New houses, old houses, condominiums, and even stately mansions deal with
plumbing clogs. Inexperienced homeowners may fret and worry about a clogged
drain, but clearing drains is actually a simple task. Before you pick
up the phone and call your plumber, try employing some of these techniques.
You will save big time and develop the confidence to make other home repairs.
Try a Plunger
The simplest solution is often the correct one. Toilet, sink, and tub drains
respond extremely well to the suction of a rubber plunger. Not only is
this a cheap method, but plungers only take a few minutes to use.
Snake the Drain
A lot of people think that snaking drains requires a specialized technique,
some form that only a plumber knows. This is not true. Snaking a drain
is a matter of persistence and elbow grease. You want to maneuver the
drain into the clog and force the clog apart. This technique will smell,
especially when you remove the snake. It is important to continue clearing
muck stuck to pipes after the clog is cleared. Otherwise, the clog may
quickly reappear.
Snakes are great for unclogging outdoor sewers of leaves and organic matter.
This prevents floods from occurring on your street and driveway. Use the
auger to loosen material, then wash away refuse with a hose.
Put a Drain Cleaner to Work
Hardware and big-box warehouse stores sell drain cleansers for the toughest
clogs that cannot be removed with gritted teeth and tools. Drain cleaning
solutions are extremely caustic and will cause severe bodily harm if handled
improperly. Always read the labels and use drain cleansing products as
stated on the label. Some drain cleaners will slowly eat away at your
plumbing, so use these with care.
A less corrosive strategy is to use vinegar and baking soda. Pour anywhere
from ½ to 1 cup of baking soda followed by equal parts vinegar.
Follow it up with a gallon stove-boiled water, and voila! Your drain will
likely be cleaned. Vinegar and baking soda also kill terrible odors from
rotting refuse.
Preventing Clogged Drains
Instead of waiting for your drains to slowly fill with hair, muck, and
other yuck, take an extra few minutes to prevent a full clog from happening
altogether.
Salt and brine solutions work wonders for loosening grime buildup and eliminating
grease. It is most effective on kitchen sinks. Heavily saturate warm water
with salt, then pour it down the drain and let it sit. Not only does this
improve water flow from residue, grease, and food debris, but it is effective
at eliminating powerful odors.
Use strainers for tubs and heavily-used sinks. This prevents hair, one
of the most difficult to remove substances, from building up within the
pipes. A slow-draining bathtub is a sign of blockage within the pipes.
Never pour grease down a drain. Instead, wait until it hardens, and then
scrap the remains into the garbage. The same goes for coffee grounds and
food scraps. Water-absorbent foods like rice and noodles expand and easily
clog drains. Always clear plates before washing dishes in the sink.
Always Be Prepared
With these simple steps, you can keep your pipes clear and flowing like
new. However, if you’re faced with a persistent problem, it may
take some professional help to fix. Have the number of a qualified team
in your phone, like The Eco Plumbers, to guarantee plumbing problems never
put your out!