How to get rid of clogged drains
What’s clogged? Kitchen drain, shower, bath or toilet? If more than on fixture is clogging up, the blockage could be the main drain.
Most clogs collect around the strainer or stopper in your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, stationary tubs, or bathtub. Removing the strainer and cleaning it may be the solution. Remove any screws that are holding the strainer in place and pry the strainer up using your screwdriver. Remove whatever has collected around the strainer and clean around the top of the drain. Hair will twist around the stoppers, so cleaning the stoppers on a regular basis will help to avoid a clog later. Remove the stopper with pliers, clean and wipe out the base of the drain opening.A favorite tool for unclogging drains is the plunger.
If the blockage is not too far into the main drain, a plunger will do the job.
To effectively plunge, block any overflow holes or any other openings by stuffing wet rags into the holes. (These holes are usually located opposite the faucet.) If you don’t have any standing water in the basin, run 2 to 3 inches of water over the drain hole. This water will help to force the obstruction out of the way. You’ll also know when you have succeeded with the plunger. If you place a thick layer of petroleum jelly around the rim of the plunger, you will have a tighter seal which produces more suction. Plunge for a minute or two and wait to see if the water is going down. If sluggish, plunge again. When clear, run hot water to flush away any remaining particles from the clog.
If a plunger will not give you results, you’re clog is stubborn and you’ll have to get much more aggressive. You’ll need to clean the trap under the sink. The trap is the U-shaped section of pipe under the sink. Have a bucket handy to catch any waste water. If the trap has a clean-out plug there will be a square or hexagon-shaped plug in the base of the bend. If so, remove the plug. Use a wire hanger or an old bottle brush pushed through the trap to remove debris.
If the trap does not have a clean-out plug, remove the trap by using a pipe wrench to loosen the nuts at both ends of the trap that hold it in place. For chrome pipe fittings, you’ll need to pad the plump pliers to protect the finish. Penetrating oil will help to loosen a stubborn trap joint. Hold the trap over a bucket and insert a straightened wire hanger or old bottle brush to push out debris. Wash the trap with hot soapy water. Check the trap for wear or corrosion. If it has begun to thin it will start to leak. You may also need to reseal the threads with pipe joint compound or Teflon tape.
If the trap is clear and the drain still clogs, the blockage is further into the sink’s drain pipe or main drain. To clean these drains you will need a plumber’s auger – commonly known as a sewer snake. These can be rented from just about any home center. It’s basically a long cable of coiled wire that will grab onto any clogs and allow you to remove them. Just remove the trap, insert the snake into the sink drain and push until you meet the obstruction. Once the tip of the snake is against the clog, twist the snake clockwise and try to hook the clog. Once solidly hooked, twist and push the clog back and forth until you break the clog. Flush the pipe with cold water. When free of debris, reassemble the sink’s trap. You may need to reseal the threads with pipe joint compound or Teflon tape. Run water through again to make sure the clog is completely flushed and the trap is not leaking.
If you need to snake your tub, remove the plate that is over the overflow drain and feed the snake down there. For a shower stall, remove the cover over the floor drain and feed the snake down that way. Push your way through with the snake. You need to push through the P-trap that is located under the tub. That is where most clogs end up.
When all else fails there are always chemical drain cleaners. The fast-acting chemical drain cleaners usually contain lye or sulfuric acid to burn through all sorts of tough clogs thoroughly and quickly. Follow the directions and read all the warnings on the bottle/container before using. After using a chemical cleaner, be sure to flush your pipes thoroughly with plenty of water.
When more than one drain is clogged, the main drain line or the sewer will need to be cleaned. Find the clean-out plugs located on the large drain pipes (the vertical pipes in your basement or crawl space – or in the garage or pantry – depending on how your house was built.) They may also be outdoors along the foundations of your house. Although these pipes are usually vertical, you may have a plug that is located on a horizontal pipe. Find the steel or plastic cap for the pipes with a square fitting at the top and remove using a wrench. Have your waste bucket handy when opening the drain. Using a snake, break up any clogs. Insert the auger in both directions of the pipe. You may be able to use a powerful jet of water from your garden hose to break up the debris. Replace the cap on the drain pipe.
If your toilet is clogged it can usually be fixed very easily using a plunger. Don’t push to clear the clog, use a pulling motion to free the clog. Pushing will force the clog further down the line and will make a bigger job for you. Pulling will free the clog easier. Place the plunger over the drain hole, press down firmly and give a quick pull up. You want to bring the whatever is causing the clog back into the toilet bowl where it can be broken up a bit and flushed away.
If plunging doesn’t work you will need to use a closet auger for the toilet. These can be easily rented from a home improvement center. If you have to buy one – it is much cheaper than calling a plumber. This type of auger gets through the curves and angles of the toilet trap; a regular snake could not do the job.
With a little preventive maintenance you can avoid clogged drains.
In your kitchen, don’t pour grease down the drain. Pour into cans and place in the trash. Grease collects along the inside of the pipes and food particles stick to the grease causing a clog. If too much grease is poured into a drain it can block the sewers.If you have a garbage disposal that you use for grinding up food, run plenty of cold water to flush the food particles down the pipe. If you don’t use enough water, the particles will collect along the sides of the pipes.
Never dump coffee grounds in the sink.
At least once a week, pour a pot of boiling water down your drain to melt away any grease or fats that have collected.In your bathroom, clean the pop-up stoppers in your sinks frequently. Hair is the biggest contributor to bathroom sink clogs.Also, never flush heavy paper products down the drain. Excess paper will clog the toilet and/or the entire sewer system.
Once a month, clean and deodorize your drains with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Shake some baking soda down the drain, follow with a bit of vinegar. No measurements are needed. The baking soda/vinegar mix will start to foam up. Let this work for about five minutes, then follow with boiling water.
Additional tips:
Don’t use your drain for dumping any chemicals, paints, paint thinners, etc.
Never dump hot wax down the drain.
If you have a septic system, have the professionals check it out every 2 to 3 years. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Twice a year use a non-caustic drain cleaner to keep your drains running clear.
Related posts:
- How to get rid of cooking grease
- Frequency Of Maintenance And Related Costs To Have A Septic Tank On Site
- How to remove grease from cookware
- How to get rid of unsightly sink stains
- How to get rid of harsh cleaners in your kitchen
Tags: clogged bathrooms, clogged drains, clogged kitchens, clogged sewers, removing clogs
June 17th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Good information. Nice article. Thanks.