Drain Cleaners vs. Drain Openers: What’s the Difference?
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Understanding the difference between a drain cleaner vs. a drain opener can be the key to turning a stubborn clog into a solved problem. While both of these approaches clear obstructions in your drain, they do so in different ways.
Drain cleaning uses advanced methods like cutting and hydro-jetting to remove moderate to severe clogs inside the pipes. Drain openers, on the other hand, are better suited for minor blockages and typically use a snaking tool to puncture the obstruction so water can drain.
Neither method is inherently better than the other because each serves a specific purpose. Let’s take a closer look to see how these methods compare so that you can determine which one is best for clearing the clog in your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or bathtub.
What Is a Drain Opener?
Drain opening (also known as cabling) involves targeting the obstructed area with a snaking tool. Puncturing the blockage allows water to flow through the pipe. This process is the least expensive option of the two, but it’s less effective over the long term.
A drain opener has a low barrier to entry in both skill level and price. You can often find several brands at your grocery or hardware store. Homeowners trying to break up a clog can simply “snake” the snaking tool down the drain and twist it to dislodge the blockage.
Homeowners commonly turn to a drain opener when they’re dealing with a minor clog caused by issues like:
Food buildup
Stuck hair
Soap scum
Non-flushable toiletries
However, drain opening tools are not as effective against thicker or more stubborn clogs. They’re often not strong enough to break up sticky, thick, or greasy materials, which means the clog may return over time. In many cases, they’re also too short to reach clogs located deeper within the pipes.
What Is a Drain Cleaner?
Hydro-jetting involves a very highly pressurized water cutting system that clears roots and sewage from a pipe. If not done properly, the water jets can cut human skin, which is why professional use is a must.
Professional drain cleaning services are much more powerful than DIY methods. Drain cleaners use intense water pressure to loosen up the stickiest clogs, reaching where a drain snake can’t.
The other process uses a cutter blade attached to the end of a cabling system. Professionals can sometimes use drain cutting to slice up tree roots or harder clogs that don’t respond to hydro-jetting.
Sometimes a particularly stubborn clog doesn’t call for weighing the pros and cons of a drain cleaner vs. a drain opener because you don’t have to pick just one method—you can use both. A professional team may start with one method and then try the other in order to determine the most effective solution.
Why the Difference Affects Pricing and Results
Since cleaning methods require professional assistance and more advanced tools, they cost more than drain-opening tools. However, cleaning methods also often offer longer-lasting results, and can be well worth the investment.
Other factors that affect how much you’ll pay local drain cleaning experts include:
Time: Will the clog take only a few minutes to remove or a few hours? The longer the time, the more you’ll likely pay.
Equipment: Some clogs only need a little pressure washing, while others may require multiple types of equipment.
Severity: Sometimes a clog can turn out to be more serious than expected, such as a thick clog or tree root. More severe issues that require additional labor and equipment may increase the overall repair price.
Clogged drain solutions can come in many shapes and sizes, but professional help will get the job done. Our plumbing services have been providing fast relief to frustrated homeowners for over 40 years. We offer free quotes to help ensure you find a solution while staying within your budget.
Chemical Drain Cleaners: What to Know
Now that you know the differences between drain cleaners vs. drain openers, it’s time to discuss the classic, over-the-counter chemical drain cleaner. Chemical cleaners are very different from professional services in that they rely on a mixture of corrosive materials that can both help unclog the pipes and hurt the pipes.
On one hand, chemical drain cleaners can be quite effective at breaking up minor clogs caused by food, hair, and soap scum, especially when combined with flushing with hot water.
However, many of these chemical cleaners are rough on pipes. They can weaken the pipe’s lining, which can expose your plumbing to the threat of leaks or cracks. Relying on chemical cleaners may save you money in the short term, but when used too frequently, chemical cleaners could wind up costing you more over the long term.
Tools Homeowners Can Try Before Calling a Plumber
Sometimes your clog doesn’t need a professional eye. There are a few safe and simple DIY options you can try for minor clogs or slow drains.
Drain snake: Do you think the clog is close to the opening? A drain snake that’s a few feet long might be all you need to break up the clog. Use gloves, wear a mask, and put on goggles before snaking, because sometimes an unclogged drain can splash.
Enzyme-based cleaner: These drain cleaners are becoming more popular for being gentler on pipes. The trade-off is that they take longer to work and often need a full day before they finally break down the clog and wash it away.
Plunger: A good, old-fashioned plunger may be all you need to remove a small clog. Simply fill the sink with a few inches of water, then slide the plunger over the opening. Do the same pumping motion you would with a clogged toilet to move the water against the clog.
Need help keeping your drains clean? Read our cleaning tips to learn more about how to prevent clogs and other plumbing issues.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
DIY might be a good place to start, but if you see any of the following signs, it’s time to call a professional cleaning service:
Multiple drains backing up
Slow drains throughout the home
Water backup
Sewer odors like rotten eggs or sulfur
Repeat clogs
A professional can bring valuable tools like camera diagnostics to help determine whether you need a drain cleaner or a drain opener. Our sewer inspections and drain cleaning services in Omaha offer everything from video inspections to intensive sewer line repair and more.
Why Professional Drain Cleaning Is Often Recommended
A stubborn clog can affect your ability to enjoy your home, and may even worsen over time. Aksarben® brings over 40 years of experience to Omaha homeowners to remove even the worst clogs.
Professional cleaning not only addresses the root issue, but it can also provide a much longer-lasting solution than most DIY methods. You can also get great maintenance tips from professionals who’ve seen it all before.
Our services span across Omaha and surrounding counties, including Cass County, Sarpy County, and Pottawattamie County.
Fix Your Clog with Aksarben
Don’t put up with unpleasant odors or slow drains any longer. We’ll perform an in-depth inspection to find the source of your clog and recommend a solution that lasts.
Think the issue is minor? Try one of the safe DIY methods first. If those don’t work, we can step in with hydro-jetting, pipe cutting, or a video inspection. Your satisfaction is our goal, so if you’re not happy with the results, we’ll fix the issue or refund you 100%.
Schedule service now or call us with your questions. We’re more than happy to help you get rid of this clog so you can get back to your life.