Clogged drains are common problems in any home, and while they can be bothersome they can also be fixed fairly easily. If you have a stubborn clog in any of your home's drains, here are a few things you can do to fix it.
Find the Right Tools
First of all, you should have the right tools for the job. Every home should at the very least have a plunger and a cheap plumbing snake, both of which can be purchased at just about any hardware or department store. A plunger will suction most clogs from a sink, and they are especially useful for unclogging a stopped-up toilet. Meanwhile, a plumbing snake will be able to auger most of what is keeping a drain clogged. They can get pretty expensive and advanced, but you should be able to make do with a cheap plastic model. These can be purchased for just a couple of dollars, but they work surprisingly well.
In addition to a plunger and a plumbing snake, you may also want to invest in a chemical drain cleaner. These do work well in breaking up clogs, but they should be used sparingly as their more caustic ingredients could corrode your pipes. If you don't want to risk that, you can always make a cheap drain cleaner from some baking soda and vinegar. Simply pour the baking soda down the drain, and follow it up with some vinegar. After about five minutes, the resulting reaction should clear out most drains.
Plunge the Drain
The first thing to try with just about any drain is to use your plunger to suction out the clog and force water down the drain. In some cases, this will be all you need to do, but more stubborn clogs will call for additional steps.
When you use a plunger on a sink, try to roll the plunger so that it sends water and not air down the drain. If you're unclogging a kitchen sink, hold a rag over the other drain. This keeps too much water from coming up the other drain while putting pressure on the clog. Work the plunger vigorously for about 20 seconds.
Snake the Drain
If plunging a sink drain doesn't clear out the clog, you will need to snake the drain. If you have a small plastic snake, you might be able to get it down the drain to loosen up whatever is keeping things blocked.
If the clog is deeper, you may have to remove and clean the P-trap. This is a curved piece of pipe underneath the sink, and it can be removed fairly easily with a wrench. Remove the P-trap and check it for any debris that could be clogging the drain. While the P-trap is disconnected, try to snake the pipeline where the P-trap connects to the wall. In many cases, this is where the main clog is located.
Know When to Call a Plumber
In some cases, you will have a clog that is too stubborn for you to handle alone. When this happens, you will need to contact a 24-hour emergency plumbing service to take care of the problem. There are many great Pittsburgh plumbers out there, so take the time to find some Pittsburgh plumbing services before you have a problem. You'll never know when you need an emergency plumber, so try to have at least one that you can call at a moment's notice.
Don’t leave your home’s pipes up to chance and make sure they perform up to par with help from the Pittsburgh plumbing experts at Tudi. Whether it’s repairing your home’s leaks and clogs or adding beautiful plumbing fixtures that are sure to impress, the professional plumbing services from Tudi can handle it all. Call us today for a free estimate on any of your residential plumbing needs!
