house and especially spraying it into wood because it penetrates deep to kill off mold rather than bleach which doesn't penetrate nearly as good. 

But, in a drain and pipes, vinegar can kill off all bacteria some of which are beneficial in providing enzymes to convert the sludge build up into water and carbon dioxide. Think of the pipes as your digestive system....it needs good bacteria to operate efficiently. When one takes an antibiotic, it kills off all bacteria in the digestive tract. Then often times, a person has to eat yogurt or take acidophilus to replenish the good flora that was lost to the antibiotic. The same is true for a drainage systems....they need good bacteria!

That's why I instruct my customers to NOT use vinegar and baking soda and/or other caustic drain openers to unclog a drain. They may work once, they may work twice, but eventually they won't work anymore because the entire inside of the pipe in lined with that stuff which creates sludge...aka "bad bacteria".

Sludge can be soft or hard in nature, and by that time, the clog needs further action with a cable and blades or water jetting to get it clear. Many times, the sludge becomes a grease clog and people start plunging the sink with a tool meant for the toilet. That just stirs everything up more and creates a bigger clog. 

So, as a maintenance effort, enzyme products are the most beneficial. They introduce the good bacteria into the pipes which allows the beneficial enzymes to thrive and consume the sludge. Less sludge means pieces of hair won't always stick to the sides of the pipe beyond the p-trap and they flow down the line into the 4" and 6" pipes and into the city sewer. Though, some hair will always stick in a drain no matter. 

So, once a clog is present, enzymes won't do much good in the short term, but as a maintenance objective they are the best you can do for your pipes long term! 

Most of the time, your house sewer or "main line" as we call it up here in Minnesota is clogged due to tree roots, low pipes, feminine products or baby wipes flushed down the toilet.

No chemical is going to unclog a backed-up sewer line. The sewer line needs either a cable with blades, or water jetting if cabling is unsuccessful or not recommended due to pipe condition or other factors. 

Many people confuse the basement floor drain as their sewer or "main line". Yes, when a house sewer backs up, it will come up the floor drain because its the lowest point in the house. If the floor drain wasn't present then it would come up the laundry tub of whatever drain was at the lowest point in the house. But, water can also back up into the floor drain because the 2" pipe is clogged or the trap on the floor drain is obstructed. If your laundry tub is located in the basement and a back up happens from the floor drain when your washing machine is draining or kitchen sink that may be located directly above, then it could just be that 2" line that is clogged and not your sewer heading to the street. 

When you see toilet paper, human waste, or water backs up through the floor drain when you run anything in your house, then its the sewer line (4" and 6" pipes) and not the 2" line. 

I have seen homeowners ruin pipes due to renting the wrong machines and using incorrect cable and blade sizes. Many times, homeowners simply "open up" a drain or sewer instead of actually cleaning it properly. Just because water flows again doesn't mean that a sewer or drain is cleaned correctly. 

That's why properly trained professionals are your best options instead of potentially damaging pipes and/or avoiding a temporary fix compared to a thoroughly cleaned sewer or drain. I never look down on a home owner for trying it on their own, but their are wrong and right ways when cleaning sewers and drains.