The first thing we should talk about before we sink deeper into matters of unclogging: the best drain is an unlocked one! So, try not to let yours get blocked because both bathroom or kitchen blocked drains can be a headache! However, even with all the precautions that one can take, blockages do happen. It is best to know what to know how to handle a blocked drain because they intend to happen at the most inopportune moments. Some examples are just before your guests arrive, someone is coming to stay over, and so on.
Types of Drains
In a home, you come across different types of drains, such as those found in your kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom. Water might be necessary for life, but it also needs to have a proper exit through these drains. Thus, you will find drain lines in tubs, toilets, and sinks, as well as, in major appliances, such as your dishwasher and washer.
However, like an iceberg, there’s more to drainage than meets your eyes. The drain lines that you see are the tip of your plumbing system. Each drain line will reach the main line and join it. This is where all the water dumped from the drain line will enter the water system of your city or into your septic tank. As you can imagine, a blockage can occur at lots of points.
The oldest one on the block
If you see a blocked drain in any part of your house, you may be able to unclog it with the oldest home remedy still around. Baking soda poured down the drain after which vinegar should be poured in is an effective way of dealing with blockages. The best practice is to let the mixture sit for a few hours before you flush water down the drain.
Fan of home-based solutions? Try these home remedies!
Newer solutions for blocked drains
In many cases, baking soda and vinegar won’t do the trick. You will still have a drain that refuses to let water pass – and is out of two useful ingredients as well. This is where having some standard tools in the house can be a smart idea. We aren’t just talking about plungers though. We are talking about tools that Certified Plumbers Near Me use to unclog drains. Here are some examples:
Drums
Drum machines are produced for sink lines that have a diameter that ranges from ¾ to 10 inches. Since they can exert high torque levels, the drum machine can propel obstructions much more swiftly. You can use them with either cables or cutters and take advantage of the high RPM produced by the machine’s powerful induction motors.
It isn’t enough just to have the best tools at hand. Using those tools in the right way matters too!
Snake
Known as one of the most flexible tools used for drain cleaning, the snake is named after its appearance. It looks like a lengthy tubular wire. You can use a snake to push the blockage down the pipe until it comes out the other end.
Water Jetters
Water jetters come in both high and medium PSIs. They are also available in models that work on gas and those that require electricity. Use water jetters only if your sink line is 10 inches wide. They can be used for both home and commercial applications, depending on the jetters motor.
Plunger
The humble plunger has been around for a long time just like the old home remedy we shared above. They are quite commonly used to open up blocked drains based on suction. Depending on the size of your drain, it is highly likely that you can find a plunger that fits.
Wire Brushes
These aren’t actually used to open clogged drains as much as they are used to remove the gunk left behind. Nonetheless, they are quite useful and effective when used with hot water and soap.
Drain Cleaning Chemicals
Various types of drain cleaning chemicals are easily available in the market. As long as the obstruction isn’t anything substantial like tree roots or huge rocks, these chemicals can clean the buildup in drains.
Here are some more tools that might be useful in the process of the drain opening. However, if those don’t work either, it might be time to call in the professionals!
good tips thanks. we usually use wire… now the sink here has good plumbing because they have this connector removable.