The drains of your home are important, responsible for taking water out of your toilets, sinks, and bathtubs and disposing of it in a sewer or septic tank. For this reason, it can be stressful, frustrating, and inconvenient when one of your drains is clogged. However, the good news is there are a number of things you can try to clean your drains and below are 5 of the most effective ones.
1. Plunger
Plungers are often seen as only ways to unclog a toilet. However, the reality is they can be used on any drains in your home and they can be effective in unclogging a drain.
If your clog is in a sink or shower, make sure you have a bellows style plunger that has the flat end on it. This will ensure you get the seal that you need around the drain. Take the plunger and when you have a good seal, pump up and down on it slowly. The vacuum you have created by putting it over the drain may move the clog enough to allow water through and this will eventually clear it altogether. While using a plunger is a good first step, it may not be strong enough on bigger clogs.
2. Cleaners
Cleaners with harsh chemicals in them are not recommended for use when you have a clog. Whether it is able to clear the clog or not, remnants of it will stay in your pipes and eat away at them, causing you a lot of money in repairs. Therefore, you need to use cleaners that are biological, meaning they will not have the chemicals that could damage your plumbing.
Before pouring a cleaner down the drain that has the clog, make sure that it contains no chemicals. Instead, confirm it is an enzymatic cleaner. These have bacteria that will eat away at any organic waste in your drain. Pour the cleaner slowly into the drain and let it sit. Follow this with some hot water to see if water gets through.
3. Baking soda & vinegar
Most times it will not take much to unclog your drain and get the water flowing again. Chances are you have ingredients in your home that if mixed together will provide a perfect solution to the blockage.
Baking soda and vinegar when mixed can provide a drain opener that is effective and will cause no damage to the plumbing system in your home. This solution is able to eat away at any bacteria, grease, or residue that is causing a clog in your drain. Pour it into your drain slowly and cover the drain for about 15 minutes. Follow it with some boiling water. Not only will this address clogs, it can take care of any foul odours emanating from your drain.
4. Hot water
Many drains become clogged due to fats and oils being poured down the drain. These eventually harden and prevent anything from flowing through the pipes. When this happens, it can be addressed with a very simple solution: hot water.
Turn the tap on to the hottest setting and let it go down the drain. Leave it on for a few minutes and then turn it off to see if the water drains. If this is ineffective, try boiling some water and pour it slowly down the drain. This is usually enough to break down the blockage and if you do it once a week it can even prevent future clogs.
5. Professional plumber
Sometimes no matter what you try the blockage is too stubborn to clear. In these instances, it is best to call a professional drain service.
Professional plumbers have the tools to ensure the clog is definitely cleared. The plumber can snake a camera down the drain to see what is for sure causing the blockage. Then he has an array of tools to choose from, such as a snake, auger, or jetstream that clears the clog with high-pressure water. If these methods fail, the plumber can then take the pipe apart, remove the clog, and put it back together.
