[BayAreaNative]

While in my home to clean out a backup (not in the kitchen sink), the plumber offered to hydro-clean the pipes with pressurized water to clear out all the gunk and grease. I believe he said it would be around $225. He said this type of cleaning should be performed every 3 years as a maintenance procedure.

Is it worth it to pay for professional hydro-cleaning or is there another way to keep the pipes clean?

I have the black plastic PVC pipes in the non-kitchen sink that had the backup, as well as PVC pipes under the kitchen sink.
I've read online that for PVC pipes, it is NOT good to pour boiling water because it can soften the pipes and possibly loosen the joints.
How about using the Professional Strength Liquid Plummer? Is this OK for PVC pipes?

I read about an enzyme cleaner Bi-O-Kleen Bacout that I read about on another website.
It eats organic matter, but I don't know if it helps with hair clogs. Is there anyone who thinks this is effective?

I will also put better strainers to catch hair from the bathtub/shower.

Thanks in adance!

[speedball1]

1) "Is it worth it to pay for professional hydro-cleaning or is there another way to keep the pipes clean?"
I would take that $225 and purchase a good sewer machine. For a one time expenditure you'll be able to clean your own pipes without a recurring $225 every 3 years.

2) "I've read online that for PVC pipes, it is NOT good to pour boiling water because it can soften the pipes and possibly loosen the joints."
Not so. In all the years that PVC has been in use this has never happened with Schedule 40 PVC. In point of fact I recommend using bleach followed by2 large pans of boiling water in place of using harsh chemicals.

3) " How about using the Professional Strength Liquid Plummer? Is this OK for PVC pipes?"

This will not harm PVC but only seems to work in TV commercials. I am no fan of putting harsh chemicals in the drainage system especially if you have a septic tank.
4) "I read about an enzyme cleaner Bi-O-Kleen Bacout that I read about on another website.
It eats organic matter, but I don't know if it helps with hair clogs. Is there anyone who thinks this is effective?"

I recommend pouring 1/2 gallon of bleach down the drain and letting it set over night. Next morning flush the mess out with 2 large pans of boiling water. The bleach will start to dissolve the rotting hair and make it slippery and the boiling water will melt and loosen the grease and will flush out the line.

Good luck, Tom