If a drain is just a bit slow and you know it’s from soap scum or some hair, a basic manual method – hot water, a simple plunger, maybe a small drain snake – is fine to try. But you should call a plumber when clogs keep coming back, multiple drains are slow at the same time, there’s a bad sewage smell, or water is backing up into places it absolutely shouldn’t, like a shower or floor drain.
Chemical drain cleaners are tempting because they promise quick results, but they’re harsh. Overuse can damage older pipes, corrode fittings, and create fumes that aren’t great to breathe. If there’s a deeper blockage in the main line, chemicals just sit there and do very little, while you lose time.
Also, if you see any sign of sewage backing up, don’t experiment. That’s a hygiene and health issue. At that point, a plumber with proper tools (rods, machine snakes, inspection cameras) can actually solve the root problem instead of giving a temporary fix. Think of chemicals as a last mild attempt, not the default solution.
