Sooner or later, every drain will become clogged. While some clogs are serious enough to require professional intervention, many are minor enough for you to effectively deal with at home. In this article, our team at Anytime Plumbing & Solutions will go over three DIY methods for fixing a clogged drain for those who would rather try to fix the problem on their own before calling for backup. If none of them work, then you’ll know it’s time to get our experts on the job.
- Plunger- While most people know how to use a plunger on clogged toilets, it often doesn’t occur to them that the same method can be used on their clogged drains. Seal the plunger over the sink or bathtub drain and pump as you would for a toilet. This method can be done with a standard toilet plunger, but you can also find mini plungers designed specifically for the smaller opening of a drain.
- Drain Snake- A drain snake, sometimes also called a zipper, is a thin piece of plastic that is inserted into clogged drains in order to dislodge blockages. Drain snakes have small notches or teeth along the edges to catch hair and pull it up out of the pipe.
- Hot Water- The third DIY method we’ll go over here is to flush your drains with boiling water. The heat will help melt, dissolve, or loosen built-up grease or soap scum, creating a larger opening for water to pass through. While you may find that this alone clears up the problem, if you find yourself in the same situation soon after then you may have a more serious blockage. In that case, you can call our team at Anytime Plumbing & Solutions for a professional solution.