Enzyme cleaners are decent, but honestly, regular mechanical cleaning beats everything else long-term. A quick snake or auger run every 6-12 months clears out buildup before it gets serious. Enzymes can struggle with tougher clogs like hairballs or soap scum layers—seen plenty of drains still blocked after enzyme treatments. Not knocking enzymes completely, just saying they're not a silver bullet...sometimes you gotta get hands-on to keep things flowing smoothly.
Yeah, enzyme cleaners definitely have their limits. I've tried them a few times on rental properties, and while they're okay for minor maintenance, they just don't cut it for the tougher stuff. Had a tenant once who swore by enzymes and kept pouring them down the drain every week, but still ended up with a nasty clog of hair and soap residue. When I finally got in there with a snake, it was pretty clear the enzymes hadn't made much of a dent.
Honestly, mechanical cleaning is the way to go long-term. I usually schedule a quick auger run every 8-10 months or so—just enough to catch buildup before it becomes a headache. It's saved me from emergency plumber calls more times than I can count. Plus, tenants appreciate not having to deal with slow drains or standing water.
One thing I'd add though, is that prevention helps a ton too. Simple stuff like drain screens in showers and sinks can drastically cut down on hair and debris getting into pipes in the first place. I started putting those cheap mesh screens in all my units a few years back, and it's made a noticeable difference. Tenants sometimes remove them at first (they can be annoying, I get it), but after one or two clogs, they usually come around.
Also, hot water flushes every now and then can help loosen up soap scum and grease buildup. Not a miracle fix, but it does help keep things moving between mechanical cleanings.
So yeah, enzymes aren't useless, but they're definitely not a standalone solution. A little hands-on maintenance and some basic preventive measures go a long way toward keeping drains clear and tenants happy.
Have you tried the baking soda and vinegar trick? I swear by it for minor clogs, but yeah, nothing beats a good ol' drain snake when things get hairy (literally...). Mesh screens are lifesavers too—cheap and eco-friendly!
Totally agree about mesh screens—they've saved me from some pretty gross situations. Baking soda and vinegar is my go-to as well, but I sometimes wonder if I'm doing it right? Usually, I sprinkle baking soda down first, wait a bit, then pour vinegar and let it fizz. After 15-20 mins, hot water flush. Seems to work okay, but maybe I'm missing something? Anyway, glad to hear someone else swears by this method too...makes me feel less weird about raiding the pantry for drain maintenance.
"Usually, I sprinkle baking soda down first, wait a bit, then pour vinegar and let it fizz."
Honestly, the baking soda and vinegar combo is popular, but it's not always as effective as people think. The fizzing looks impressive, sure, but it doesn't really break down grease or hair buildup that well. If you're dealing with stubborn clogs or slow drains regularly, a simple drain snake or enzyme-based cleaner might save you some hassle in the long run. Just my two cents from years of unclogging pipes...
