DIY Plumbing- Unclogging Drains
Written by Scott Rodgers on September 24th, 2009 in Misc.
Plumbing is an essential part of your home, so it is very important to look after it. But no one likes clearing blocked drains and specially if you have no idea about how to go further. So, here are some easy tips for handling this situation and sometimes you will really feel that it is not that hard to unclog drains. So try these out before calling a plumber.
To start with, a good idea is to use a combination of baking soda and vinegar instead of a harsh liquid drain cleaner. If there is standing water in the sink try to remove as much of it as possible.
Now put in half a cup of baking soda followed by half cup of vinegar. Leave them for sometime. They together react to create a foaming action and can help loosening many clogs.
If this does not work you will have to resort to more aggressive measures. One simple method is to use a regular bathroom plunger. When plunging make sure you have enough water in the sink to fully cover the plunger. Also be sure to cover the overflow opening in the sink or tub, because if you do not, much of the plunging pressure will be lost through that opening.
You can also try using a cloth hanger. Open the hanger to make it a long straight metal wire. Bend either of it side a little to form a hook to catch the clog. Push it down the drain, turn it and try catching the clog with the hook.
If you feel you have caught something in the wire, pull it up with the hook. Run plenty of hot water to test if the drain is working fine or not. If not, try plunging it a few more times to unclog it completely.
If nothing works and the drain is still blocked, you have to use some more complicated methods. Like you can go for an auger. But, it is always advisable to leave the more complicated issues for the professionals as they are expert people in this domain and are capable of handling any kind of plumbing issue.
But make sure that you choose the right plumber for your home. One good way is to ask friends and neighbors to recommend some names. These advices can help you save time and find a quality plumber. You can also take some help from the internet if you wish to.
