Clearing a clogged drain is a common issue we all encounter. However, it's easy to determine whether you are able to tackle the problem yourself or you need to
enlist the help of a plumber in your local area.
You try to take a shower, and end up ankle-deep in murky
water. You brush your teeth, and the
sink doesn't drain. We've all been there. There's nothing pleasant about a
clogged drain or blocked pipe. Fortunately, there are a number of drain
cleaning solutions that can have things running smoothly again in no time.
How do you know whether to tackle the problem yourself or to call your local plumber in? Here are a few tips to help you make the
decision.
Taking
the DIY Approach
From hair to grease and beyond, many clogs and blockages are
easily resolved at home, using a number of DIY techniques. These work
particularly well on soft blockages that are located relatively close to the
surface of the drain. If you know what is blocking your drain, or you want to
try a quick fix before calling a professional, these options may be for you.
Corrosive Drain Cleaners
The first thing that many people do when faced with a
clogged drain is reach for the drain cleaner. There are a number of
drain cleaners on the market that use corrosive chemicals to power through soft clogs
near the surface of the drain. These cleaners typically come in liquid
form and contain highly concentrated bleach, lye, or potassium hydroxide. Some
drain cleaners contain two components that are mixed when poured into the
drain, creating a gas that is trapped inside the plumbing by a thick foam. The
foam is designed to coat the insides of the drain pipe, removing the
substance causing the clog. Chemical drain cleaners can be very
convenient and easy to use. Most of them just require you to pour them into the
clogged drain, wait awhile, and then rinse with warm water. The downside to
chemical drain cleaners is that they are typically ineffective on more
difficult clogs, or on blockages that occur further down the sewer line. The
corrosive nature of these products also makes them potentially dangerous if
they come into contact with your skin, eyes, or even lungs if you
inadvertently breathe in their fumes. If you decide to use a chemical drain
cleaner, take care to follow the manufacturer's instructions and take proper
caution to prevent injury.
The Natural Approach
A safer (but equally effective) alternative to chemical
drain cleaners comes from combining ingredients you likely already have in your
kitchen. Do you remember building volcanoes for the school science fair by combining vinegar with baking soda to make an "eruption?" This
technique builds on that same principle. First, pour about 3/4 of a cup of dry
baking soda down the drain. Then, pour about 1/2 a cup of vinegar down the drain.
White vinegar and apple cider vinegar work great, but any type will do. As soon
as you pour the vinegar down the drain, you'll want to cover the drain opening
with a rag or some type of drain plug. The mixture of vinegar and baking soda
will cause a chemical reaction, creating a foam that will rise up through the
drain (just like the volcano!). Covering the drain will keep as much of the
foam inside the pipe as possible, where it can unleash its cleaning power. Let
the foam do its thing for about 30 minutes, then flush it thoroughly by
pouring hot water down the drain. It may take multiple applications, but this
method often leaves your drain clean and flowing smoothly. Using baking soda
and vinegar is great when you need a drain cleaning solution on the fly, or if you are looking
for a natural alternative to corrosive cleaners.
Clearing the Trap
A third DIY solution
requires a little bit more work on your part, but is well-worth it if you are
faced with a large hair clog, or some foreign material caught in your sink
drain. The first thing you'll want to do is clear out the area under the sink.
Then, place a bucket (you can use a pot in a pinch) under the sink pipes to
catch any water or other debris that might fall out of the sink trap. Use
pliers to loosen the metal slip nuts, and then finish removing them by hand. If
you've got a plastic trap, you can usually skip the pliers, and just turn the slip
nuts manually. You can use your hands to knock any blockage from inside the
"elbow" of the trap into your bucket. If the clog is higher up near the drain
(as is often the case with hair clogs in bathroom sinks), you can straighten a
wire hanger and use that to pull the clog down through the pipe. Once the
blockage [http://plumbing-contractor-allentown.pa-biz.com/site/services/service/Sewer-and-Drain-Cleaning-Allentown-PA] is clear, just put the elbow back on and re-tighten the slip nuts. Dispose
of the water and debris in your bucket (do NOT pour it back down the drain!),
and voila--as good as new!
When to Call in the Pros
There are some times when it is just better to leave the
plumbing repair work to the professionals. Examples of professional draining cleaning [http://plumbing-contractor-allentown.pa-biz.com/] jobs include when you have:
Master plumbers and other professionals have access to a
number of tools made specifically for handling difficult drain clogs and
blockages. Professional drain cleaners, such as those containing sulfuric acid,
can be extremely dangerous when used by someone other than a licensed
professional. Other professional tools, such as those used for hydrojetting,
are far too expensive to be practical for anyone other than a master plumber. With the right tools and their extensive training, your plumber can effectively clear your drains of even the toughest blockages.
If you have tried to attack a difficult clog to no avail, it
is possible that the blockage is in a place beyond your reach. With a bathtub
drain, you might have to go into the pipes behind a wall. Some clogs can even
occur further down the water
main [http://plumbing-contractor-allentown.pa-biz.com/site/services/service/Sewer-and-Drain-Repair-Allentown-PA], outside the house. A licensed plumber has the knowledge andexperience to handle complicated situations, making sure that all of your pipesend up back in the right places, avoiding further issues down the line. Amaster plumber can clear a drain and conduct additional troubleshooting todetect invasive root growth or other issues that you may have overlooked. If you've got a leaking faucet [http://plumbing-contractor-allentown.pa-biz.com/site/services/service/Faucet-Repair-Allentown-PA] in addition to a blocked drain, you might want to call in a professional who can take care of everything at once.
The pros of calling in the Pros include:
When it comes to simple drain clogs, you can often resolve
them on your own. For larger, more difficult jobs, don't let the cost of hiring
a professional deter you. Many plumbing specialists offer reasonable rates for
their services, and you can't put a price on your personal safety and peace of
mind. Resolving a problem like a persistent leak can also save you on your water bill--savings that are well worth enlisting the help of a
professional.
enlist the help of a plumber in your local area.
You try to take a shower, and end up ankle-deep in murky
water. You brush your teeth, and the
sink doesn't drain. We've all been there. There's nothing pleasant about a
clogged drain or blocked pipe. Fortunately, there are a number of drain
cleaning solutions that can have things running smoothly again in no time.
How do you know whether to tackle the problem yourself or to call your local plumber in? Here are a few tips to help you make the
decision.
Taking
the DIY Approach
From hair to grease and beyond, many clogs and blockages are
easily resolved at home, using a number of DIY techniques. These work
particularly well on soft blockages that are located relatively close to the
surface of the drain. If you know what is blocking your drain, or you want to
try a quick fix before calling a professional, these options may be for you.
Corrosive Drain Cleaners
The first thing that many people do when faced with a
clogged drain is reach for the drain cleaner. There are a number of
drain cleaners on the market that use corrosive chemicals to power through soft clogs
near the surface of the drain. These cleaners typically come in liquid
form and contain highly concentrated bleach, lye, or potassium hydroxide. Some
drain cleaners contain two components that are mixed when poured into the
drain, creating a gas that is trapped inside the plumbing by a thick foam. The
foam is designed to coat the insides of the drain pipe, removing the
substance causing the clog. Chemical drain cleaners can be very
convenient and easy to use. Most of them just require you to pour them into the
clogged drain, wait awhile, and then rinse with warm water. The downside to
chemical drain cleaners is that they are typically ineffective on more
difficult clogs, or on blockages that occur further down the sewer line. The
corrosive nature of these products also makes them potentially dangerous if
they come into contact with your skin, eyes, or even lungs if you
inadvertently breathe in their fumes. If you decide to use a chemical drain
cleaner, take care to follow the manufacturer's instructions and take proper
caution to prevent injury.
The Natural Approach
A safer (but equally effective) alternative to chemical
drain cleaners comes from combining ingredients you likely already have in your
kitchen. Do you remember building volcanoes for the school science fair by combining vinegar with baking soda to make an "eruption?" This
technique builds on that same principle. First, pour about 3/4 of a cup of dry
baking soda down the drain. Then, pour about 1/2 a cup of vinegar down the drain.
White vinegar and apple cider vinegar work great, but any type will do. As soon
as you pour the vinegar down the drain, you'll want to cover the drain opening
with a rag or some type of drain plug. The mixture of vinegar and baking soda
will cause a chemical reaction, creating a foam that will rise up through the
drain (just like the volcano!). Covering the drain will keep as much of the
foam inside the pipe as possible, where it can unleash its cleaning power. Let
the foam do its thing for about 30 minutes, then flush it thoroughly by
pouring hot water down the drain. It may take multiple applications, but this
method often leaves your drain clean and flowing smoothly. Using baking soda
and vinegar is great when you need a drain cleaning solution on the fly, or if you are looking
for a natural alternative to corrosive cleaners.
Clearing the Trap
A third DIY solution
requires a little bit more work on your part, but is well-worth it if you are
faced with a large hair clog, or some foreign material caught in your sink
drain. The first thing you'll want to do is clear out the area under the sink.
Then, place a bucket (you can use a pot in a pinch) under the sink pipes to
catch any water or other debris that might fall out of the sink trap. Use
pliers to loosen the metal slip nuts, and then finish removing them by hand. If
you've got a plastic trap, you can usually skip the pliers, and just turn the slip
nuts manually. You can use your hands to knock any blockage from inside the
"elbow" of the trap into your bucket. If the clog is higher up near the drain
(as is often the case with hair clogs in bathroom sinks), you can straighten a
wire hanger and use that to pull the clog down through the pipe. Once the
blockage [http://plumbing-contractor-allentown.pa-biz.com/site/services/service/Sewer-and-Drain-Cleaning-Allentown-PA] is clear, just put the elbow back on and re-tighten the slip nuts. Dispose
of the water and debris in your bucket (do NOT pour it back down the drain!),
and voila--as good as new!
When to Call in the Pros
There are some times when it is just better to leave the
plumbing repair work to the professionals. Examples of professional draining cleaning [http://plumbing-contractor-allentown.pa-biz.com/] jobs include when you have:
- Recurring
or persistent clogs that don't respond to DIY treatment - Thick
grease blockages - Clogged
sewer pipes - Invasive
root growth
Master plumbers and other professionals have access to a
number of tools made specifically for handling difficult drain clogs and
blockages. Professional drain cleaners, such as those containing sulfuric acid,
can be extremely dangerous when used by someone other than a licensed
professional. Other professional tools, such as those used for hydrojetting,
are far too expensive to be practical for anyone other than a master plumber. With the right tools and their extensive training, your plumber can effectively clear your drains of even the toughest blockages.
If you have tried to attack a difficult clog to no avail, it
is possible that the blockage is in a place beyond your reach. With a bathtub
drain, you might have to go into the pipes behind a wall. Some clogs can even
occur further down the water
main [http://plumbing-contractor-allentown.pa-biz.com/site/services/service/Sewer-and-Drain-Repair-Allentown-PA], outside the house. A licensed plumber has the knowledge andexperience to handle complicated situations, making sure that all of your pipesend up back in the right places, avoiding further issues down the line. Amaster plumber can clear a drain and conduct additional troubleshooting todetect invasive root growth or other issues that you may have overlooked. If you've got a leaking faucet [http://plumbing-contractor-allentown.pa-biz.com/site/services/service/Faucet-Repair-Allentown-PA] in addition to a blocked drain, you might want to call in a professional who can take care of everything at once.
The pros of calling in the Pros include:
- Expert
knowledge and experience - High-quality
tools made to get the job done - Convenience
of having someone else do the work - Troubleshooting knowledge to prevent other issues
When it comes to simple drain clogs, you can often resolve
them on your own. For larger, more difficult jobs, don't let the cost of hiring
a professional deter you. Many plumbing specialists offer reasonable rates for
their services, and you can't put a price on your personal safety and peace of
mind. Resolving a problem like a persistent leak can also save you on your water bill--savings that are well worth enlisting the help of a
professional.
Source...