Removing Drain Clogs

By Scott Rodgers

Clogged drain is one of the most common plumbing issue faced at home. It is one of the most frustrating job for anyone. Liquid drain cleaners are the first resort for this problem, reason being they are easy to use, supposed to be quick and the best part is, you don't have to get your hands dirty.

These chemical products can be really harmful, so they should be handled with great care. Also, many of these chemicals can even harm your septic system. So, always make sure to properly check if they are safe for your plumbing system. Also, follow all the safety instructions carefully, mentioned on the product bottle before use.

Apart from these chemical drain cleaners, there are some plumbing tools that you can use for the same purpose. The most commonly used tool for clearing drains is a plunger. A plunger mainly uses the concept of pressure to remove clogs so it will be effective for drains with a single outlet. And for the same reason, many a times it becomes useless for kitchen or bathroom sink drains.

The next step is to try and remove the sink trap. If you had previously attempted to clear the clog using a chemical drain cleaner, you need to be careful here as there may still be residue in the sink, pipes, or trap. Before removing the trap, make sure to drain as much of the sink water as you can.

Once you remove the trap, look in to it properly to see if there is any blockage or any particles obstructing the way. You can also test this by fixing the trap to some other sink and then check if the water is running down smoothly. Else, you can use a clothes hanger to get hold of any clogged material. If you are able to find some clog, remove it and install it again. If in case, you did not find any thing, you should try out some other steps.

Another plumbing tool that can help clear a drain clog is a plumbers snake(auger). It is a long, adjustable spring that can be inserted into the drain. It is affordable and is easily available at any plumbing store.

Put the auger into the drain. Push it down untill you find a blockage. Turn and twist the tool so that you can catch the clog into it. If it is a hard substance, it can take some time to get out but softer clogs can be easily removed with water pressure.

Finally, if none of the above methods work for you, it is time to call a professional plumber. A good contractor will not only help you out with your problem but will also suggest how you can prevent it in the future and if necessary point out problems that need to be addressed. - 30517

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