5 Tips for Clearing a Blocked Drain
By Fluid Plumbing|September 20, 2021
What’s that not-so-lovely aroma drifting about your house?
The last thing you want after a long day at work is to come home to a blocked drain that’s stinking up your house. The bad news is, it happens. The good news is that it usually isn’t too difficult to clear it out.
Here are a few tips for clearing a blocked drain.
1. Melt It
You probably know you shouldn’t put grease or oil down the drain, but little bits still get washed down the drain when rinsing dishes. By itself, grease doesn’t usually cause too much of a problem even when it hardens as it cools.
The issue arises when other bits of food and debris get stuck in the grease. Eventually, a clog can form big enough to block the drain.
You can easily melt this type of clog by pouring boiling water down the drain. The heat will melt the grease and the water will wash away the debris.
2. Drain Snake on the Cheap
If the clog is in your shower drain, it’s likely that hair is part of the problem. An easy way to clear this type of clog is to create a DIY drain snake out of a wire coat hanger.
Simply undo the hanger and make a hook on one end. Insert it into the drain until you feel it bump up against the clog. Hook it and pull it out. It’s gross but easy!
3. Plunger
Another simple tool you can try is a plunger. It’s always a good idea to keep one on hand in every household.
All you have to do is place the cupped end of the plunger over the drain. Make sure it has a good seal and give it a few pulls up and down. The sucking action is often enough to dislodge the clog. Make sure to run water down the drain to wash away the bits of debris.
Tip: this works on more than just toilets!
4. Put It On TV
Need to see the root of the problem? Call a plumber for a CCTV drain inspection. Plumbers have a special camera attached to the end of a flexible cable they can feed through the pipe.
Using this camera, they can find the blockage and determine the best way to clear it.
5. Excavation
Unfortunately, this method of clearing a blocked drain is on the expensive side. But in the event of serious blockages or something like a tree root growing into the pipe, it’s often the only way.
With the camera, your plumber will determine where to dig. Then they dig down to the exact spot to fix the issue without tearing up more of your yard than necessary.
Rejoice With Free-Flowing Drains
If you have a blocked drain, don’t despair. There are plenty of methods for getting it clear once more!
The last thing you want after a long day at work is to come home to a blocked drain that’s stinking up your house. The bad news is, it happens. The good news is that it usually isn’t too difficult to clear it out.
Here are a few tips for clearing a blocked drain.
1. Melt It
You probably know you shouldn’t put grease or oil down the drain, but little bits still get washed down the drain when rinsing dishes. By itself, grease doesn’t usually cause too much of a problem even when it hardens as it cools.
The issue arises when other bits of food and debris get stuck in the grease. Eventually, a clog can form big enough to block the drain.
You can easily melt this type of clog by pouring boiling water down the drain. The heat will melt the grease and the water will wash away the debris.
2. Drain Snake on the Cheap
If the clog is in your shower drain, it’s likely that hair is part of the problem. An easy way to clear this type of clog is to create a DIY drain snake out of a wire coat hanger.
Simply undo the hanger and make a hook on one end. Insert it into the drain until you feel it bump up against the clog. Hook it and pull it out. It’s gross but easy!
3. Plunger
Another simple tool you can try is a plunger. It’s always a good idea to keep one on hand in every household.
All you have to do is place the cupped end of the plunger over the drain. Make sure it has a good seal and give it a few pulls up and down. The sucking action is often enough to dislodge the clog. Make sure to run water down the drain to wash away the bits of debris.
Tip: this works on more than just toilets!
4. Put It On TV
Need to see the root of the problem? Call a plumber for a CCTV drain inspection. Plumbers have a special camera attached to the end of a flexible cable they can feed through the pipe.
Using this camera, they can find the blockage and determine the best way to clear it.
5. Excavation
Unfortunately, this method of clearing a blocked drain is on the expensive side. But in the event of serious blockages or something like a tree root growing into the pipe, it’s often the only way.
With the camera, your plumber will determine where to dig. Then they dig down to the exact spot to fix the issue without tearing up more of your yard than necessary.
Rejoice With Free-Flowing Drains
If you have a blocked drain, don’t despair. There are plenty of methods for getting it clear once more!
