Without proper prevention, your drains will clog over time. You’ll know an obstruction is building when your sink or tub takes longer to drain. If you don’t act quickly, the obstruction can become significant enough to require a professional rooter service.
For plumbing that stays functional and doesn’t upend your daily routine, use the following methods before contacting a residential plumber.
Use boiling water or a mix of baking soda and vinegar
If your sink or tub drain is clogged, you can directly attack the clog by dissolving the obstruction. The easiest method is slowly pouring boiling water down the drain. If this doesn’t completely clear out the obstruction, repeat a few more times. If the obstruction won’t dissolve, you can try using baking soda and vinegar.
Pour ¼ cup of baking soda into the drain, then follow up with 1 ¼ cup of white vinegar. Plug the drain with a stopper and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes. Next, slowly pour boiling water down the drain. You can repeat this a few more times. If this doesn’t work either, you can try chemical drain cleaners.
Using the appropriate plunger
Not all plungers function the same. If you’re a homeowner or business owner, you should have a plunger for the sink and toilet. Sink plungers are also called cup plungers. They have a round cup with a handle attached to the center. It only works on flat surfaces, such as a sink or tub drain.
The curve of a toilet bowl requires a flange plunger, which has a fold-out flap attached to a larger cup. The fold-out flap seals around the toilet’s curve drain. While the flap can fold inwards to make it suitable for sink and tub drains, it’s unhygienic to use it on all drains. To avoid cross contamination, have a cup plunger for your sinks and tubs, and a flange plunger for your toilets.
There are several other types of plungers, but the cup and flange plungers are traditional fix-it-all tools for common clogs. As a general rule, if traditional plungers don’t work on your clog, you should call a residential plumber. The clog could be too deep or wedged in too tightly, requiring hydro jetting.
Pouring an professional drain cleaner overnight
Walk down the plumbing aisle of a home improvement store and you’ll find a variety of chemical drain cleaners. Some are best for tub and sink drains, some are specialized for dissolving hair, and others are for clog prevention. Look for a cleaner that’s well-reviewed by homeowners and plumbers alike. For best results, get one that clears clogs and prevents future ones.
For grease and oil clogs, try the Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver, which is odorless and uses biodegradable ingredients. For hair clogs, try Instant Power Hair and Grease Drain Cleaner. Some cleaners can work in toilets, but if your toilet clog wasn’t solved with plunging, you should contact a plumber for rooter services.
24/7 Rooter Service with Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating
For professional help with your clogged drains, reach out to Ehret. Co Plumbing & Heating through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292. We offer quality rooter services, including water heater repair & replacement and trenchless sewer replacement.
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