You wake up for work and go to give yourself a fresh shave for the day, but as you turn on the water you notice something: the water isn’t draining in the sink but instead is rising. It can be a frustrating problem to have a clogged drain in your house, and can sometimes seemingly come out of nowhere. And to make things worse, it can be difficult to unclog some drains depending on what’s clogging it. Here are some great tips and tricks for unclogging the drains in your home.
Sink Drain
Clearing the sink drain can be more of a hassle than the others because the diameter is smaller and harder to fit drain snakes in the hole. However, there are many at-home remedies to unclog the drain. One of those is an equal parts mixture of baking soda and vinegar, something very common in most households. If you’ve ever used this mixture for cleaning, you already know that it will bubble up and fizz. When poured down the drain, this reaction helps break loose anything that is stuck in the pipes. After letting it sit for 30 minutes to an hour you should run hot water to wash the gunk and cleaning mixture down the drain.
If this method doesn’t work and you can’t seem to get it unclogged any other way, it’s best to call a professional. Professional plumbers will be able to get the clog dislodged, whether it entails taking apart the pipes or any other plumbing tricks they’ve picked up.
Shower Drain
Shower drains are another thing that is easily clogged by hair that is constantly washed down it. Even if you aren’t “losing your hair”, the accumulation of a small number of hairs falling out can cause a large clog over time. There are many products that will help prevent your shower drain from clogging, but if you’ve already clogged it there are plenty of ways to clean it. You can use a drain snake to fish it out, use the baking soda and vinegar method mentioned above, or even use a plunger. Using the plunger will employ the use of suction to dislodge the clog, making it easier to fish out or just wash down the drain.
Toilet
Although not typically thought of as a drain, your toilet is something that is more likely to clog than your sinks and showers. Not only that but oftentimes, it can be increasingly more difficult to unclog. There are a few ways to prevent a toilet clog, and the most important one is to avoid flushing certain items. These items can all cause clogs, but to play it safe you should only be flushing toilet paper.
If your plunger isn’t doing the trick to unclog your toilet, try this home remedy! You can mix together hot water (not boiling) and dish soap. This will help loosen up the clog after sitting for a few minutes, and the debris will go down the toilet after a flush.
Professional Help
If you’re ever in doubt about a method you’re using to unclog a drain or just can’t seem to dislodge it, it’s best to ask an expert. Chemicals advertised for drain cleaning can be both dangerous and ineffective. Knight Plumbing has 24/7 services, so they can help you in any plumbing emergencies you might have or just answer general questions. Give us a call today!
