Clogged Drain Tips That Work
Adding a clogged drain to your to-do list is no fun. When you pull the plug and gravity doesn’t kick in, it’s good to have some ideas for tackling the situation.
If you’re faced with a brimming bath or a stopped-up sink, here are our top clogged drain tips for getting drain flow back.
1. Boiling Water
When faced with a clogged drain, boiling water is the first thing you should try. Many drain stoppages are caused by hair, soap, grease, and debris getting lodged. Boiling water can help loosen the blockage and restore your drain to full flow!
Pour about half a gallon of boiling water directly down your drain. Open a faucet to check the drainage. If it’s still taking a while to drain, or sitting in the sink, simply repeat the process. If doing this process, a second time doesn’t fix the issue, it’s time to try another method.
2. Check Your Garbage Disposal
If you have a garbage disposal, it may be your clog culprit.
Turn on the disposal to break up the clog. Broken and overheated disposals sometimes don’t turn on so hit the reset switch at the side or bottom of the unit before turning it on again.
If you hear a low humming sound when you switch it on, the disposal may be broken or jammed. Never put your hand into the disposal to try to shift a blockage. Turn off the power and then use an Allen wrench to turn the blades manually until you feel less resistance.
Remember that if in doubt, contact a drain cleaning professional to take care of any issues for you!
3. Plunge Away
A plunger is a great tool to remove blockages from drains. To use one, start by filling the sink halfway with hot water. Position the plunger so it covers the drain before quickly pumping up and down a number of times.
Remove the plunger and see if the water drains freely. If not, repeat the plunging process three or four more times.
4. Baking Soda And Vinegar
Instead of using the harsh chemicals found in common drain cleaners, you can make use of a simple chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar.
Start by removing any standing water from the sink. Pour one cup of baking soda and then one cup of white vinegar directly down the drain. Close the drain with a stopper or cover for 15 minutes. Remove the stopper and pour hot water down the drain. If you’re seeing progress, you can revert to the boiling water we used earlier.
5. Plumber’s Snake
Stubborn blockages need a plumber’s snake to properly dislodge them. A plumber’s snake is a coiled spiral tool.
Feed the plumber’s snake into your drain until it hits an obstruction. Don’t push too firmly as this can shove the clog further down the drain. Crank the handle of the tool to dislodge the debris and bring it out of the drain. Run hot water to check if the drain is clear.
6. Clear Out The P-trap
The P-trap is the elbow-shaped pipe directly beneath your sink. If none of the above methods have helped you, the blockage may be in the P-trap. Before cleaning it out, prep with gloves, goggles, and loads of towels. This can get messy!
Place a bucket beneath the pipe. Unscrew the connectors on the trap that attach the curved piece to the vertical and horizontal pipes. Remove the P-trap and clean out grime, debris, and grease residue. Reconnect the trap, and you’re all set! Make sure there aren’t any leaks once you’ve reassembled everything.
Call In A Trained Technician And Skip The Clogged Drain Tips Altogether!
If you’ve tried any or all of these tips and your drain is still clogged, or you’d rather let the experts handle your drains, you’re in the right place.
Here at Art Rooter, Sewer & Drain Cleaning, we have years of experience working with even the stubbornest drains. Schedule an appointment with us today and we’ll have your drains clear in no time.
