Blocked drains can be an enormous hassle if left unattended for too long, causing unpleasant smells and slow drainage of water that should otherwise flow freely through. If this situation arises, immediate action must be taken or it could worsen over time.
Tips to Unblock A House Drain Fast
Boiling Water
At its worst, blocked drains can be an immense headache. Signs such as slow-draining sinks, unusual smells or water pooling around your feet in the shower are telltale indicators that your drain needs attention - but before reaching for chemical-based liquid drain cleaners such as Drano, consider several alternative strategies that are more reliable and safe than chemical-based solutions.
One of the easiest and cheapest DIY solutions for unclogging drains is boiling a pot of water and pouring it down your clogged drain, which you can read about here. The hot water will dislodge any hair, grease or soap residue blocking up your pipes - this method should work quickly. You may have to repeat this step a few times until fully unblocking occurs but it is an economical and straightforward method that won't cost much either way.
Instead, baking soda and vinegar are powerful natural home-remedy cleaners that can help clear out drains. Pour one cup of baking soda down your clogged drain followed by one cup of vinegar until it begins fizzing; after several minutes rinse down your system to flush away any lingering mixtures of baking soda and vinegar from your system and flush any residue down with boiling water to flush any remaining mixture from your system.
If your clogged drain is severe or time is short, another option for clearing it might be a plunger or plumber's snake. Start by disassembling the P-trap (the horizontal pipe connecting drain and wall). Next, feed a wire snake or auger slowly down the vertical pipe until you feel it hit an obstruction; crank the handle of this tool counterclockwise to grip and pull out blockages from the pipe. When finished, flush out your pipe with hot water before reassembling P-trap and using it.
Baking Soda & Vinegar
When faced with a minor drain clog, it can be tempting to reach for chemical-laden household cleaners on your shelf - but these commercial products can actually do more harm than good to your pipes and often don't work that effectively anyway. Thankfully there are all-natural home hacks you can try before calling in a professional (or waiting for a local plumber to arrive). One effective and eco-friendly method to unclog drains quickly is baking soda and vinegar; its chemical reaction breaks up stubborn clogs swiftly.
Baking soda and vinegar are household items, so chances are you already have them handy to treat a blocked drain. But, for maximum effect, use both in the right proportions: too much baking soda could create a dangerous volcanic eruption in your sink or tub, whereas too little will not give enough fizzing action to do its job.
Pour half a cup of baking soda down your drain and quickly follow it with half a cup of vinegar; its acid will react chemically with sodium bicarbonate, producing carbon dioxide gas - similar to what may have been experienced as part of science class experiments as a child. Watch how quickly carbon dioxide gas bubbles out!
This bubbling action is what helps clear away clogs; it works like an all-natural alternative to store-bought foaming drain cleaners. By loosening and pushing loose any buildup through, this method loosens fatty deposits while simultaneously flushing it through your pipe system with boiling water before and after baking soda and vinegar treatments to soften and flush away gunk from your drain pipes.
Call A Reputable Plumber
As soon as something goes wrong with your plumbing, it can become an urgent matter. Frozen pipes, major leaks, clogged toilets or drains that don't clear quickly can do considerable damage to both your home and wallet - but these emergencies can be helped via your local emergency plumbing service.
Local plumbers specialize in installing, repairing and maintaining the pipes, pumps, and equipment that transports water and waste through your home. They can help identify sources of problems like clogs, low water pressure or toilets that won't stop running - local plumbers provide these services to both residential and commercial properties.
Reliable plumbers will be licensed, insured and bonded. Be sure to inquire about these credentials when scheduling an appointment; licensed individuals like those from https://www.bluelineplumbers.com.au/ have passed state exams and are qualified to complete your home improvement projects. They may even offer better deals as they have experience and know how to avoid common errors that add costs quickly.
If you are uncomfortable relying on recommendations from friends and family, try reading online reviews and testimonials for plumbing service providers in your area. Here, you may get insight into what other customers thought about quality of service, timeliness of work and whether the plumber cleaned up after them. While one or two negative reviews don't mean much; abundance could indicate poor business practices.
As soon as you've narrowed down your list of potential plumbers, make sure each offers references from previous jobs and contact those individuals to see how they felt about working with that plumber. Ask about what projects the plumber completed for them as well as its length and whether they would hire them again; additionally ask if any specialty skills exist that might make working on old pipes or installing water heaters easier for your project.
Make sure that you obtain a comprehensive estimate before agreeing to hire any plumber for any project. This quote should cover labor, material costs and any potential risk or contingency fees as well as consulting or after-hours emergency service charges.
Finally, ask the plumber if they employ helpers or subcontractors and what their credentials are. Blueline Plumbing stands out by using only experienced professional staff with full insurance policies covering workers compensation and liability coverage if someone gets hurt on the job. If a plumber hesitates to provide this information it could be a red flag that they may not be reliable.
