Pablo Luna
Drains are often an overlooked part of the house the homeowners don’t really pay attention to until they get all clogged up. Once that happens, you’ll be facing a world of plumbing troubles. From pooling water around the drain area or unpleasant smells, the signs of a clogged drain are pretty clear. Once you notice these signs, you’ll have to start thinking of the best methods to getting your clogged drain working again. However, before you call in the experts, there are some easy solutions for unclogging drains that you might want to try first. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to 4 effective methods of unclogging drains.
1. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Typically, one would want to experiment with boiling water, but since many house owners have reported that this method doesn’t always work, you can skip to the next best method. Vinegar and baking soda are excellent for clearing up clogged drains. You can start by pouring half a cup of baking soda into the drain then adding half a cup of vinegar. Next, you’ll need to stop up the drain using either rags or a metal stopper. Once you do that, you’ll notice that the combination of baking soda has started to make a fizz or what’s known as a “volcano” reaction. You can wait for about an hour or even do that at night so you can clean it up in the morning. The last step you’ll need to do is to flush the baking soda and vinegar with hot water. This reaction is quite effective in removing gunk, hair, and grime that has built up over months.
2. Cleaning the Pipe
Any homeowner of a sound mind will tell you not to meddle with the plumbing system, but you’d be surprised by how easy it is to clean the U-shaped pipe underneath the sink, also called “the trap.” The Lakewood-based plumbing specialists at allserviceplumbers.com/lakewood/ explain that you will only need a plumber’s wrench and bucket to clean up the trap. Use the wrench to loosen the slip joint nuts at both ends, then you can clear up any gunk or hair clogging the pipe. Once the trap is free, make sure to turn it upside down to empty its contents in the bucket. You might need to clear out any remaining debris, which you can do using an old toothbrush. After that, make sure to rinse it with tap water, then put everything back in place. In most cases, cleaning up the trap will clear the drain, but if it doesn’t, you should contact a local plumber to unclog your drain.
3. A Drain Snake
Drain snakes are a low-tech piece of equipment that you’ll find conveniently available at any hardware supply store. Normally, they will cost less than $10. If you don’t know what a drain snake is, it is basically a spring steel wire which you can ‘snake’ into the drain. They can be easily twisted and turned to catch any debris in the drain, as their flexible design enables you to bend them around most pipes. It is also the best solution for those who don’t want to tamper with the pipes beneath the sink. Drain snakes are quite effective in clearing clogged drains, which is why they are indispensable tools for all plumbers. For that reason, you shouldn’t have any doubts when using a snake drain. Remember that if you don’t know your way around plumbing tools, make sure to have an expert do this for you. Using a plumbing tool incorrectly can actually do more harm than good for your drain.
4. Boiling Hot Water
If the clogging issue isn’t a major one, pouring hot water can do the trick. Make sure that you’re using boiling water and not hot water, as it will be more capable of dissolving any organic material in your sink. Boiling water should also be used with care, especially if you have PVC pipes in your kitchen/ bathroom. Heat can have a severe effect on the joints of the PVC pipe, which can make matters even worse. You should also avoid pouring water directly into a porcelain sink, as it can crack under the boiling heat. Instead, you can carefully pour the hot water directly into the drain. Make sure that you’re pouring the water slowly and carefully. If necessary, repeat this process several times until the drain is unclogged.
With these simple techniques, you can unclog the sink without having to resort to professional help. Most clogged drain issues can be resolved with home solutions such as the ones mentioned here. However, if the issue still persists, you might have a bigger plumbing problem on your hands, in which case, it’s best to seek the help of an expert plumber.
