How do we Clear Blocked Drains?
Are your sinks not draining properly? Have you noticed a foul smell coming from your drain, or debris rising into your sink? Your drain has most likely become clogged and needs to be cleared out.
A blocked drain can be frustrating, but with the right method, you can easily clear it up at home. Here we’ve compiled some of the best tips and tricks to clear out your drains today.
For personalised advice, contact our team at Precision Plumbing today.
Why is my Drain Blocking?
A blocked drain can be a persistent and reoccurring problem, depending on how you use your sinks. There are several ways your plumbing can become clogged through everyday use, or different products if you’re not careful.
Everyday Use
One of the most common reasons your drain could be clogged is due to toiletry items, hair or soaps. Products like sanitary pads or nappies can be accidentally flushed or mistakenly disposed of. These items are not designed to break down naturally and will likely cause a blockage over time, if not right away.
Likewise, hair can naturally shed in the shower, bath or even if you brush it over the sink. This, combined with other substances, like hard soaps that have broken off, can cause stubborn blockages.
Cooking
If you’re cooking up a storm in the kitchen, you might feel rushed to remove food scraps or clear out your frying pan. But putting these down your sink can result in a lot of problems.
Food scraps going down your sink is one of the easiest ways to block your drains. If too much food goes into your pipes it can quickly start piling up and be difficult to remove.
Similarly, cooking oil can cause a lot of problems for your drains. As it clings to the sides of your pipes, it combines with other waste that makes its way down your sink, until it blocks your drain.
Natural Build Up
Everyday use is not the only way your drains can become clogged. Your outdoor pipes and gutters are generally exposed to environmental waste that can build up over time like leaves, dirt and twigs. If you’re gutters aren’t cleaned out regularly you might be tempting a pipe blockage.
How to Clear a Blocked Drain
While there are a few different ways your drains could be clogged, there are also several methods to clear them out. Here are just a few ways you can clear out blocked drains.
The Classic Approach
A plunger is a tried and true method for removing smaller blockages that are closer to the top of the drain. If you know what has blocked your drain, like a piece of hard soap or if it’s a smaller blockage, you can most likely get it out with a plunger.
The first step is to fill the area above the affected drain with water and seal the plunger over it. This allows the plunger to seal itself firmly over the drain and break up the blockage.
You should then repeatedly push the plunger handle up and down for 30 seconds, or longer if necessary, before removing the plunger and checking the drain.
While this can help break up the blockage, debris might still be clinging to your pipes. After plunging, it’s a good idea to pour boiling water down your sink to help remove extra debris.
Home Made Cleaners
If you have baking soda and vinegar at home, you have everything you need to make a cleaner to clear blockages. By following this method, you should be able to clear more stubborn blockages.
First, pour boiling water down your drain. This should clear any loose debris so your cleaner can affect the main blockage quickly.
Then, follow the boiling water with a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar poured down your drain. Leave this mixture to sit for 5 to 10 minutes so it starts working through the clog.
For the final step, pour more boiling water down the drain to clear the debris and mixture from your pipes. This is a great way to clear build-up at home.
Store Bought Cleaners
If you don’t have any of the above tools, or you’ve already tried them without success, a store-bought cleaner is usually a good option. These cleaners are specifically designed with caustic ingredients to clear blockages and can be a great solution for particularly stubborn clogs.
It is important to take note of the instructions of any drain cleaners you buy, as they can be dangerous substances if inhaled or handled incorrectly.
How a Professional Can Help
If your drain is still blocked or seems to be blocked regularly, you may need a plumber to identify the core problem. A trained plumber can use water jets to break up clogs, or other tools like a drain snake, to navigate your home’s pipes and clear out debris that your cleaners are struggling to reach.
At Precision Plumbing, we know all the best ways to clear drain blockages safely and efficiently. If you need to make sure your drains are in working order and want to get rid of that stubborn blockage, contact us today.