10 Tips To Clear Any Blocked Drain

Clear Blocked Drain Tips

Clogged drain is among the most frequent issues a homeowner is likely to encounter in their homes and it may result in a great deal of discomfort. Regardless of whether it’s a sink, shower, or toilet blockage, the common outcomes of a blockage include bad smells, slow drainage, and if severe, water damage. Even though severe blockages can only be removed with the assistance of a professional, several minor clogs can be solved on one’s own. In this detailed blog post, let’s take a look at ten tips on how to clear any blocked drain and get your plumbing system back to optimal functionality.

Why Drains Get Blocked

It is important to look at the causes of blocked drains before we look at the tips that can be followed to ensure this does not happen. The primary causes of drain blockages include:

• Accumulation of grease and fat: In kitchen drains fats oil and grease accumulate and solidify, thus constricting water flow.
• Hair: In bathrooms, small hairs combine with soap and shampoo; the substance forms a mass that blocks the drain.
• Soap scum: Water hardness and build-up of soap can ultimately move and deposit themselves on the inner surface of the pipes, particularly within the shower and bathtub.
• Foreign objects: Cleaning tools such as toys, toilet paper and hygienic products may sometimes cause blockage IN toilets or bathroom drains.
• Tree roots: Tree roots find their way into the older plumbing systems and lead to severe blockage and pipe damage.

Now that we have an understanding of why blockages occur, let’s explore 10 tips that can help you clear any blocked drain.

Best 10 Tips To Clear Blocked Drains

1.Use a Plunger:

A plunger is one of the essential and simple methods of removing minor drain obstructions. This tool, often a staple in plumbing Sydney services, operates through suction and pressure, helping to remove blockages from the pipe. While it is commonly associated with toilet use, a plunger can also be effectively used on sinks, showers, and other fixtures.

How to Use a Plunger:

1. Step: There may be water in the sink, bathtub, or toilet if necessary, to cover the plunger.
2. Step: Place the rubber plunger directly over the opening of the drain making sure that the rubber part has a suction.
3. Step: Press it down to the surface you want to stick and then lift it off swiftly to develop a vacuum seal. Now while switching between your right and left hand, do it several times.

A plunger is ideal for dealing with small clogs that result from hair, soap buildup, and a little food accumulation.

2.Try a Drain Snake (Auger):

However, if the plunger does not work effectively, one can turn to the drain snake which is known as drain auger in the more rigorous clogs. Drain snakes are flexible, coiled metal for cleaning pipes designed to get deeper into the pipe in order to crush or pull out the obstruction.

How to Use a Drain Snake:

1. Step: The last thing to take is to insert the coiled end of the snake through the drain until the clogged point is reached.
2. Step: Twist the handle of the snake to turn the coil more into the depth of the pipe.
3. Step: When you experience the negative feedback (this is where you know there is a clog), twist the snake again to disintegrate the obstacle.
4. Step: Gradually withdraw the snake, by taking along all the dirt it possesses.
5. Step: Pour diluted hot water into the drain to check the pipe.

A drain snake will be perfect for clogs deeper in the pipes or those that are proving to be hair, food particles, or soap scum clogs.

3.Boiling Water

This ranks among some of the many effective and safe ways of dealing with a blocked drain; boiling water. This is especially handy when there are grease, soap scum and fat deposits in the kitchen sink.

How to Use Boiling Water:

1. Step: Use hot water by heating it in a kettle or on the cooking stove.
2. Step: Gently, start to pour some boiling water into the clogged drain, and do it progressively.
3. Step: Let the water stand for a few minutes before proceeding to rinse so that it may dissolve any grease or soap residue.
4. Step: After you have done this for about five minutes, turn on the hot water tap and rinse the drain.

Heating water is most advisable in mild greasy clogs and is excellent when used on kitchen sinks because of the build-up of oils and fats.

4.Baking Soda and Vinegar:

One of the best and most effective homemade remedies for blocked drains includes the use of baking soda mixed with vinegar – products found naturally in the kitchen. This reaction aids in the breaking of clogs, eradication of odours and removal of grease deposits.

How to Use Baking Soda and Vinegar:

1. Step: Either 1/2 cup of baking soda should be poured in the drain.
2. Step: Add half a cup of white vinegar next to the tea. Perform the test quickly and you will get fizzes since the two ingredients react.
3. Step: Place a plug or a cloth over the drain to enable the reaction to remain caught inside the pipe.
4. Step: Allow it to work on the clog for 15-30 minutes The ingredients will work on the clog in the meantime.
5. Step: After the wait, one should rinse it with boiling water to wash some of the debris out of the drain.

This method is ideal for tackling those clogs that are born from grease, soap scum and the usual debris found in bathroom and kitchen drains.

5.Use a Wet/Dry Vacuum:

A wet/dry vacuum is an excellent device that can be used to vacuum out the blockage from the drains, particularly, in the toilet, sink and tub. This is another great way to go if plunging or using a drain snake doesn’t solve the issue.

How to Use a Wet/Dry Vacuum:

1. Step: Turn the knob of the vacuum to the wet setting.
2. Step: Close the vacuum hose over the drain to ensure that the surface is smooth and extremely tight.
3. Step: There are controls normally for the power on the vacuum and place it on the highest power. These vacuums will create a suction that will pull out the clog in the drain.
4. Step: Steady soaks for about several seconds then you should determine whether a clog has been cleared and the drain is fine.

Wet/dry vacuums are excellent tools for both solid and semi-solid buildups like food particles or baby toys.

6.Hydro-Jetting:

Hydro jetting is a more enhanced technique used in unblocking blockages that are hard to remove. It entails using water pressure to clean the pipes by spraying water under high pressure to help dislodge difficult blockages and remaining debris. This technique is employed extensively by sewer professionals but is available for hire for do-it-yourself projects.

How Hydro-Jetting Works:

1. Step: This hose will be connected to a specialized nozzle which a professional plumber or any do–it–your–self user will insert into the drain.
2. Step: The nozzle aims at the pipe walls and directs high-pressure water towards the obstruction and wall of the pipe.
3. Step: Pressure has a way of removing grease and all other forms of debris that may have formed a blockage to water flow.

Hydro-jetting is very useful in removing grease, trees, and a buildup on the pipes. Nevertheless, this method is usually advisable to use only by experts because it presupposes the use of specific tools.

7.Chemical Drain Cleaners:

Readily bought at most Hardware shops, chemical drain cleaners can be used since they dissolve natural substances such as grease soap and other organic causes for the clogs. However, they should be employed with a fingerprint since they have adverse effects on pipes and the surrounding community.

How to Use Chemical Drain Cleaners:

1. Step: Follow the label instructions to provide some information on the product to use for getting rid of the type of clog you have.
2. Step: For the required portions that the manufacturer has advised when using the drain cleaner, pour it into the clogged drain.
3. Step: Wait for the time as suggested, most probably it is in 15 to 30 minutes.
4. Step: There are specific chemicals for this kind of blockage and once done, use hot water to rinse off the chemicals and the debris.

Always ensure you wear gloves and safety glasses when handling any of these products.

8.Mechanical Clepper or Drain Crawler:

A mechanical auger is another tool that can be used on a bit more serious blockage for instance. It is made of a metal coil that can be inserted into a drain in order to physically cut the blockage apart.

How to Use a Plumbing Snake:

1. Step: Removal process: Put the auger into the drain and start turning it around.
2. Step: As you rotate the pipes, the auger will travel through the pipe and clear out your blockage on the way.
3. Step: Go on turning the auger until you experience less resistance, which means the drain is free from a clog.
4. Step: Pull out the auger gently and then wash the drain with water.

Mechanical augers are very effective in dealing with major clogs within the pipes or in toilets due to an object that causes them.

9.Use a Drain Cleaner Tool:

If you do not have a plunger or an auger, you can buy a drain cleaning tool in a flexible plastic that will bend and remove debris within your sink or bathtub. These utensils are cheap and can be purchased from most hardware stores.

How to Use a Drain Cleaner Tool:

1. Step: Place the flexible tool into the drain, so try it every which way to grab the debris.
2. Step: Slowly, lift the tool out and it comes with the debris.
3. Step: Run hot water down the drain to ensure that no debris is remaining down the pipe.

Drain cleaner tools are preferable for minor blockages such as hair, and food particles that may be near the surface of the drain.

10. Preventing Future Blockages

The best strategy for anyone to combat blocked drains is to ensure they do not occur in the first place. Here are some preventive tips:

• Install drain covers: These will arrest particulate materials that may in any way find their way into the pipe.
• Avoid pouring grease down the drain: Pour off cooking oil and grease into the garbage can rather.
• Use hot water regularly: This can be washed with hot water so that grease and soap scum will be removed from the drain.

With these preventive measures, you will avoid other blockages in future thus letting yourself avoid all the challenges that come with clearing the drains.

Conclusion

While clogged or blocked drains can be rather annoying, it is possible to solve most of these problems with the right tools and techniques. Indeed, there are literally hundreds of methods to unclog drains, including using plungers and drain snakes, hydro-jetting, and many others.

Be careful each time you have to use chemical drain cleaners or special tools for opening the drain and if the blockage is severe then it is recommended to call a professional plumber. Moreover, you may take some steps to prevent drain blockage and make sure that you will not experience clogging for a number of years.

With these ten rules in mind, the reader should be well prepared to look after his or her plumbing system and unclog a blocked drain.