Everyone knows the warning signs of a clogged drain. The sink takes a little longer to drain. You begin to notice water rising around your feet in the shower. And you can smell unpleasant odors coming from the drain. These are all signs that you may soon have a completely clogged drain. Everyone knows these warning signs of a clogged drain but do you know how to unclog a drain yourself? Here are some ways that you can unclog a drain.
Bent Wire Hanger
This is a simple yet effective strategy to unclog a drain. Take a regular wire coat hanger and straighten it out as much as you can. Bend one end over to create a small hook. Push that past the drain cover and start fishing what is causing a blockage. You should be able to pull out hair and other things that are causing the problem. Always remember to pull gunk out, not push it in even further. When you have pulled out as much as you can, run the hot water, and the drain should be clear.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
For this do-it-yourself way, you will mix 1/3rd of a cup of baking soda with 1/3rd of a cup of vinegar. It will fizz immediately and that is when you should pour it down the clogged drain. The fizzing action is what helps to remove hair and grime from the clogged pipe. Let this mixture sit for an hour or even overnight for the best results. Rinse with hot water after the mixture has set in for at least an hour or more.
Boiling Water
This step requires the least amount of effort. All you have to do is boil as much water as you think is necessary. Slowly pour it down the drain allowing the boiling water to break up the gunk. This is usually the fastest and easiest way to unclog any drain.
Cleaning The Pipe
The first step is to place an empty bucket beneath the U-shaped pipe under the sink. The bucket will be used to collect any water that may spill. Use a plumber’s wrench to loosen the slip nuts that are at both ends of the pipe. When the trap is free, remove it to empty all of the contents into the bucket. You may need to wipe it out in order to completely get all of the contents removed. Rinse the trap with water and assemble it back together.
The Drain Snake
The drain snake works very well to unclog drains. It is easy to use as all you have to do is watch a video for step by step instructions on how to unclog your drain. It is a long flexible metal rope with a spiral of metal at the end of it. It goes all the way down in the drain and breaks up any gunk that is causing the blockage.
Salt And Baking Soda
Similar to the baking soda and vinegar, you will mix 1/2 cup of table salt with 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour down the blocked drain. Leave the mixture in for 10-20 minutes, then pour boiling water down to clear the drain. The salt, baking soda, and boiling water will create a chemical reaction that should dissolve the gunk and grime that is down the drain.
Dish Detergent
If your toilet is clogged, you can use a 1/4 cup of dish detergent in the bowl. Pour this mixture into the bowl then boil some water. The dish soap acts as a lubricant as it breaks away greasy residue. Pour the hot water down the bowl and start plunging.
Nautilus Plumbing
At Nautilus Plumbing, we offer only the best and most reasonable pricing we can because our client relationships are number one. Our customer service is consistently honest, trustworthy, and fast. We meticulously train all of our plumbing experts on all services offered.
Contact us today if you have a plumbing question, concern or job. We will come right out and assess the situation with ease. We have emergency services for urgent matters. We know plumbing problems come at any and all times, do not hesitate to contact us!