Slow drains can be smelly, messy, and inconvenient if you have to wait for the water to slowly empty out of your sink or shower. Sometimes, it's possible to clean a drain on your own and get way better performance out of it.

Do Be Careful with Liquid Cleaners

Liquid cleaners can work wonders on stopped up plumbing fixtures. They help dissolve whatever is causing the problem, as long as it's organic. (If you're throwing inorganic waste into drains or toilets, we have a whole other problem here).  The liquid cleaners can be harsh on a septic system, which relies on a balance of delicate bacteria to do its job. So, if you have a septic tank, be cautious and ask a septic maintenance team before pouring anything unexpected down the drain and killing off all the good bacteria in there. Some cleaners are gentler than others and may be approved for cleaning a septic tank.

Don't Forget About Garbage Disposals

While you're cleaning sinks, you don't want to forget about the garbage disposal's sharp blades. In general, you should avoid cleaning out a garbage disposal yourself. That is a job for an appliance repair team; if the apparatus is not draining correctly after you've used the disposal, it's probably broken.

Do Try Multiple Methods

At home, you can try many methods of cleaning on your own. Liquid cleaner is just the first step. Your next line of offense would be to try a professional drain snake that can reach much further than you can. For an easy home solution without any extra equipment, try pouring some baking soda down drains (especially in the bathroom); it works great for dissolving hair that can stop up your drains. Ask your plumber about other ways of cleaning drains that are safe for your particular plumbing system.

Don't Be Afraid to Get Professional Service

There are some times when you just can't reach whatever is causing a drain to act slowly. In some of the cases, a problem may go further than just a drain being clogged. Your plumbing service should look at any drains that are very slow to respond. It could be a problem with a plumbing or septic backup, which can get messy. There may also be a leak somewhere that is causing water to flow erratically. You will never know until you get it checked out by a professional.