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3 Easy Methods to Clear a Clogged Drain

A clogged drain is no fun and only gets worse if you let it go!You’re getting ready in the morning and you notice the bathroom sink is draining slowly. Or, you’re preparing dinner and you observe water is standing in the kitchen sink. Or, you’re taking a shower and you see the water is pooling around your feet. Or, you notice an unpleasant odor coming from a drain. These are warning signs that you have a potential drain problem. And if this problem isn’t taken care of promptly, you’ll likely have a completely clogged drain soon.

How does a drain clog occur?

Kitchen sink drain clogs are due to undissolved food particles that expand with water, dish detergent soap scum, and cooking grease or oil that adheres to drain pipe walls. Eventually, these items accumulate until you have a stubborn, slimy drain clog.

In bathroom and shower drains, dirt, skin flakes and hair bind with soap scum which sticks to the pipe walls. These items continue to collect until they reduce or obstruct water flow.

How do you unclog a drain?

Here are 3 easy fixes to deal with stubborn drain blockages.

Method No. 1 to Unclog a Drain: Use a chemical drain cleaner

Liquid, gel or powder drain cleaners that you buy at a store use strong chemicals to clear drain clogs. The chemicals in these cleaners work together to generate heat to dissolve the items obstructing the drain. However, make sure the drain cleaner you use is suitable for your home’s pipes – especially if they’re older, metal pipes, which may become damaged by the chemicals used. Also, if you plan to use the drain cleaner in a bathtub, make sure it’s suitable for your type of tub to prevent potential damage.

Read and follow all manufacturer’s instructions when using drain cleaner. Remove any standing water in a bathtub or sink. Carefully pour the required amount of cleaner into the drain. Wait the specified amount of time to let the chemicals do their work. Flush the drain with cold water afterwards.

Note: If this does not unclog the drain, do not try a different chemical drain cleaner. Mixing different chemicals can be dangerous. Contact a professional plumber, like Pipe Dream Plumbing, for help with clearing your drain blockage.

Method No. 2 to Unclog a Drain: Boiling Water / Baking Soda and Vinegar

Remove any hair and soap residue that may have accumulated underneath the strainer or stopper. Boil water in a tea kettle, coffee pot or small pan. Carefully pour the boiling water directly into the drain – trying not to splash yourself. Wait a few seconds. Turn on the water tap to determine if this cleared the obstruction in the clogged drain.

If the drain is still clogged, mix ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar together in a measuring cup. It should begin fizzing. Immediately pour this mixture into the drain. Let it sit for one hour to allow the mixture to do its work. After the waiting period, pour boiling hot water directly down the drain. Turn the water tap on to see if the clogged drain is cleared.

Method No. 3 to Unclog a Drain: Plunger

Remove any hair and soap scum from the strainer or stopper. Fill the sink or tab with water to submerge the bowl portion of the plunger. This helps the plunger achieve its suction power.

If you’re unclogging a double bowl kitchen sink, place the drain stopper over one opening while using the plunger on the other. If you’re working on a bathroom sink, stuff a wet rag into the overflow hole. This will help deliver the pressure needed to unclog the drain.

Place the rubber plunger over the drain opening. Forcefully push and pull the plunger up and down several times before quickly removing it from the drain opening. Keep plunging, if needed, until the drain clears.

Still clogged? Contact a professional plumber

If the above methods don’t work in clearing the clogged drain, contact Pipe Dream Plumbing, located in Indianapolis, Ind., for professional plumbing services. With over 30 years of experience in the plumbing industry, the licensed and insured plumbers at Pipe Dream Plumbing know their way around plumbing problems like clogged drains. Call them today at 317.388.1988 to get rid of your plumbing nightmares.