How to Clear a Clogged Drain

If you’re a homeowner then it’s likely that you’re going to need to know how to clear a clogged drain. The simple fact is that this is one challenge that will face the majority of homeowners at some point in their lives.

You may simply want to click on this link canberrahotwaterandplumbing.com.au and get a reputable professional to deal with the issue for you. However, if they are unable to respond, o they’re going to charge emergency call-out rates, you may prefer to take a look yourself first.

It is worth noting that, if you have successfully unclogged a drain, you should still call the professionals to check the plumbing and ensure it’s not going to happen again.

Here’s what you should try first to clear your clogged drain:

Boiling Water

Sometimes a clog is simply because you’ve poured hot fat down the drain and it’s solidified, causing a blockage. This can be easily resolved by pouring hot water down the drain. You may need to clear the water first.

It’s important to note that boiling water can damage joints in your pipework, you want it just below boiling.

Vinegar & Baking Soda

These are two substances that create an impressive fizz and will overflow your container. However, they can be very effective at unblocking drains. Especially when the water is draining but very slowly.

Simply put your nearly boiling water down the drain first and then add ½ cup of baking soda, this should drop into all the gaps made by the hot water.

Leave it to sit for approximately 5 minutes.

You can then mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1 cup of very hot water. Pour this down the drain and cover it. Leave it for 5-10 minutes and then pour a fresh load of nearly boiling water.

The Plunger

The plunger should be a staple of every toolbox. Simply get one that fits completely over the drain and pump it up and down several times. The aim is to keep the plunger sealed to your drain, effectively creating a vacuum as you move it up and down.

This vacuum should cause the blockage to shift as there will be nothing else in its way. Following it up with some nearly boiling water is a good idea.

The Drain Snake

A drain snake or augur is a slim metal piece of pipe that is extremely flexible. The idea is to feed it slowly down the drain until it encounters the blockage.

It should then be able to pierce its way through the blockage and create a hoe, potentially hooking the blockage and allowing you to maneuver it through the pipes.

Don’t use too much force when doing this as you don’t want to damage the pipes;

If these techniques don’t work you’re looking at taking the plumbing apart to find the bad section. This is probably going to be a job that you’d prefer to leave for the professionals.