Do-It-Yourself/Unclogging drains
Clogged drains can be a real nuisance. There are a few home-remedies you can try before calling a plumber.
- Products
- Drano
- LiquidPlumber
- Home-Remedies
- Clorox
- Baking Soda
- Use equal amounts of vinegar and baking soda. Cover drain and let stand for at least one hour then flush with hot water till drain is clear.
- Remedies with tools
- Plunger
- Hose Bladder
- Plumbing Snake
- Industry
- Plumber
Products
[edit | edit source]Most people start off with a store-bought solution, which may or may not produce results. These products are typically $10-20(US) and be purchased cheapest at hardware stores.
Try using the plunger on the drain after letting it sit 15 minutes, then flushing with hot water while plunging like a crazyman. Make sure to get a good air seal on the plunger over the drain, if one is not obtained, try a bigger plunger.
Home-Remedies
[edit | edit source]Several people have reported using Clorox bleach and/or Baking Soda instead of the commercial products, yielding better results.
Another trick, which may or may not work, is to plug up all the drains in the sink with towels, and run a hose full-blast down the drain, in an effort to blow out the clog.
Remedies with tools
[edit | edit source]If the clog is between your drain and the nearest vent, a plunger can usually be used to loosen a clog, allowing it to continue down the pipe. The hope is that the next pipe is larger and thus it will not create another clog.
If a plunger doesn't work, a water bladder might. Connect the bladder onto a garden hose and insert it into the pipe/drain. When you turn the hose on the bladder will block the drain so the water will build up pressure and push the clog down the pipe. Be careful, though, if the water can find another way out, it will.
Depending on the layout of your pipes, you might be able to feed a snake into it to pull the clog out. Be careful not to damage your appliances, as most snakes are metal with a sharp point. Insert it into the pipe until you cannot push it any further. Then turn it clockwise and it will work its way through the clog. Once there is no more resistance it has breached the clog: gently pull it back and see what the clog was (wear gloves while doing this!)
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A plunger being used to clear a drain. For home use, it is best to have a separate plunger for dish sinks and toilets for sanitary reasons. -
A handheld drain auger
Industry Professionals
[edit | edit source]If nothing else, call your local plumber.