"I've never tried a drain camera myself (honestly, sounds kinda intimidating)"
Honestly, drain cameras aren't as scary as they sound—it's basically like fishing a tiny GoPro down your pipes. But I wouldn't jump straight to renting one unless you're having repeated issues. Sometimes a good old-fashioned mechanical auger (the heavy-duty kind, not those flimsy plastic ones) can clear out roots and debris pretty effectively. Might save you some cash and hassle before going the camera route...just my two cents.
"Honestly, drain cameras aren't as scary as they sound—it's basically like fishing a tiny GoPro down your pipes."
Haha, that's actually a pretty good way to put it. I was kinda intimidated by the idea too at first, but when we had some recurring issues last year, I finally bit the bullet and rented one. Honestly, it wasn't that bad—just a bit gross seeing what's lurking down there. 😅
But yeah, I agree with you about trying the mechanical auger first. We had a stubborn clog that kept coming back every few months, and the auger cleared it right up. Haven't had any trouble since then (knock on wood). The camera was more just peace of mind afterward to make sure nothing serious was going on.
One thing I've been wondering though... does anyone here regularly use those enzyme-based drain cleaners for maintenance? I've heard mixed things—some swear by them, others say they're basically snake oil. I'm tempted to try them just to avoid future headaches, but not sure if it's worth the money or just marketing hype.
I've used those enzyme cleaners a few times, and honestly, they're kinda hit or miss. They seem decent for minor buildup, but if you've got something stubborn, they're not gonna cut it. Curious if anyone's tried the baking soda and vinegar trick regularly—does it actually help long-term?
I've tried the baking soda and vinegar thing a bunch of times, and honestly, it's not a miracle fix. It does help loosen minor gunk if you do it regularly—like once every couple weeks—but for anything serious, forget it. Had a stubborn clog last year, tried the vinegar trick repeatedly, and ended up having to snake the drain anyway. So yeah, decent for maintenance, but don't expect it to clear out years of buildup.
Yeah, totally agree with you there. Baking soda and vinegar is more of a preventive measure than a real fix. Had a similar issue myself—tried the DIY route for days, but ended up borrowing my neighbor's drain snake anyway. Now I just do the vinegar thing monthly to keep things flowing smoothly. It's cheap and easy enough, but definitely not magic if you've got years of buildup lurking down there...
