Having to call the plumber due to a clogged drain can put a damper on your budget, but next time don’t pick up the phone so fast. Unclogging drains yourself is sometimes, even if you’re not a DYI expert.
A gurgling drain backing up into your sink. A slow-draining bathtub. A shower that fills up with more water than when you take a bath. A strange smell when you approach your kitchen sink. These warning signs can strike fear into the hearts, and checking accounts, of homeowners. A clogged drain can quickly turn from a mere annoyance to a completely blocked pipe that renders your sink or bathtub completely useless.
Unclogging drains is a simple task for a plumber but it can also prove to take a strong hit against your checking account. Learning how to unplug a drain is a valuable lesson for a homeowner to have his in DIY arsenal.
1Cleaning the Surface
The first step that you should take is to remove any excess dirt, grime, hair and general goo that have accumulated in and around the drain’s surface.
Removing all of this buildup can help you to ensure that you don’t accidentally flush extra clog-causing material into the drain while you are clearing clogged drains.
2Common Household Ingredients
Chemical drain clog removers contain harsh ingredients that are designed to break down the materials that are causing the blockage in your sink. While they may be strong enough to break down some forms of drain blockages, the reality is that few commercially available drain cleaners can actually remove built-up grease and hair.
Another downside is that if your clog is in your double kitchen sink you may find that the chemicals splash up when you run your garbage disposal. The corrosive chemicals can cause severe chemical burns and also damage your pipes.
It may surprise you to find out that many of the liquids that you can use to unclog your blocked drain can be found around your house or in your garage. Using non-toxic alternatives to unclog a drain can help you to avoid accidentally splashing harsh chemicals.
3White Vinegar And Baking Soda
White vinegar and baking soda are great non-toxic cleaning ingredients. Combing them produces a reaction suitable for a middle-school chemistry class: an almost explosive fizzing reaction. Combine half a cup of white vinegar with half a cup of baking soda. It would best to combine the two ingredients directly next to the drain that you are unplugging as the reaction will be nearly immediately. Pour the solution down your clogged drain and allow it to sit for at least two hours.
For open drains that don’t have a stopper in them it would be best to pour the half cup of baking soda directly down the drain and then pour the vinegar into the drain. The fizzing reaction will work to loosen and remove the built-up grime. Flush with hot water after two hours.
4Baking Soda and Salt
Combine half a cup of baking soda and a half cup of salt and pour it down the clogged drain. Allow it to settle for at least ten minutes and then follow up by pouring a gallon of boiling water down the drain. When combined, the three ingredients are an excellent drain unclogger.
5Dish Detergent
The same degreasing detergent that you use to wash your dishes can be used for unclogging drains and even toilets.
Pour half a cup of dish detergent into your toilet or your clogged sink.
Follow up by pouring a gallon of hot water into the toilet or the sink.
Boiling water would work best if you can boil that much water. The combination of the dish detergent and the boiling water will break down any residue that might be causing the blockage. You may still need to use a plunger to help remove the rest of the blockage.
6Tools Of The Trade
There are a few things found in and around your house that can give you extra leverage for unplugging a drain. Using these simple and common household items can help you with unclogging drains and avoiding the need to hire a plumber.
7A Wet-Dry Vac
Your shop vac can do more than help you to suck up excess water from an overflowing drain or toilet. It can be used in an effort to remove the actual blockages from the drains. Flip your wet-dry vac to the liquid setting and cover its vent to avoid spewing liquids out the rear of the vacuum. Place the hose over the drain and turn it on. Your wet-dry vac isn’t always powerful enough to loosen and remove the blockage, but it’s still worth the effort though.
8Drain Snake
Plumbers often use a drain snake when unclogging drains. Drain snakes are available for sale at any home improvement store and can help you to get the job done without the need to call in the professionals. It is essentially a flexible piece of metal with a hooked or flat brush-like end and it can be very effective.
9Wire Coat Hanger
In lieu of a drain snake, an ordinary metal wire coat hanger can be used in a similar manner. Straighten out the wire hanger and make a small spiral hook at one end of the hanger. Slide the hooked side of the hanger into the drain and move it around in slow circles, pulling it up out of the drain every minute or so.
The result should be the removal of hairballs, and other gunk that has been clogging up the drain. Once you have removed as much of the clog as possible, pour the vinegar and baking solution down the drain followed by boiling water.
10Unclogging Drains on Your Own
Unclogging drains does not need to be a task exclusively for a plumber to handle. However, if all of your efforts have failed to open up your drain then you may want to consider calling around for quotes from area plumbers.
What Do You Think?
What do you use to keep your drains continually flowing clog-free? Do you have any useful tips to add on how to unplug a drain?
