How To Unclog Clogged Drain

How To Unclog A Toilet

Related

How to Use a Plunger

Attempting to force a clog through a toilet with a plunger can often make the problem worse. Instead, create a seal and slowly push down on the plunger before pulling it back sharply. The suction can help pull the clog back up toward the bowl, breaking the blockage and allowing gravity to take over.

For stubborn clogs, a plunger might not do the trick. Instead, a tool called a closet auger fits down inside the toilet bowl and allows the user to feed a cable through the toilet without scratching the coating. These augers can bust up clogs or hook the clog and pull it back through the bowl.

Pour Boiling Water Down Your Drains

One of the easier and more affordable ways to fix a clogged sink drain is with boiling water, so it should be one of the first things you try:

Use Items In Your Pantry As A Diy Drain Cleaner

Did you know that you dont always have to use harsh cleaners to unclog your kitchen sink? You may have a natural drain cleaner sitting right in your kitchen. Here are some ideas:

• Use salt and boiling water. Sometimes you can unclog a drain with salt. After removing as much standing water from the sink as possible, pour about half a cup of table salt down the drain. Then, pour in about a quart of boiling water. Let it sit for a few minutes and then flush with hot water to clear the mixture.

• Try a DIY baking soda and vinegar drain cleaner. Remove any standing water from the sink before trying this technique. Pour about a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by an equal amount of white or apple cider vinegar. The solution will soon start to bubble when it subsides, put the stopper in and wait about 15 minutes. Next, run the hot water to see if the clog clears. Repeat the process one more time if the water is draining but slower than normal .

• Use baking soda and salt. Mix about a cup of baking soda with half a cup of salt, and pour this mixture down the drain. Let the mixture sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water. You can repeat this process if it doesnt clear the clog.

Also Check: What Is Good For Draining Sinuses

Try Removing The Clog Manually

If you have long hair that’s causing a clog right at the top of the drain, you’re in luck! As unpleasant as it might seem to remove a clog manually, it’s actually easier to deal with than a clogged drain that occurs farther down in your pipes. All you have to do is carefully detach the drain stopper, pull out the drain, and clean the hair, grime, and other gunk from it. This lets you unclog your drain without chemicals. For the typical bathroom drain clogged with hair, this is the simplest method of removing the drain clog.

Need To Clear Up A Clog But Don’t Want To Mess With Any Chemicals Here’s How

There are plenty of products on the market to pour down your drains and chew through the nastiest of clogs. But those products typically contain nasty chemicals that can be bad for your health and harmful to your plumbing. So why go that route when safer and equally effective options exist?

Here are some of the best ways to unclog your drains without using harsh chemicals.

Recommended Reading: Kenmore Washer Won’t Drain

Diy Methods For Clearing A Clogged Drain

A clogged drain can quickly turn a good day into a bad one. Luckily, there are some simple, yet effective, ways you can clear a clogged drain in your home.

Before you grab the phone and make a call to your local plumber, try these five DIY clogged drain cleaning tips. They might just save you time and not require you to schedule an appointment with a plumbing company.

How To Unclog Your Bathroom Sink Drain: 8 Methods

Wondering how to unclog a bathroom sink? Dont worry Western Rooter & Plumbing will show you how to fix your clogged sink in no time at all!

Is your bathroom sink clogged? A clogged bathroom sink is one of the easiest plumbing problems to resolve! All you need is a little bit of knowledge, the right tools, and the willingness to get a little dirty. In this post we will take a look at the most popular and effective ways to unclog your bathroom sink. Unclogging your clogged bathroom sink doesnt have to be tough . Ranging from simple chemical solutions to more advanced ones, like snaking your drain, after reading this article youll understand a bit more about how sinks work and how to unclog your bathroom sink drain.

Tip: Do you have a stubborn sink clog that keeps coming back? Maybe the problem runs a little deeper than youd expect. Check out this article on why you should get a sewer line camera inspection & the cost of sewer line inspections.

You May Like: Push And Pull Drain Stopper

Try A Commercial Clogged Drain Remover

Commercial drain clog removers are made of powerful chemicals, so they can be a helpful solution for stubborn clogs. Just keep in mind that these are meant to literally dissolve hair and grease, so if they splash on you, they can be dangerous. Repeated use of chemical clogged drain products can be problematic. The cleaners tend to generate heat as they work, which can soften PVC pipes or put pressure on pipe fittings. Be aware that repeatedly using them can cause a leak to develop.

Cleaning Tough Drain Clogs

Liquid-Plumr products are safe drain cleaners to use in your pipes and can resolve tough drain clogs better than natural remedies.

Liquid-Plumr® Clog Destroyer+ Pipeguard contain two powerful liquids that, when combined, create a deep-cleaning foam that dissolves hair and funk throughout the entire pipe, helping to unclog tough drains.

The key active ingredients sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite release heat to effectively dissolve the drain blockage. Now thats some powerful science!

Read more in our Drain Tips & Hacks section for all your drain cleaning needs.

Read more in DIY

You May Like: Why Isn’t My Washing Machine Draining

The Importance Of Keeping Your Sink Drains Clean

Most of us cant fix every problem that arises in our homes like flooding from corroded water pipes or a broken water main but even learning how to regularly unclog a drain with baking soda can save some time and money on more extensive measures and expensive plumber fees. Whats more, standing water leaves deposits of scum on the sides of the sink, which requires more water to clean, which doesnt fully drain, leaving fresh deposits, and the cycle continues. When you fix clogged drains in your home, it helps reduce your overall water consumption and may lower your bill.

There are also environmental benefits of regular drain cleaning. Less water consumption means less energy used in water treatment, so if your power comes from fossil fuels, thats less carbon emitted into the atmosphere. Plus, using DIY cleaning supplies that are environmentally friendly helps not only our planet but also your plumbing, which can be harmed by powerful chemical drain cleaners. Many tasks can be done in an eco-friendly way there are even natural remedies for pest control!

Pour Boiling Water Into The Sink Drain

Next, try pouring boiling hot water into the sink drain. This should be enough to melt through anything in your drain and clear out any clogs.

To do this, simply boil up a pot of water on the stove. After its boiled, carefully pour the boiling hot liquid into the sink drain making sure not to touch it with your hands! If you cant get close enough because there arent handles or sidewalls on your bathroom sink, then try using a turkey baster instead. This should unclog most drains right away if not immediately after pouring in hot water, give it some time before trying again.

Recommended Reading: Whirlpool Washer Cabrio Drain Pump

How To Unclog A Sink Shower Or Tub Drain And How To Clean Drains

Is a slow drain driving you crazy? If you’re wondering how to unclog a drain or how to clean a drain, our plumbing expert has some great tips for you. And you dont even need chemicals to get the job done! Plumbing experts agree that harsh chemicals can damage your pipes and the environment. Doyle James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing, offered the following sage advice for cleaning and maintaining drains.

Dish Detergent And Hot Water

A clogged sink drain in your kitchen is really a very irritating thing to handle. This one seems to be difficult to clean because of oil and some other greasy substances clogging your drain. However, there is a way out and it is an easy one, which is the humble dish detergent. If it may clean up your greasy and oily dishes, why cannot it clean up your drain?

Here are easy guides on how to unclog a drain naturally at home:

Ingredients:

• 2 to 1 cup of dish detergent
• 1 to 2 pots of boiling hot water

Directions:

• With a moderately clogged drain, you just use ½ cup of detergent and use 1 cup for for a stubbornly clogged one.
• Firstly, you pour the detergent into your drain and allow it to sit there for about half an hour.
• Then, you boil a pan of clean water and then pour this hot water into the drain steadily and slowly. Be careful while handling this hot water.
• After that, you pour a little normal water to see whether your drain has cleaned up or not.
• If required, you pour more hot water or you repeat the whole method with detergent along with hot water.

See more: the book of 3 week diet

You May Like: Pentair Sand Filter Drain Plug

A Plumbers Snake Or Even Just A Wire Hook

A bit of a step up in terms of finesse, this operates on a similar principle to the plunger. You want to make sure the blockage is dislodged.

While primarily used with bathroom sinks, this can also be used with kitchen ones if it seems like you have a small but stubborn clog. Usually, this can be the result of heavy fat or grease accumulating in one spot, which makes this targeted approach ideal.

It works because it punctures a hole or even removes the obstacle entirely. Be wary of being too hasty using this.

Generally speaking, you just remove the cover for the sink and then slowly insert the snake or wire. Prod and poke until you sense no resistance left but always be extremely careful and slow.

Signs Of A Clogged Drain And Tips To Clear It

A blocked or clogged drain is one of the most common reasons why people have to call a plumber. However, there are drain clogs that do not need a plumber. They can also be cleared by implementing some tips and methods.

A blocked or clogged drain is a nuisance. It not only creates foul smells but also hinders the task you do on daily basis. For example, if your kitchen sink drain is clogged, how will you wash the dishes? If your shower drain is blocked, then how will you take shower? Therefore, a clogged drain should be dealt with on an urgent basis because it can create a lot of disturbance in your daily routine tasks.

Signs of a Clogged Drain

The good news is that a clogged drain is the simplest to identify through CCTV drain survey. There are clear warning signs that you can analyze to find out if your drain is blocked or not. Some of the warning signs are given below.

· Bad Smells

Whenever you have an unusually bad smell near your sink, toilet, or shower drain, it can be an early sign of a blockage in your drain. This is a sewer-like smell that you can easily identify from other types of smells. Therefore, if you notice any such smell in your bathroom or kitchen, you should check your drains to prevent further issues.

· Overflowing Water from Drains

· Gurgling Sounds from Drains

· Slow – Draining Water

Tips to Clear Drain Clogs

1.Cleaning of the Pipe

2.Try a Plunger

3.Use Chemical Cleaners

4.Use Biological Cleaners

Also Check: How To Take Drain Out Of Sink

A Word About Liquid Drain Cleaning Chemicals

Before we go too deeply into the different methods for unclogging drains, we need to talk about liquid drain cleaners. Its important to know how these work and the dangers they can create before pouring one down a sink drain.

Liquid drain cleaners are really just for drains that are slowing, whether it be from hair, food or other blockages. These chemicals corrosive properties break down the obstruction to allow wastewater to flow through. They must be used with caution and its a good idea to wear protective gloves, glasses and a respirator.

Never pour liquid drain cleaner down a drain that is completely clogged. If the waste water doesnt drain at all, the liquid chemical will sit on top of the clog. Inevitably, someone will have to plunge or snake the drain, and that liquid cleaner can be hazardous to their eyes and skin.

How To Naturally Clean A Clogged Drain: The Definitive Guide

Published: by Bren

Learn how to naturally clean a clogged drain and unstop a slow running sink without using toxic chemicals or calling a plumber!

This post uses affiliate links.They dont cost you a thing and help us bring you all natural cleaning tutorials. Read more in Policies and Disclosures.

Have you ever had a clogged drain? The most embarrassing clog of my life occurred the year we hosted Thanksgiving dinner for my entire family. Somewhere between the liquid turkey fat and potato peels my kitchen drain gave up and began regurgitating murky brown water mixed with bits of food from the disposal.

Watching me frantically plunge the kitchen sink was NOT the most appetizing pre-dinner activity.

Also Check: How To Clean Bathroom Sink Drain Smell

Add Baking Soda & Vinegar

Now its time to get witchy by brewing a natural concoction of baking soda and vinegar. Heres what you do and how you do it:

• Add 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water
• Add 1 cup of baking soda to your vinegar/water potion and mix together
• Pour this magical potion down your drain
• Put the plug or cover back on the drain, and wait 10 minutes

As a result, these two main ingredients will react and create a bubbling action. This organic reaction helps loosen the clog that, hopefully, has already been loosened a bit from the boiling water.

Which Drain Cleaning Product Works Best

Overall, this is the easiest answer Ill ever provide in one of our DIY blogs. So, which chemical drain cleaning product works best on clogs?

Answer: NONE

I mean this seriously. We never recommend using a store-bought drain cleaner. Altogether, drain cleaners created by manufacturers are more expensive solutions that are made with highly corrosive, man-made chemicals. While they might temporarily fix your clog, they will also damage your pipes over time.

Consequently, that can lead to a serious water damage problem burst pipes or water leaks behind walls and under floorboards that could cost you thousands of dollars.

You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Drain Odor

How Often To Clean Your Drains

Weekly, flush drains with boiling water mixed with liquid grease-fighting dish soap, such as Dawn. Clean your drain with baking soda as soon as you notice the water is draining slowly. You can also use this process as a regular maintenance method for your drains. For example, if you keep a box of open baking soda in your refrigerator to absorb odors, use the old baking soda to flush your kitchen drain when it comes time to change the box.

Here are the various methods with simple steps using baking soda to clean drains.

Baking Soda And Vinegar

According to Mushinski, using baking soda and white vinegar can break free light stoppages, but he says it’s not meant for large blockages. “If you choose this method, there should be no standing water in the sink, so the baking soda and vinegar can get to your clog faster and more effectively,” he says.

1. Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain.

2. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain.

3. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain.

4. Cover with a drain plug and wait five to 10 minutes.

5. Pour boiling water down the drain again.

6. Repeat as necessary.

Quick tip: Mushinski recommends using a wet vacuum to remove standing water from the sink and inside of the clogged drain line before you pour in the baking soda and vinegar.

You May Like: Cost To Install Sump Pump And French Drain

Use A Drain Snake To Snake Your Drain

A drain snake also commonly called a plumbers auger, plumbing snake, drain auger, or just an auger is a long metal spiral tool that you thread down your drain to unscrew any clogged debris inside. One side of the snake is shaped like a corkscrew, and the other side has a hand-crank that is used to drill it through obstructions. This is a great option if the previous methods havent worked!

Since you have your P-trap removed still from the previous step, go ahead and carefully insert your drain snake into the pipe in the wall where your P-trap used to be attached. Turn the crank to drill forward and, hopefully, unclog any debris inside.

Now re-attach your P-trap and check to see if things have cleared up. If they havent, then you should move on to the next step.

Note: We have written an in-depth article talking more in-depth about how to use a drain snake, so give that a read here.