I hear you on the ice and salt thing—never seen it do much except maybe clear a tiny bit of gunk. Hot water and dish soap is usually my first move too, especially for grease. Enzyme cleaners can work, but you’re right, gotta check if they’re safe for your pipes. Ever tried a drain snake before reaching for chemicals? Sometimes that’s all it takes, and you don’t risk messing with your plumbing.
I get where you’re coming from with the drain snake, but I’ve seen folks do more harm than good if they’re not careful—especially with older pipes or those cheap plastic snakes that can snap off. Ever notice how some clogs just keep coming back even after snaking? Sometimes it’s a buildup further down the line, or even a venting issue. I usually recommend a combo: manual removal if you can see the blockage, then a thorough flush with hot water. Chemicals are my last resort, but even then, I’m picky about which ones. Anyone else run into weird recurring clogs that just don’t respond to the usual tricks?
Ever notice how some clogs just keep coming back even after snaking? Sometimes it’s a buildup further down the line, or even a venting issue.
I’d argue that if clogs are recurring, snaking alone isn’t addressing the root cause. In my experience, it’s usually a sign of a partial blockage deeper in the main line, or like you said, poor venting. I’ve had better luck with a wet/dry vac to pull gunk out rather than just pushing it further. Chemicals can sometimes mask the problem by clearing just enough to get water moving again, but then you’re back at square one in a few weeks. Sometimes you just have to pull the trap and get your hands dirty—gross, but effective.
