Top 8 Ways to Unblock Your Household Drain
Is your bathtub or sink draining a bit slowly? Do you have to use harsh, nasty chemicals to clean out your household drain?
Getting blocked drains is a typical household concern that causes unnecessary stress. It normally takes place in moments that homeowners least anticipate it and even while doing their normal daily tasks, such as taking a bath or washing the dishes.
It can be extremely annoying, and you might like to get a drain cleaner from the nearest hardware store immediately. Unfortunately, most homeowners opt to use chemical drain cleaners for tough bathroom and kitchen clogs. That can be a temporary fix to unclog the drain but using chemical drain cleaners causes more issues than positive results.
Fortunately, you don’t need to experience too much trouble and stress to get your congested drain fixed. You will find different solutions for blocked drains, and it is shockingly easy. The best part here is that you can find the materials in your own kitchen! How amazing is that?
1. The Zip-It
Have you heard of the Zip-It? It is a household drain tool, often a thin stick of elastic-plastic along with small barbs up and down the sides. It also features a small handle plug at the top.
This cleaning device is a relatively simple and fast way to clear any blocked and slow-running drain, shower, and sinks. The best part about this cleaning device is that it has barbs combined with its plastic polymer construction. That makes it highly efficient and stress-free to use.
You don’t need any heavy equipment to use this tool. No harsh chemicals, and it’s non-toxic as well. In short, Zip-It is an excellent, eco-friendly option in removing blocked drains. One tip, though, make sure you wear protective eyewear when using this tool.
2. Biological Cleaners
A biological cleaner utilizes “good” bacteria to break down things such as soap residue and hair. It also evaporates odors in the household drain and is safe to use for the environment and the user.
This product can be utilized for bathroom or kitchen blockages, as it will attack oils and fats, and even hair. A gentle, non-toxic solution is the only product you need to use, especially if you have a septic tank system in your home.
3. Chemical Cleaners
Even though efficient, if misused, corrosive cleaners should be utilized with utmost caution and care, as they can be dangerous and unsafe. Ensure you follow all the safety guidelines and the instructions of use exactly as per the manufacturer’s requirements.
Here’s how you can use a chemical cleaner to remove the blockage from your household drain.
You can purchase chemical drain cleaners from your nearest hardware store. Do you have a septic tank? Keep in mind that you would need to purchase a drain cleaner compatible with your septic tank system.
We don’t recommend using plunge after using a drain cleaner. Read the instructions thoroughly before you use such household drain cleaners. Remember that many drain cleaners oblige you to put it down the pipes, leave it for the suggested time to unblock the drain, and flush it out with warm water.
It would be best to never combine different chemical drain cleaners with any other chemicals like bleach or even combine various chemical cleaning brands. Doing so could create toxic fumes because of a chemical reaction that could be toxic to you and your family’s health.
What’s more, the chemical reaction could result in damage to your pipes because of corroding, which leaves leaks and gaping holes that need to be repaired right away.
4. Get Out the Plunger
Today, many homes have a plunger kept someplace at the back of their cupboard or just under the sink for that drain emergency. Today is the perfect time to put it to good use. But you may be thinking how?
Here’s what you need to do. First, coat the edge of your plunger along with some Vaseline for a good seal. Next, put the plunger over the drain opening to make sure it covers the whole opening. It will help if you work the plunger up and down with some force for at least five to ten minutes.
Do you feel a change in pressure yank up hard or any noises on the plunger releasing the seal? You can test that out to determine if the drain is unblocked by running some water through. But if it’s not, we recommend plugging it again.
Repeat that process about two to three times before you try another method. Remember not to plunge the drain, which has a chemical drain cleaner in it.
5. Baking Soda and Salt
Combine one-half cup of the table along with a half cup of baking soda. Slowly pour it down the blocked drain. You can leave the mixture there for at least ten to twenty minutes, then pour the boiling water down.
The boiling water, baking soda, and salt will create a chemical reaction, which should dissolve some of the nastiest and foulest blockages in your drain.
6. Cleaning the Pipe
You wouldn’t like to do a few plumbing jobs, but this one is straightforward. Put an empty bucket under the U-shaped pipe or the trap under your sink. Your bucket will collect the spilling water.
Get a plumber’s wrench and loosen the slip nuts at both pipe ends. You should finish this process by hand. If the trap is free, detach it and turn it upside down, draining the contents into the bucket.
It will also help fish around the inside for possible debris and do the same steps with the pipes holding it. An old toothbrush is a practical tool for getting the tough gunk out. Finally, wash the trap with water and put it all back together. In most situations, that will have to do the trick.
7. Boiling Water
One of the simplest, stress-free ways of unclogging your household drain is to flush it out with boiling water. This method is not a guaranteed way of unblocking larger blockages, but a good flush out with hot water might do the trick, especially if you have a slow drain that might have a minor blockage.
Nevertheless, it would help if you were extra thorough with this. That’s because flushing with hot water works well along with metal pipes. Nonetheless, boiling water in PVC pipes could cause the melting or softening of joints.
If you are still in doubt, ensure the water is not too hot. It will help if you use water that is similar to what your hot water tap often generates.
8. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda cause a chemical reaction that is very much the same as chemical drain cleaners. That can help you get rid of blockages, but this method is much safer, more eco-friendly, and most cost-efficient.
The likelihood that your household has these two crucial ingredients on hand is very high as well. So the question now is: how can you use vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain?
First, make sure the pipes of the block are dry. We don’t recommend letting the water run through for them for a while. However, you can let them dry for a while if you notice the drain is still wet.
Now, get one cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain. You can use a funnel to make this step much simpler. Follow that with two cups of boiling water and let it sit there for a few minutes.
Add a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar down your clogged drain and cover the drain’s opening with a plug as not to let it foam out into your sink. You may notice some gurgling sounds during this process. You can wait for those to stop before you start pouring more boiling water again down your drain to clear the jam.
When we talk about unclogging your household drains, you can attempt small maintenance jobs at home. However, it. It is best to call in the experts if all else fails, especially if you are experiencing a much bigger problem.
Even the most advanced tools in the department store might not be the solution to your clogging issue. Often, clogging tubs or sinks could be the result of a bigger problem. Either way, it may be more expensive to your house’s plumbing system and your budget to try some Do-It-Yourself methods. Calling an expert plumber like a plumber in Auckland will guarantee that the issue is diagnosed and solved properly.
We hope this guide helped you with the solutions to remove the blockage in your drain completely. Do you have other ideas or ways to unblock household drain that is not listed on this post? Feel free to share it to use too! Please share your thoughts and insights with us by leaving your comments down below! We wish you the best of luck on your unclogging journey!
To learn more about plumbing works, contact Progress Plumbing, one of the leading plumbers in Auckland, New Zealand.