7 Ways To Clear a Blocked Drain
We all know the horrors of having a blocked drain. A kitchen sink clog means you can’t wash your hands or the dishes for hours. A slow-moving laundry drain disrupts your daily routine. A bathroom drain obstruction means skipping relaxing baths to avoid more serious problems.
Fixing a blocked drain is essential in maintaining a well-functioning plumbing system. As such, it’s crucial to solve the issue promptly by calling professional plumbers Sydney or reputable ones in your local area.
Alternatively, you can try these simple emergency plumbing solutions to address blocked drains:
1. Flush Out Blockage with Boiling Water
If your kitchen or bathroom sinks take longer to drain, and there’s no standing water pooling around, you can try the simplest and easiest fix: pouring boiling water down the pipe.
Place the hot water in a small bucket or pour it directly from the kettle. Make sure to position either container from a considerable height for a gravity boost, increasing the water’s chances of flushing out gunk and grease.
Don’t pour the water all at once. You might have to repeat it a few times for optimal results. Also, please wait a few seconds between each pour to give the hot water enough time to work its magic.
2. Clear Blocked Drains Naturally with Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Salt
You can make a natural drain de-clogging mixture by combining baking soda with other common kitchen staples. Doing so produces a highly caustic solution that dissolves common obstructions in your plumbing system.
Here’s how to make and use an organic drain cleaner at home:
- Mix the same portions of vinegar or salt and baking soda, say one-half cup each.
- Pour the solution down on your blocked kitchen drain.
- Leave it for more serious clogging issues for a few minutes to an hour.
• Flush thoroughly with hot water.
You can repeat the process as necessary.
3. Consider Using a Commercial Drain Cleaning Product for Tougher Sink Clogs
If the methods above fail, using a commercial drain cleaner can be your next course of action. This product works well for emergency plumbing fixes, helping eliminate stubborn organic and inorganic blockages, which include food debris, paper, thick grease, and hair.
But there’s one caveat: chemical drain solutions can be hazardous and damaging to your metal pipes if mishandled. So, wear gloves and goggles when handling these products. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines.
4. Use a Plunger on Clogged Drains
There’s a plunger specially designed for sinks. These products are typically smaller and shaped differently than the ones you use on your toilet. So, whether you’re dealing with a blocked kitchen sink or a clogged bathroom sink, this tool can come in handy.
This drain-unblocking method requires a few more steps than the previous one, and we have a few tips to make it more effective:
- Ensure you don’t have too much water pooling around the sink.
- Don’t use a cleaning product and other chemicals before using the plunger.
- Cover any overflow openings to minimise backflow.
- If dealing with double sinks, cover the other drain.
- Put enough water to cover the plunger if the affected sink is dry.
- Hold the handle and push the plunger with enough force, then pull it up.
- Repeat this several times.
Check your drain periodically and ensure its seal is in place. Pour water on the drain to see whether you’ve fixed the problem.
5. Remove Drain Blockage with a Wire Hanger
If the issue persists after using a sink plunger, we suggest going to your bedroom closet to find a wire hanger.
Transform this simple clothing tool into a plumbing device by doing the following:
- Straighten the hanger.
- Create a small hook by bending one side.
- Insert the hooked portion into the plughole.
- Navigate the inside of the pipes carefully to look for any obstruction.
- Avoid pushing the blockage down by lifting the wire as soon as it catches any debris.
Do this several times until you’ve removed all the gunk out. Run hot or boiling water to see if it works.
6. Remove and Clean the U-Bend or Drain Trap
If the drain unclogging methods above did little to clear your drains, it’s probably time to get dirty. Don’t worry; this task isn’t reserved for an experienced plumber Sydney homeowners have come to trust or similar experts in your area.
Here’s how you can remove and clean your drain trap:
- Place a small bucket under the U-bend to catch water spills or gunk.
- Use a plumber’s wrench to unscrew the nuts on the pipe sections connected to the drain trap. Do this slowly and wait for the water to drip out completely from the pipe.
- Remove the pipe and empty its contents on the bucket.
- Clean it using a soft-bristled wire brush or toothbrush.
- You can also use a wire hanger to take out any material that may be stuck inside.
- Gently brush the other sections of the pipe and run hot water through it.
- Put the clean U-bend back into place.
Ensure that your drain trap is reconnected well. Run hot water once again and watch out for leaks. Remove and replace the U-bend in such cases.
7. Call Plumbing Experts Near You
If you’ve tried the steps above without success, it’s time to bring in the experts. Sydney clients should look no further than Better Flow Plumbing. Our expertise, technology, customer service, and passion for everything plumbing are unrivalled. Call now and discover why our clients love us!
