Plumber’s Tips for Clogged Drains

At home, we all experience clogged drains from time to time. A clogged drain can often be an easy fix, whether the problem lies in your sink, toilet, or shower. There are many different methods that you can attempt yourself, which range from the traditional plunger to a DIY drain cleaning solution. With these tips from Albuquerque Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, you can take on simple unclogging jobs yourself. Furthermore, you will know when to contact your local plumber to do the job instead.

Clog Prevention

There are a few ways to prevent clogs from building up before your drains end up with significant clogs. First, be sure to clean your filters and stoppers regularly. You should do more than empty these to ensure that clogs will not occur. Instead, take them apart and wash them thoroughly. In the kitchen, never pour grease or coffee grounds down the drain. It would be best if you poured boiling water down your drain once every week to clear out any potential clogs. In the bathroom, never flush heavy paper products. Finally, do not pour chemicals or hot wax into any drains.

Flush With Boiling Water

When a clog occurs, one of the best ways to treat it immediately is by flushing it with boiling water. Wait until the area has drained entirely before doing this. Furthermore, only use this method if you have metal pipes. PVC pipes can be softened or melted by boiling water; however, you can use hot tap water instead.

Use a Plunger

In addition to flushing with boiling water, a plunger is another way to unclog drains. Ensure that the plunger forms a complete seal around the drain in question. You can also use a duct tap on the top of the overflow drain on your tub or sink. This will prevent air from escaping through the overflow drain.

Create a Snake

While you could buy a snake on your clogged drains, you can also easily make one yourself. Take a wire coat hanger and straighten it out, but leave a slight bend at the end of it. This bend will snake your drain and remove whatever is clogging it. However, it would be best to be cautious when using a homemade snake. You could accidentally damage the pipes instead.

Take it Apart

Combined with the snake method, you can clear the clog by working on the sink trap. First, remove the trap, or the clean-out plug, underneath your sink. Next, take the snake that you have to eliminate the blockage in the area. Be sure to wear goggles and to keep a bucket underneath the trap, as a lot of water will escape.

Chemical Methods

Chemical methods of drain cleaning are never recommended! These can be bought at a local hardware store. However, chemical methods can also be dangerous. These often contain caustic agents, which can cause severe damage to certain types of fixtures and drain lines. The risks of harm to yourself or your home outweigh the rewards, which is why they are not recommended.

DIY Drain Cleaner

Because chemical methods can potentially be dangerous, creating a DIY drain cleaner with household products is best. First, pour a cup of baking soda down your drain, then follow this with three cups of boiling water. Repeat until you have cleared out the clog. The boiling water causes the baking soda to become more alkaline. You should only try this if no water is backed up in the drain. Vinegar and baking soda are other great methods. Use the same formula of baking soda and three cups of boiling water, but add a cup of vinegar to the mix.

In addition to baking soda, washing soda is helpful in unclogging drains. First, pour one cup of washing soda into your drain and allow this to sit for a period of time. Next, add a cup of baking soda and three cups of water as described above. Because washing soda is even more alkaline than baking soda, you should never use this method if you have already tried using a chemical drain cleaner. Furthermore, washing soda should not be used on PVC pipes. Finally, an enzyme culture can also be utilized to clean out your drain, but these are best for monthly maintenance.

When to Call Albuquerque Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

If none of these methods has worked for you, or if your drain is severely clogged, you should called Albuquerque Plumbing, Heating & Cooling immediately. Signs of a severe drain clog include water that will not drain at all or is beginning to leak into your home. Our company understands that such situations are plumbing emergencies, and we will do our best to fix the problem as quickly as possible. Contact Albuquerque Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today to learn more about our drain cleaning services.

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