Drain Cleaning tips and advice from local area plumbers, learn the leading cause of household drain issue and how to solve them.

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You Can Do It: Identify and Clear a Clogged Drain

In this, the final entry in our series on clogged drains, we will once again advise on how to identify and Clear a Clogged Drain. Continuing where we left off in our second blog entry, these pointers from Poole’s Plumbing can help achieve early detection and likewise, detect and Clear a Clogged Drain before there is a huge mess.

Removing the drain stopper and any debris is a good start to clearing the drain.

Trust in Poole’s Plumbing and Clear Your Mind…oh, and Your Sink Drain!

Once again, we are aware of the common thoughts when one realizes they have any plumbing issue. However, your trusted friends at Poole’s Plumbing once again can set a worried mind at ease. With some easy to remember pointers, you can locate and Clear a Clogged Drain and feel confident doing so.

We will use the example of a clogged kitchen sink to walk you through several steps. To begin on your path to Clear a Clogged Drain, first, take these simple measures.

  • Remove the Sink’s Drain Stoppers
  • Carefully Remove any Visible Debris
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In the case of a double bowl sink, be sure to use a wet rag to block the second drain.

Keeping it Clean: Dishwasher and Clear Drains

We are confident with some advice from the Raleigh plumbing experts at Poole’s that you can Clear a Clogged Drain. Certainly though, “keeping it clean,” or avoiding a messy situation in doing so is something you want to keep in mind. 

Staying true to our mission to Clear a Clogged Drain in the kitchen sink, there are several areas to secure to keep things as dry as possible. These steps below are two you would want to be sure are done before going further in this process.

  • Clamp the dishwasher hose where it is attached to the drain line or disposal under the sink. This will prevent dirty water from backing up into the dishwasher.
  • In the case of a “double bowl” sink, block off one of the drains with a wet rag.
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Do not plunge the drain if you have used and chemicals or drain cleaners.

Safety Reminders Before You “Plunge In”

With the hose clamped and second drain blocked, its time to “take a plunge,” literally. Note that there are some precautions to take if you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink. Thus, you must refer to the list below on disposals to be certain that the disposal is tended to properly as well.

In contrast, another point of note is that if any cleaners or chemicals have been poured down the drain, you do not want to take these next steps. This would seem obvious, but inhaling these type fumes can be extremely harmful. Similarly, plunging when these chemicals are present in a drain could lead to costly damage.

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Using a disposal wrench or Allen wrench, rotate to open and clean debris from disposal

Garbage Disposal “Check Points” 

  • If there is a disposal, and it’s not working or is making a loud humming noise when turned on, it is likely jammed with something. 
  • If the disposal is jammed, first, turn it off. Next, either unplug the cord under the sink if it has a plug or turn off the circuit breaker in your main panel box for safety.
  • Once sure the circuit is turned off, insert the disposal wrench. If you don’t have it use an Allen wrench. Put either up into the center of the bottom of the disposal. Rotate accordingly to be sure the disposal is clear of any debris.
  • If initially when turned on the disposal made no noise, check the internal circuit breaker. This is located at the bottom of the unit. Make sure it is not popped out. If it is, press it inward to reset it.
  • Lastly, plug the disposal back in or turn the circuit breaker in the panel box back on, and turn the disposal on again. If still not working, you still can Clear a Clogged Drain. However, you will want to consult the pros at Poole’s Plumbing to regarding the disposal.

Now the Simple Solution to Clear a Clogged Drain

With all safety items checked off, now we are ready to “pop” that drain clear. By following the two simple steps below, you should have your drain running free and clear. 

  • Fill the sink with 3 to 4 inches of water.
  • Use a plunger to plunge the open drain, keeping the other side blocked. Plunge until the standing water swirls down the drain unimpeded. 

While this concludes our three-part series on how to Clear a Clogged Drain, in our next post we will still be “unclogging.” Taking it a step further, Raleigh’s most trusted plumbers, Poole’s Plumbing will move from the smaller drains to the bigger issue of clearing a sewer drain.

Why it is Important to Keep Your Drains Clean and Clear

Maintaining a clean sink or bathtub drain is important for many reasons and can be done with minimal effort to help avoid running into costly and possibly dangerous plumbing issues. One obvious reason to clean your drains on a consistent basis is to avoid unpleasant odors. A more serious problem that could result from a neglected drain is the risk of pesky drain gnats. Also, failure to keep your drains clean will lead to buildup that eventually will cause water in your sink or tub to empty at a much slower rate. If you’ve tried your own maintenance and at home remedies and the problem with your drain persist, it may be time to call the most trusted name in Raleigh professional plumbing, Poole’s Plumbing to come and be sure the issue escalates no further.

As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, to Keeping Your Drains Clean is a simple process that can be done at home as long as you are willing to take a few minutes every few days to do so. The simplest way of avoiding unwanted buildup is to run scalding hot water through your tub and sink drains every couple days to make sure that there is no clogging and to keep gunk from building up. There are also many products available for purchase at most stores, that can keep your drains smelling clean and fresh. If you do notice buildup starting or clogging in your pipes it is best to immediately address the issue as early as possible, as neglecting these things could prove an expensive and messy mistake.

You must realize that to Keep Your Drains Clean that are clogged is not necessarily an immediate disaster, as there are many tried and true remedies that can be made to clear them, right in your home. Most of these solutions are made from items that you already have on hand. One of these tried and true methods is to pour one tablespoon of baking soda into the tub or sink drain. Immediately dump ¼ cup of either lemon juice or vinegar down the same drain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Finally, run hot water through the drain. Repeating this on a weekly basis will help clear buildup and prevent the clog from recurring. Additionally, this will help eliminate unwanted, foul odors. Another at home method is to pour a strong salt water mixture through your drains. This is a proven way to keep grease from buildup and to reduce bad odors.

If you have tried the at home remedies and found them not working, there are many popular and potent chemical solutions that can be purchased at nearly any store or supermarket. If these chemicals do not work, it is best to call a professional plumber, who will be able to remove any blockage and have your drains flowing freely in short order.

There are many different websites that can offer up tips on keeping your drains clean through these and a variety of other methods in an eco-friendly manner. For further information on this topic, check cleaning or maintaining drains in the home improvement sections of any of the following sites, www.doityourself.com, www.popularmechanics.com, or www.care2.com.

As stated in our first paragraph of this article, there are many reasons why a clogged or dirty drain is something not to be ignored. If this a persistent problem, be sure to contact the most trusted name in Raleigh professional plumbing, Poole’s Plumbing.

DIY Drain Cleaning Made Easy

By Eva Sparks

Dealing with clogged drains isn’t something you can put off for long, but many people don’t even know where to begin. Other are worried that strong chemical cleaners may be harmful for their health. The good news is that, with just a bit of baking soda, vinegar, and some very hot water, you’ll be able to get all of your drains working like new again.

Baking soda and vinegar are the perfect drain cleaning agents for three main reasons. First, they don’t pose any risks to your health or to your drains. Second, when the two are mixed, they create carbon dioxide and sodium acetate, both of which can easily dissolve the grime and gunk that has built up in your plumbing. Third, the foaming bubbles they create further work to give your drains a thorough scrubbing.

Enough with singing the praises of using baking soda and vinegar to clean your drains; let’s go through the steps you need to take to actually do it.

Step 1 – Prepare 2 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of vinegar, 4 cups of boiling water, and bring them to your target drain.

Step 2 – Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by about half of your boiling water.

Step 3 – Pour your second cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by your cup of vinegar.

Step 4 – Quickly plug the drain to trap the bubbles in the pipe, allowing them to clean more effectively. You should be able to hear the mixture working.

Step 5 – When the sound of the bubbles begins to quiet down, open the drain again and pour your remaining hot water inside. This should clear away any remaining debris.

Step 6 – If your drain still doesn’t seem to be running as smoothly as it could, you can repeat steps 1-5 as many times as it takes for water to flow through it unimpeded.

Some particularly grimy drains may also call for the use of a sink plunger. If the baking soda and vinegar doesn’t seem to be able to clear away all of the gunk, you can be sure that it has at least loosened it all up. After filling your drain with water you should seal it off with a plunger and quickly plunge up and down a few times. This should be enough to dislodge any remaining grime.

To keep your drains in tip top shape you should try not to let them get so clogged again. Clear them periodically with some baking soda, vinegar, and water, and you’ll save yourself from having to deal with many future drainage problems.

After that if your drain still doesn’t seem to be running as smoothly, you could have a bigger issue. Call your trusted local plumber.