With only a small hole and slim track for water to enter and exit the home, it’s no wonder that so many drains get clogged. From everyday buildup and hard water or soap to dropping toothpaste caps and loose hair down the drain, pipes get clogged for a wide variety of reasons. Instead of shelling out a large sum of money to have a professional plumber come in to handle those clogs, here are some quick and easy things you can do to get rid of those clogs yourself.
Tip #1: Make a Homemade Drain Snake
A homemade snake, like the ones the plumbers use, can get in there and break up your clog in no time. There are many different ways you can make a snake. Essentially, a plumber’s snake is just a long, flexible, thin piece of wire that’s sturdy enough to push through the drain. It usually has a hook on the end to pull material out. You can fashion a snake out of any type of thick, pliable wire, a clothes hanger, or other similar materials.
Tip #2: Use Hot Water & Bleach
Believe it or not, one of the most effective fixes for a clogged drain is also one of the cheapest and easiest to implement. If your sink is clogged, for example, you can put your stopper in, fill the sink about halfway with hot water, pour about a cup of bleach in there, and then remove the drain to plunger the water in and out of your pipe. Or you could simply create a water and bleach mixture to pour into the pipe.
Tip #3: Resist the Urge to Bang on the Pipe
One of the most frustrating things about drain clogs is that you can actually see most of the pipe. You know that the clog is probably sitting in the bend of your P-trap, and you probably feel like banging it with a hammer. You should refrain from this, however. Banging might seem like a good idea on the surface, but you may end up making the problem a lot worse. You could bust your pipe or seals, or you could compound the clog.
Tip #4: Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners!
A lot of those over the counter drain cleaners you can find on the store shelves work well for your drain clogs, but that’s because most contain chemicals that are very harsh. Relying on these chemicals may make you dependent on them. They “work,” yes, but that’s because the chemicals are just eating a hole through the problem. The buildup will happen again, and repeatedly using these chemical drain products may just end up causing damage to your pipes. We at KC’s Plumbing offer safe bio-friendly products for drain maintenance, roots, and grease.
Tip #5: Sometimes, It’s Best to Call a Professional
For most people who create homemade snakes and use similar methods to bust those drain clogs up, they’re simply pushing the material through the pipe. Over time, this is going to make the grit and grime become compacted, leaving you with few options beyond calling a plumber. Try to pull the material out if at all possible.
Unclogging your drain is important, and you should attempt to handle any clogs right away. If you use the tricks provided above, you should be able to handle issues without contracting a plumber. If you feel the issue is more severe or would just rather have a professional take care of it and also get a better demonstration on how to better maintain your plumbing or simply join our Kare-Free Club and we will take care of it all for you, and more!
