How to Take Care of and Fix Blocked Drain Problems?

Bathroom and kitchen sinks witness much of the cleaning in homes, and you can immediately notice problems when they get clogged. Such clogs generally occur due to an accumulation of debris in the pipes – including grease, dirt, hair or crumbs. It can be frustrating and unpleasant for homeowners to find water not getting drained out of a bathtub, kitchen sink or wash basin. Here are some ways to let you fix blocked drain problems at home, without calling a plumber.

It is an old method that works very well when your drain is not clogged completely, and water is only slowly draining out. You can pour some amount of hot water, mixed with some salt, into the drain. All the grease that impedes easy draining can be washed off with hot water. When the blocked drain has completely been opened up, ensure that you pour hot salted water into the drain once every week in order to avoid risks of future clogging.

Washing Soda

Take a container. Pour 3 gallons of boiling water into it and add some amount of washing soda to the container. Combine it well into the water and obtain a soapy solution. Pour the mix at night into the blocked drain and let it stand there overnight. The following morning, you can see that all the dirt and grease that was accumulated last night washed away.

It is a common practice to use Baking soda to make a homemade drain cleaner. Take a container and pour into it:

1. 1 cup of baking soda

2. 1 cup of salt and

3. A ¼ cup of cream of tartar

Combine these in a proper way and pour a small amount of the dry mix into the drain. Next, pour in 2 cups of boiling water to the drain. Keep it untouched all night. The following morning pour hot water to flush your drain. You will find the blockages are removed. Likewise, you may use white vinegar - baking soda to open up a blocked drain. Both types of drain cleaners can be useful in opening up even drains that are blocked badly.

You can find professional plumbers using plumber snake for unblocking toilet drains. However, it may also be used for removing clogs of drains. A plumber snake has a long wire, around 20 feet long and having a diameter of 3/8 inch. First, you have to get the stopper out of the drain’s opening. Directly push the auger deep inside the drain. When you are able to reach the drain blockage, turn the handle so as to bore through the blockage. Next, you can either pull the blockage matter out of the blocked drain or pass it through the drainpipe.

It is possible to find commercial drain cleaners in any local home improvement store. Go through the label instructions and use them accordingly. Such types of cleaners have strong chemicals that may burn the skin and emanate poisonous fumes. Thus, they have to be handled with care. Wear goggles, a face mask, and gloves to keep the workspace ventilated properly.

After being successfully able to clear the blocked drain, it is important to take a few preventive measures to avoid these unwanted situations. Do not attempt to flush cooking grease down the kitchen sink. Dispose of the same in cans. In the bathroom, drains mainly get clogged due to hair. Regularly remove them to prevent clogging issues. If your drain blockage does not get resolved even after you try home remedies, it is a good idea to call up professional plumbers for blocked drain.