Cleaning Out A Clogged Drain. All of us confront this problem from time to time – a stopped up drain. Countless home owners will utilize store purchased liquid drain cleaners as the first plan of attack. Unfortunately, this plan is not doing the job. The pipe continues to be stopped up.
Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re truly not alone. I too have not actually seen results from store bought drain cleaners and was curious as to the key reasons why.
STEP 1 – THE PLUNGER
The initial step should be pulling out your trusty plunger. As you perhaps know, plungers work by producing a vacuum within the pipe – suctioning the clog free. What you may be aware of however, is that all plungers are not the same. Some supply greater suction than others. This is ordinarily a benefit on persistent clogs, but for your drainpipes, not so much – as strong suction may tend to damage tight fittings on older pipes.
When using a plunger, make sure to cover the overflow holes in the sink or tub with your palm or a cloth. These openings are designed into the fixture for a reason but any air let into the line will decrease the level of suction and consequently, the performance of the plunger.
Yet another detail you ought to know is that your drain pipes link to a vent line that usually runs vertically thru the walls and out the roof. Dangerous gasses must be vented to the exterior by means of these vent pipes. Having said that, these vent pipes at the same time let air into the system. Any blockage located past the vent pipe will have a difficult time releasing because the air present here will lower suction by a large margin.
STEP 2 – THE P-TRAP If the plunger doesn’t clear the clog, you should then clean the “p-trap,” which is the curved pipe just below the drain itself. Your bathtub will also have one, although it’s typically concealed behind a wall so if you are making an effort to unclog your tub, this step may not be reasonable.
The p-trap is there to stop sewer gasses from coming up into the home. Unfortunately, this part of the pipe catches hair and sediment regularly, so it’s possible your blockage could be here. Cleaning it is as simple as loosening the fittings, cleaning the pipe, and reattaching it. This step by itself could resolve your problem as blockages in this portion of pipe are quite normal.
STEP 3 – SNAKING THE PIPE If you still have a clog, this process of snaking the pipe becomes a little more involved, but it can be carried out by just about any home owner. You can buy plumbers snakes from the majority of home improvement outlets and they’re not too complicated to operate. However, they do require a bit of skill and patience.
STEP 4 – CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANERS The final step before talking to a plumber can be to consider using store bought chemical drain cleaners. There are a number of reasons why this should be the last step.
First, these chemical substances might be harmful to pipes, especially if used in more substantial quantities – that is,, if the obstruction is not clearing and you use increasingly more. The second factor is that by nature, the water sitting in the sink during a clog works against these products. These chemicals have to go down within the water, through the drain, and reach the clog. Plus, by the time they make it to the clog they are diluted. As a result of these variables, the store bought drain cleaners are often times ineffective. They are most effectively used by allowing the water to slowly drain out, then pouring them down the empty drain.
STEP 5 – CALL A PLUMBER Last but not least, if you still have not cleared the blockage, a pro plumber should be contacted. You might decide to do this in the beginning so you can reduce the stress.
I hope this guide gives you an understanding of your plumbing and the most effective steps to follow to unclog a drain.