Lesser Known Tips for Unclogging a Drain
A clogged drain can happen any time, whether it results from a gradual buildup of hair in a shower drain or a sudden quantity of food and grease that quickly chokes a kitchen sink drain. Either way, there are several ways to unclog a drain. We recommend attacking drain clogs in the following order.
PLUNGER
A plunger is an inexpensive, easy-to-use tool that is effective on most clogs. A plunger is so convenient, it is sometimes called ‘a plumber’s helper.’ Most households have at least one kind of plunger, but every house and apartment should have both types of plungers on hand: a sink plunger and a toilet plunger.
Sink plungers aren’t very effective on toilet clogs, and it isn’t a good idea to use a toilet plunger in a sink because you could transfer dangerous bacteria into a sink bowl. The key to successful plunging is to form a good seal over the drain and maintain that seal while plunging. If plunging a sink, be sure to cover the overflow drain hole with tape or a rag to ensure all the plunger’s energy is directed at the clog instead of escaping through the overflow drain.
AUGER
An auger, or drain snake, is basically a stiff cable with a cutting blade or wire coil (called a boring gimlet) on its tip. These tools come in all sizes ranging from a small plastic “zip-stick” drain cleaning tools, to the classic hand-crank auger, to powerful, motorized drain cleaning machines like the Roto-Rooter sewer & drain cleaning machines used by the professionals. The same principle is involved with each type of auger, which is to break up the clog or capture it and pull it out of the drainpipe.
WET/DRY VACUUM (SHOP-VAC)
Wet/dry vacuums are powerful appliances with lots of suction, and unlike regular vacuum cleaners, they are safe to use for suctioning up water. As it turns out, they are also useful for suctioning out gunk from your drains if you cover the overflow drain with a finger, rag, or a piece of tape. A wet/dry vacuum can also recover jewelry from a drain. Just cover the end of the vacuum tube with a stocking that can capture the jewelry and prevent it from going into the vacuum itself.
HOME REMEDIES
For simple bathroom sink clogs caused by toothpaste and soap scum, home remedies can be quite effective. They are also environmentally safer than their more powerful chemical counterparts sold in stores. Baking soda & vinegar: Try pouring a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a cup of white vinegar. This combination creates a sizzling scrubbing action that melts away gunk. However, it is ineffective against hair clogs. Similarly effective home drain remedies include salt + baking soda + hot water (CAUTION: boiling water may crack or damage porcelain, acrylic or natural stone sinks or scald skin). A combination of half a cup of lemon juice plus half a cup of baking soda is also remarkably effective against simple clogs.
CHEMICAL DRAIN OPENERS
There are several brands of chemical drain cleaners, including liquid, crystal, and gel products on the market today. Most are lye-based caustic cleaners that will burn through the clog. They are effective on common types of clogs, even grease and hair, but they have a downside too. The vapors can irritate eyes and skin, and direct contact with either is even more dangerous, so take precautions. Be sure to read the directions carefully before using chemical drain openers as they can damage some pipe materials. And if you must call a plumber, be sure to warn him that you put chemicals into the drain. He will want to take precautions to protect himself from chemical exposure too.
HAND AUGERS AND DRAIN CABLES
There are light-duty hand augers available for do-it-yourselfers. These tools can be purchased at hardware stores and home centers and are designed for reaching clogs that are beyond the drain’s P-trap. They are usually equipped with a few feet of lightweight flexible cable, and they often have a spiral tip designed to capture and retrieve whatever is clogging the pipe. These tools can be useful when all else fails, but they are not as robust or capable as the tools used by professionals.
PROFESSIONAL MECHANICAL CLEANING
Sometimes you just need to call in a professional. A Roto-Rooter plumber or sewer & drain technician has heavy-duty equipment, and the training required to operate it effectively. Professional-grade sewer and drain cleaning machines are far more powerful and capable than anything available to do-it-yourselfers. They can reach deep into pipelines to eliminate clogs that are out of reach for DIY tools and methods. Even if you do find a place that rents out professional equipment, you could easily injure yourself learning to operate it.
HYDRO-JETTING (HIGH-PRESSURE WATER JETTING)
A hydro-jetter is a powerful tool used by professionals to blast ordinary water through the heaviest clogs, especially sludge, grease, mud, and even grout and concrete. Hydo-jetter operators have several different jetter heads that can be screwed onto the end of a high-pressure water hose. Each head is designed to defeat specific types of clogs and may include an array of directional jets that aim water sideways, forward, or backward at up to 4000 pound per square inch. Hydro-jetting is the “nuclear option” of sewer and drain cleaning services. If hydro-jetting can’t clear your clog, the pipes will probably need to be repaired or replaced.
CLEAR CLOGGED DRAINS AT THE OFFICE – COMMERCIAL DRAINS
The truth is that while commercial drains found in businesses of all types and sizes don’t clog as frequently as residential drains, commercial clogs are often more difficult to remedy. Roto-Rooter commercial plumbing service professionals have the equipment and training to tackle any commercial or industrial-size sewer or drain clog. We can also handle any commercial-grade plumbing repairs or installations your business requires.