Plumbing Clogged Drains
If you have a clogged drain, then before you delve into the plumbing, it’s important to locate the clog, which shouldn’t be hard if it’s only one drain that won’t, well, drain. Then, before you call the plumber here are some suggestions that you can try for getting rid of the clog on your own.
Many a times, there is a possibility that the clog is near the drain stopper only. So, remove the strainer and clean it properly. Mostly, hair, food particles, sediments, grime etc. get stuck there blocking the flow of water. So, it s highly recommended to clean the drain stopper regularly.
Another easy solution that you can try out at home is to pour 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar into the drain. Leave it for some time and then put plenty of hot water. This can break the clog and can help clearing the drain.
There are some plumbing tools that you can use to loosen the clog. Like you can use an auger or a plumber’s snake. For using them, you first have to remove the drain stopper, them put them into the drain to find the clog. Once you find it, you can loosen it by hooking it with the tool.
Plunger is another common plumbing tool. You can apply petroleum jelly to it’s rim to make it work more effectively as then you can apply the maximum suction force to loosen whatever substance is clogging your pipes. After using a plunger, you can test whether the drain is clear or not by pouring hot water down the drain.
There are several strong chemical drain cleaners in the market that are specifically designed for this purpose only. But keep them your last resort as they can be harmful for the environment and for you also if not handled properly. So, try out other options before using them.
Unless you’re confident in your abilities to dismantle and successfully re-mantle the plumbing system attached to your sink or bath, avoid tinkering with the pipes and possibly making the problem worse. If you’ve tried the home remedies and the drain is still clogged, then it’s time to call in a plumber.
Do your research first, though, and be sure to find a plumber with a good reputation who won’t overcharge you. Then, by all means allow them to plumb away until your drains are clean and clear. It might be a good idea to ask for a few tips from the professionals, too — just to be even more prepared to prevent and clear out another clogged drain.
It seems a lot of peoples first inclination is to use the chemical drain cleaners.
This is a great article, and gives good tips. I agree with the above commenter. So many people think they need to use a chemical drain cleaner or call a plumber in order to fix their clog. Sometimes it can be as easy as performing some of the above tips.
If anyone is interested in more tips like the ones above you might want to check out this site:
http://www.atlantic-mechanical.com/expert-plumbers-baltimore-md.html