Anyone reading this article probably has access to a plumbing system in their home. We depend on our water supply and drain system many times a day for nearly everything. Whether you’re washing your dishes, laundry, or hands, your plumbing system makes it as easy as turning a valve.
It’s only when something goes wrong in the plumbing system, do we realize how much we need it in our day to day lives. Unfortunately, hiring a plumber isn’t cheap.
The average plumbing job ranges from $175 to $450. Something as simple as a drain cleaning requires a trained specialist to drive to your home, diagnose the problem, then fix it you’re your approval. It falls upon the customers to cover the plumber’s gas, vehicle maintenance, and time spent driving. These costs and others can quickly add up to $100 before the plumber has reached your doorstep.
When it comes to drain cleaning and clogs, we have good news. We’ve spoken to an emergency plumber who’s seen it all, and he provided several DIY solutions that you can do with standard supplies found around your home. Best of all, the techniques discussed will not harm your plumbing system how chemical cleaners will.
This article will teach you how to maintain your drain, perform a home drain cleaning, and save yourself hundreds of dollars.
Drain Maintenance
The best cure is prevention. Most clogs build up slowly over time. You may notice that your water isn’t draining as quickly as you remember. That’s because soap, grease, food matter, minerals, and more congeal and harden within your drains when they’ve improperly flushed away. Over time, the buildup will thicken, and the passage of water will narrow. If this continues, the drain flow will stop entirely.
Cleaning your drain monthly or every few months will help prevent buildups, saving you from needing a professional drain cleaning.
But what can you do if it’s too late and your drain has clogged?
The Boiling Water Technique
For this trick, you’re going to need one ingredient. Any ideas what it is?
That’s right! As the name suggests, you simply need to flush your sink drain with boiling water.
Most clogs are a combination of congealed soap and grease. Flushing the drain with a kettle of boiling water can melt the blockage and send it on its way.
Be careful if using boiling water on porcelain, as the heat can cause the porcelain to crack.
While this trick may help, it may not remove the clog entirely. This is because the boiling water will melt a hole through the blockage, then drain away. This may leave you with a semi-functional drain that allows water to pass but restricts the water flow.
For best results, chase the boiling water with hot water from the tap. We recommend boiling additional kettles of water and repeating this method as needed.
If boiling water isn’t doing the trick, it’s time to pull out the big guns…
The Baking Soda and Vinegar Method
Do you remember the volcano science experiments when you were a kid? Those were good times.
Did you know that you can use that same science to clean your drains?
Simply add ½ cup of baking soda to the drain.
Follow it with ½ cup of white vinegar.
Sit back and enjoy the show!
After half an hour, boil a kettle of water and pour it down the drain. For best results, we’d recommend running the hot water for 2-3 minutes afterward.
The chemical reaction should dissolve the blockage in the drain, and the hot water should flush it away.
If you don’t have any vinegar, try…
The Lemon Juice and Baking Soda Recipe
Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain.
Next, pour 1 cup of lemon juice into the drain.
Let it sit for 15 minutes, then chase it with a kettle of hot water.
For best results, once again run the faucet with hot water for several minutes. This approach should clean your drain and leave it smelling fresh!
If you find the water continues to drain slowly, try the…
The Cream of Tartar Procedure
In a container, add:
2 cups of baking soda
1/8 cup of cream of tartar
½ cup of salt
Next, seal the container and give it a shake.
After thoroughly mixing the contents of the jar, pour half of it down the drain.
Follow these ingredients with a kettle of boiling water and let it sit for at least one hour.
After an hour, boil another kettle and pour it down the drain. Run the hot water from the faucet to flush away the blockage.
If needed, repeat this process with the other half of the ingredients.
No luck? Don’t worry. This next one works great…
The Dish Soap Approach
First, boil a pot of water.
After it’s boiled, remove the pot from the heat.
Add two tablespoons of dishwashing detergent into the pot and stir.
Slowly pour the hot water and dish soap down the drain.
Let it sit for several minutes, then chase it with hot water from the faucet.
The Dish Soap Toilet Drain Trick
If you have a partial toilet blockage deep in the toilet drain, this trick works like a charm. However, it might not work if the toilet is completely clogged. But if the water is slowly going down the drain, this trick is excellent.
First, add ½ cup of dish soap to the toilet bowl.
Next, heat a kettle of water to a near boil. Don’t bring it to a boil. Boiling water can crack your porcelain toilet.
Pour the heated water into the toilet.
Boil another kettle of water, and repeat this again and again.
If you’ve boiled several kettles of water and the clog hasn’t flushed, add some more dish soap.
Do this for half an hour, then flush the toilet. Don’t flush the toilet if the water level is high in the bowl.
I’ve tested this trick on some of the worst toilet drain clogs you could imagine, and it works like a charm. This trick can save you hundreds of dollars on a drain cleaning.
The Plunger Process
Plungers are not just for toilets. They also work great on sinks.
If plunging a double sink or a drain connected to an overflow, block the second drain or overflow with a wet rag when plunging, or you’ll fail to create the necessary plunging pressure.
You may need to plunge for several minutes before breaking the clog. Remember that the suction created when pulling the plunge is as vital as the pressure created when you push.
The Wire Hanger Routine
If you are experiencing a clog and sense that it is close to the drain, try using a wire hanger as a plumber’s snake.
Simply straighten the wire, then bend a small hook at the end.
Remove the stopper from the drain if unclogging a sink.
Insert the hook end into the drain.
Slowly spin the homemade auger as you insert it deeper into the drain.
When you feel it catch the clog, try to fish it out.
You may also be able to break the blockage free by poking it apart.
The Wet/Dry Vacuum Solution
This trick works great if you have a Wet/Dry vacuum like a ShopVac.
Remove the filter from the vacuum, or else you may ruin the filter.
Insert a wet rag into the overflow of the sink or bathtub.
Insert the vacuum head into the drain or around it as tightly as possible.
Activate the vacuum.
You may need to try this trick a few times, but eventually, it should remove the blockage or pull it close enough for you to pull it out with your hands.
Drain Cleaning Tips from a Plumber
Clean your drains every few months, at least. Blockages build up over time, but some good maintenance will destroy them before they cause trouble.
Avoid harsh chemical cleaners. Many people rush to their chemical drain cleaners when they find a drain blockage. While these chemicals can be useful, they can cause a lot of damage to your pipes. Use a gentle remedy when you can.
Remember that hot water is necessary for these tricks. We’re trying to melt blockages. But be careful with toilets and sinks, as scalding water can cause porcelain to crack.
Purchase strainers for your drains. Drain strainers are cheap and available at most hardware stores. A sink strainer will save you from many plumbing expenses over the years.
Don’t wash grease down the drain if you can avoid it. I know that it’s tempting to wash oil down the sink, but grease clogs are tough to fix. Pour grease into an old milk carton when you can, let it harden, and throw it out.
When done washing in the sink, remember to run hot water for a couple of minutes. This will flush away soap and residue before it has an opportunity to stick and build up.
Don’t wash coffee grinds or other food particles down the drain if you can avoid it. These particles will stick to soap and grease, making the blockages develop quickly.
Don’t wash beard trimmings down the drain. Use a Beard Bib or vacuum the sink afterward. Hair and soap clogs keep many plumbing companies in business.
If you can’t clear the blockage, call a local plumber. Some drain blockages are too deep or stubborn to remove. It’s not worth losing your mind over and there’s no shame in calling a plumber when you need one.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
