On many occasions, you’ll be faced with a drain blockage problem, and it’ll infuriate you as you’ll have an unflushed toilet, bath, kitchen sink, or tub. You’ll be tempted to contact a blocked drainage plumber. But, before you do that, there are some simple ways to unclog your drain and save yourself some cash.

These clogged drain fixes are many and you’ll likely remove the clog before exhausting the tips in this piece. Simple removal and cleansing of the U-pipe may be all your drain needs, but you can’t be sure.

This piece will give you the easiest ways you can unclog your Drain. You’ll also have some pro tips on preventing drain clogs.

Why your Drains Keep Clogging

You may have experienced drain clogs on many occasions and you’ve had a drain repair to fix the issue. While that may be a good thing, it’ll reoccur if you can’t pinpoint why your drain keeps clogging.

All clogs happen due to one reason – blockage. Regardless of what part of the home water is flowing as it should, it is due to blockage of water passage and this blockage happens because of accumulated debris over time. In your bathroom, the drain clog is probably caused by hair clumps. In your kitchen, the sink is clogged with food debris, and in your toilet, is usually caused by the build-up of toilet paper.

What to do If You Suspect a Clogged Drain

Once your notice your drain is clogged, there are certain things you should do before you swing into plumbing mode, and they are:

Check for an obstruction

A clogged drain means there’s an obstruction against the flow of water. If you haven’t checked for one, you’re not sure you’ve got a clogged drain yet. The first thing to do once you notice that your water doesn’t flow through the drain as it should is to check for any obstruction that may be present under the drain or in the pipe.

Illuminate the drain to see its inside. You may also have to check underneath the drain cap. Once you see any material under the drain, you can remove it with a stretched paper clip.

Ensure your drain is open

Some drains have stoppers that you can unscrew. Others, especially bathtub showers, have a switch that closes and opens the drain. You should check to ascertain that the stoppers or switch isn’t stopping the flow of water.

7 Easy Ways to Unclog your Drain

Having checked that your drain is clogged and you can’t remove it with a stretched paper clip because it’s sitting deep in the drain or the pipe, here are some easy ways to unclog that drain.

Try Removing the Clog by Hand

While using a paper clip may work with shallow drains, you’ll need something longer if you can’t reach the clog with a paperclip. One of the convenient options is a wire coat hanger.

You can stretch the triangular edges of the hanger and leave the hook-like part of it, to help you pull the clog out of the pipe. Poking at the clog may cause it to disintegrate further, and a simple flush will handle the rest.

Try a Plumber’s Snake

You can purchase a plumber’s snake, also called a drain snake, from any hardware store. It works by using a flexible and retractable wire to break or pull a clog out of a drain. There are reusable and disposable drain snakes, and they’re easy to use.

You can use them in the kitchen, bath, and toilet drains. However, ensure to clean them after use.

Consider a Plunger

One of the most common declogging options is to use a plunger. Although they’re commonly used for toilets, you can find other types that are used for other drains.

It works by using suction to free your drain from its clog. Ensure that the drain is covered by the plunger cup, then thrust the plunger about 6 to 8 times before you remove it from the drain. Your water should rush through the drain. If it doesn’t, repeat the process.

Throw in Boiling Water

If poking and pressure don’t work, heat will. Boil some water and pour it down the drain. It’ll melt cooking grease or soap scum that may cement clog against the pipe or drain. Repeat the process twice or thrice.

This will also work if you can’t see any obstruction in your drain.

Introduce Organic Drain Cleaners

Skip the toxic chemicals in the common drain cleaners and opt for natural options. Baking soda and vinegar help unclog your drain.

Pour some baking soda into the drain, followed by white vinegar, usually in a ratio of 1 to 1. Plug the drain with a stopper and wait for an hour. Pour hot water into the drain and repeat the process if necessary.

Clean the U-pipe

Sometimes, when you can’t see clogs in the drain, they may be in the U-pipe, otherwise called the drain trap. Loosen the U-pipe from its connecting pipe and place its end in a bucket. Loose its other end with a plumber’s wrench and empty its content into the bucket.

Clean the pipe with water and reattach it to the pipe and drain.

Call a drain cleaning plumber

Usually, your clogged drain will be free by now; but if not, it’s time to call a professional drain cleaning plumber to help you. Thompson Plumbing is a reliable plumbing company with expertly trained and licensed plumbers to help you unclog any drain blockage. We understand that drain issues can be frustrating and most major drain clogs need to be addressed right away, that’s why we offer fast drain cleaning including same-day service in most cases.

Pro tips for Preventing Drain Clogs

While you may have an easy experience unclogging your drain, it’s better to avoid such situations. Here are some tips to help you prevent drain clogs.

• Don’t empty large waste into your drain.
• Use drain traps to catch potential cloggers before they cause issues.
• Clean your drains regularly.

Final Thought

To avoid repeatedly having a clogged drain, this article has presented some useful information on the major causes of drain clogs and how to prevent drain clogs. Use them, follow the pro tips, and don’t allow drain issues to bring your life to a halt.