Clogged Drain? Learn the Basics of Drain Cleaning.

Clogged Drain? Learn the Basics of Drain Cleaning.

No one likes a clogged drain!

They can be smelly, unsanitary, and inconvenient. Fortunately, many simple solutions are available that don’t have to be difficult, messy, or expensive. Natural drain cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar are effective at breaking up grease and soap buildup in your pipes. For more challenging blockages like hair or food particles, you may need to use more powerful chemical products like liquid plumbers or enzymatic cleaners. If all else fails, there is always the option of hiring a professional plumber who will come in with specialized tools to clear out any stubborn clogs for good! No matter what solution you choose for your clogged drains, it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task anymore.

Drain cleaning and unclogging solutions don’t have to be difficult, messy, or expensive. The key is knowing how a drain works, what causes clogs and blockages, and how to tackle the job safely.

If you’re dealing with minor blockages caused by soap scum, hair, grease from cooking fat, coffee grounds, foreign objects accidentally flushed down the toilet, or small amounts of food buildup in kitchen sinks, then a good-quality plunger will usually do the trick. Use a flange plunger for bathrooms, creating a better seal around the drain’s opening. To get maximum plunging power, it’s best to fill the bowl or sink with enough water to cover the plunger cup and then use a steady, firm pressure. Another option is using a drain snake or auger. This tool has a long flexible cable that can be fed into the pipe to break up blockages and push them through the system.

Clogged Drain
A tablespoon of baking soda followed by a half cup of vinegar is one unclogging solution.

If these solutions don’t work, it’s time to look into more extreme measures such as chemical cleaners or professional drain cleaning services. Chemical cleaners should only be used as a last resort as they can contain harmful chemicals which could damage your pipes. Professional drain cleaning services usually involve high-pressure water jetting or cabling machines designed to cut through roots, grease, and other debris that might have been blocking your pipes.

Finally, preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid problems with blocked drains. Making sure that you dispose of food waste properly and using a mesh drain guard will help prevent clogs from occurring in the first place. Also, having a plumbing service maintenance contract may be beneficial.

By understanding the basics of how your drains work, assessing what’s causing any blockages, and taking the necessary steps to tackle the problem safely, you can be confident that you’ll be able to unclog your pipes quickly. With some patience and elbow grease, tackling a blocked drain doesn’t have to be such a daunting task! If issues still arise, contact Raleigh’s most trusted professional plumber at poolesplumbing.com.