Clogged drains are one of the most frequent sources of complaints among customers. People seek plumbers to fix clogged drains more often than other plumbing requests, whether a shower drain, sink drain, bathroom sinks, or sewer drains.
Your drains are essential to your plumbing system. They are vulnerable to clogging as they collect wastewater from your sinks, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, and tubs. Once a clogged drain happens, it can cause severe problems, such as sewage backup, flooding, or worse, health hazards.
The best way to keep yourself clear of drain pipe clogging is by maintaining the health of your plumbing system. To prevent clogged drains, you need to inspect them regularly to ensure that they work correctly.
Drain System Maintenance Tips
Before we move on to the topic of which drain cleaning techniques are the best, let us go over the items you need to do to prevent clogged drains:
- The most typical problem with bathroom sink drain and kitchen sink clog is the accumulation of hair, grease, and soap scum buildup. The most straightforward solution is using a plunger to force through these. Another option is to pour boiling water down the drain to clear the debris. Hot water mixed with soap is also an excellent alternative to clean drains of this sort.
- If you notice that your bathroom sink or kitchen sink is draining slowly, try to identify which type of debris is causing the clogged drain. After identifying the kind of debris causing the problem, you can determine the best methods to remove the clog. If you are unsure what to do, call a professional plumber.
- In the case of toilet bowl drains, these get clogged by things that are not supposed to be flushed, such as toilet paper and other objects. If you detect any visible objects, try removing them with a small scoop. Try a plunger to attempt to remove the clog down the toilet.
- In the case of garbage disposal, the blades may not be sharp enough to slice down particles small enough to avoid a clogged drain. The best action is to replace the blades annually and clean the garbage disposal unit monthly.
- Sewer drains are vulnerable to clogging because of tree roots or growing plants. You may use a root-killing product to prevent roots from growing into the sewer drain system.
- Check and clean your sink trap regularly.
- Ensure your drain stopper or drain cover is always in place, especially for shower drains.
Different Clogged Drain Cleaning Methods
Regular maintenance schedules will help keep your plumbing system free from clogged drains. However, there are instances when you may experience problems that can’t be solved by the methods mentioned above. Sink drains, for example, take on many types of debris that might prove insoluble once they settle deep in your plumbing system. Here are different types of clogged drain cleaning methods that might help solve them:
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda is an excellent natural drain cleaner and deodorizer. It works by chemically exfoliating the pipe walls. Moreover, it does an excellent job of deodorizing the air around the work area, which means it kills bacteria. Pour baking soda into your kitchen sink. Let the baking soda settle for a few minutes. Pour boiling water down the drain.
Conversely, vinegar contains acetic acid, which can dissolve grease and grime on contact. Vinegar also has excellent disinfecting properties. To unclog drains, simply pour vinegar down.
Combining vinegar and baking soda can also be an excellent homemade drain cleaner. Remove standing water first before mixing vinegar and baking soda in the drain. Adding half a cup of vinegar after pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain can help most typical clogs in kitchen sink drains.
Borax
Borax has properties that cut down on fats, greasy particles, mildew, and oils. Use borax the same way as you might if you use baking soda.
Bleach
Bleach has active chemicals, making it one of the best alternatives among homemade drain cleaners. Mix one part bleach with three parts water. Pour the solution down the drain,
Drain Scraper
Before using any drain cleaning tool, you need to read the instructions carefully. Some drain snake devices are best used for specific piping materials. Though these are very effective in removing debris, they are best used by professional plumbers.
Dish Soap
Dish soap contains chemicals that cut through oily and greasy substances. Pouring three tablespoons of liquid dishwashing soap and following through with boiling water can quickly dissolve greasy and oily debris types.
Baking Soda, Cream of Tartar, and Salt Solution
If you need to solve kitchen sink clogs quickly, another effective homemade drain cleaner is a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/8 cup cream of tartar, and 1/4 cup of salt dissolved in 16 fluid ounces of boiling water. Pour the homemade drain cleaner down a clogged sink and let it sit for 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.
Barbed Stick
A barbed stick can help remove hair and insoluble particles from drain pipes. However, to be effective, you must select the right-sized barbed stick for your drain size.
Drain Auger
A drain auger is a drill bit designed to remove debris from pipes. These can be attached to a hose which will then be inserted into the drain pipe. These are designed to loosen up tougher debris lodged deep inside drain pipes.
Takeaways: Call a Professional Plumber If You Are Unsure of What To Do
Though keeping your drain pipe clean can avoid most potential plumbing issues, there are instances when you will start experiencing clogged drains or slow drains. Though you might try popular methods, such as using a drain cleaner to address immediate clogging issues, such as a kitchen sink clog, or purchasing a drain cleaning kit to help you solve more complicated cases, it is best to hire a professional plumber to inspect your plumbing systems and fix your clogged drains. If you are wondering what is hydro jetting and what it can do, the results they can provide in clearing clogged drains may surprise you. Whether you need a regular drain cleaning or to address severe clogged drain issues in the Greater Phoenix Area, call us at (480) 696-5048. Visit our Drain Service page to know more.
