Having something stuck in a drain becomes a pretty obvious problem when the water stays put and doesn’t go anywhere. Whether it’s a clogged kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower stall or toilet, a non-working drain becomes a growing problem. First off, the water piles up and makes the unit useless. Second, it starts to smell. Third, it could spill over if more water is added. So, drains need to be fixed; there’s no accepting a clogged drain and living with it. That said, there are some solutions anyone can do for unclogging a drain, and there are some that should be handled by a professional plumber.
Believe it or not, some tips for how to unclog your drain may not even apply in the drain itself. Very simple obstructions are right at the drain entrance itself. However, they can be hard to see in a sink full of dishes and dirty water. So, wear gloves or be willing to wash your hands after and reach in to clear the entrance. Trapped food or a dish stuck with suction tend to be the culprits. This clogs go away as soon as the blockage is removed or shoved aside.
If with a toilet, use a plunger when unclogging a drain. Most times, a plunger can shake loose the blockage and cause flow to work with a few vigorous pumps. Just make sure not to bend over too close as the water splash can come right back up in the face. It’s not suggested to reach in, even if brave, as your hand might get stuck or you could get a cut and skin infection, which can be bad news.
For mild to minor blockages caused by organic material, a drain treatment can be useful for unclogging a drain. Basically, these chemical work with a combination of acids and similar to move through water, make contact with the blockage and dissolve it enough that the water pressure breaks down the pieces and pushes it through the drainpipe with gravity. While these chemicals can work, they are also fairly harsh, and many were designed for metal plumbing. They are also bad for the environment. Some bio-friendly options now exist, but they won’t do much good for a solid material blockage made of inorganic material.
As the next more serious option, a plumbing snake or auger can be used to move though the drain to the blockage and break it up. These tools come in manual or motorized form. The goal is to move the snake cable into and through the drain until it contacts the blockage and breaks it into small pieces. The end of the tool has blades that help cut things up to do that. Other methods latch onto the blockage and pull it back out. A homeowner should be very careful with motorized snakes. These use an electric motor to turn the auger and do the work as the snake inserted into the drain. Powerful versions can damage the drain plumbing if a person doesn’t know what they are doing. This sort of work should be saved for a professional plumber instead.
Serious drain problems handled by a professional plumber will typically be addressed with water pressure, motorized augers mentioned above, and sometimes removal of the pipe section and repair. Removal of a pipe section tends to be a bit of a last resort. Most times, the tools applied within the pipe deal powerfully with the problem and are useful for unclogging a drain. In these situations is also a good idea to have the drain line cleaned completely to remove any chance of a new blockage from residue or similar. Once in, one might as well do the job completely. A clean drain not only helps water flow, but it can get rid of any possible pests that are starting to find their way up the drain as well.
